Caniggia Elva

Caniggia Ginola Elva (born 14 July 1996) is a professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for German 3. Liga club FC Ingolstadt 04. Born in Saint Lucia, he has represented Canada at under–23 level.

Caniggia Elva

Elva in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Caniggia Ginola Elva
Date of birth	14 July 1996[1]
Place of birth	Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	FC Ingolstadt 04
Number	14
Youth career
2007–2014	Calgary Southwest United
2014	VfB Stuttgart
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2018	VfB Stuttgart II	57	(7)
2015	→ Strasbourg (loan)	0	(0)
2018–2019	Würzburger Kickers	17	(4)
2019–	FC Ingolstadt 04	51	(5)
National team^‡
2017	Canada U23	2	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:17, 30 January 2021 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 March 2017

Club career

VfB Stuttgart

In November 2013, Elva went on trial with German Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart. On 14 July 2014, his 18th birthday, he signed a four-year contract with them after tryouts with other teams, among them English Premier League football club Arsenal.[2] However, due to Elva not able gaining Canadian citizenship, he wasn't granted permission to play neither for Stuttgart's reserve team in the 3. Liga nor their youth team in Under 19 Bundesliga. As a result of this he did not gain any match practice as he was not ready for the club's first team.[3] Subsequently, he left the club on loan abroad.

Loan to Strasbourg

On 2 February 2015, he was loaned to French third-tier club RC Strasbourg until the end of the season.[4]

VfB Stuttgart II

For the 2015–16 season Elva joined the squad of VfB Stuttgart II.[5] He made his debut for VfB II on 29 August 2015 against Rot-Weiß Erfurt.[6] Elva scored his first goal for VfB Stuttgart II on 26 February 2016 against Hallescher FC.[7] He was released by Stuttgart in July 2018.

Würzburger Kickers

Elva signed with 3. Liga club Würzburger Kickers on 4 September 2018.[8] Elva would score 4 goals and add 2 assists during an injury plagued 2018–19 season.

FC Ingolstadt 04

After one year with Würzburger Kickers, Elva would sign a two year contract with fellow 3. Liga side FC Ingolstadt 04.[9]

International career

Youth

Elva is eligible for St. Lucia, where he was born. He has however indicated that he would like to represent Canada at international level instead, where he was raised.[10] In March 2017 it was announced that Elva was added to the Canadian Under-23 squad for matches against Qatar and Uzbekistan in Qatar later that month.[11] Elva made his U-23 debut and scored against Uzbekistan in a 1-0 victory on 25 March 2017.[12]

Senior

Elva was called up to the Canadian senior team for a friendly against El Salvador on 29 September 2017.[13]

Personal life

Elva was born in the Caribbean island of St. Lucia in Vieux Fort into a football family. His father, Titus "Titi" Elva, is a former national striker for St. Lucia and his uncle, Olivier Elva, is also a former national defender for St. Lucia. He left St. Lucia at the age of 11 to live in Canada.[3][14][15]

Career statistics

As of 30 January 2021[16]

Club	League	Season	League		Playoffs		Domestic Cup		Continental Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
VfB Stuttgart II	3. Liga	2015–16	21	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	1
	Regionalliga	2016–17	18	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	18	3
		2017–18	18	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	18	3
	Total		57	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	57	7
Würzburger Kickers	3. Liga	2018–19	17	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	4
FC Ingolstadt 04	3. Liga	2019–20	33	3	2	0	1	0	0	0	36	3
		2020–21	18	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	19	2
	Total		51	5	2	0	2	0	0	0	55	5
Career total			125	16	2	0	2	0	0	0	129	16

References

1. Elva Ginola Caniggia – Fussball-Talente.com.
2. Arsenal F.C. gives Calgary's Caniggia Elva, 17, a chance – Calgary – CBC News
3. "Caniggia Elva darf nur trainieren" [Caniggia Elva is only allowed to practice] (in German). fupa.net. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
4. "Transferliste des "Die Liga – Fußballverband e.V." (Ligaverband)" (PDF). 2 February 2015.
5. "Großer Umbruch beim VfB II". vfb.de (in German). VfB Stuttgart. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
6. "Official match report: FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt – VfB Stuttgart II". German Football Association. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
7. "Official match report: VfB Stuttgart II – Hallescher FC". German Football Association. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
8. "Die Kickers nehmen Caniggia Elva unter Vertrag!". 4 September 2018.
9. "Tempo Und Furchschlagskraft Caniggia Elva Wechselt Zum FCI". FC Ingolstadt 04. 7 June 2019.
10. "Sport Avis Exclusive: Caniggia Elva". 15 January 2015.
11. "Canada U23s Announce Squad for Qatar". United Soccer League. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
12. "Canada earns gritty 1:0 win over Uzbekistan in U-23 series". Canada Soccer. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
13. Sandor, Steven (29 September 2017). "Zambrano picks a Canadian side filled with national-team newbies for friendly against El Salvador".
14. "A St.Lucian born footballer is pursuing his dreams to play professionally in Germany". Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
15. "Prime minister proud of Caniggia Elva". St. Lucia News Online. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
16. "Caniggia Elva Stats". Soccerway.

External links

• Caniggia Elva at the Canadian Soccer Association (also available in French)