Joao Plata

Joao Jimmy Plata Cotera (Spanish pronunciation: [joˈaw ˈplata];[1] born March 1, 1992) is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays for Liga MX club Toluca as a forward.

Joao Plata
Plata playing against the Chicago Fire on May 25, 2013
Personal information
Full name Joao Jimmy Plata Cotera
Date of birth (1992-03-01) March 1, 1992
Place of birth Guayaquil, Ecuador
Height 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Toluca
Number 10
Youth career
2004–2007 Barcelona SC
2007–2009 Alfaro Moreno
2009–2010 LDU Quito
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 LDU Quito 7 (1)
2011 → Toronto FC (loan) 26 (3)
2012 Toronto FC 10 (0)
2012 → LDU Quito (loan) 13 (1)
2013–2019 Real Salt Lake 175 (46)
2020– Toluca 0 (0)
National team‡
2011– Ecuador 5 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 18, 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 16, 2018
This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Plata and the second or maternal family name is Cotera.

Club career

LDU Quito

Plata began his career in the youth ranks of hometown club Barcelona before joining the Alfaro Moreno Academia in Guayaquil in 2009.[2] After impressing at Alfaro Moreno he joined the youth ranks of LDU Quito.[3]

Plata impressed Liga coach Edgardo Bauza and was called up to the senior side during the Second Stage of the 2010 Serie A season. On August 22, 2010 Plata made his professional debut for LDU Quito at Estadio Casa Blanca in a 1–0 victory over Olmedo. His debut was considered very promising and Plata became a fixture for the rest of the season.[4]

On September 18, 2010 Plata scored his first professional goal in a 1–0 victory over ESPOLI. This important goal helped Liga consolidate their position at the top of the table.[5][6] Plata ended the season appearing in 7 league matches (starting 5) and scoring one goal as Liga captured the Second Stage of the 2010 Serie A and then defeated Emelec to be declared national champion for the 10th time in the club's history.

Toronto FC

At the conclusion of the 2010 season, in order to continue his development, Plata was loaned to Major League Soccer and was selected by Toronto FC with the No. 49 pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.[7] Toronto FC signed Plata on March 24, 2011.[8] On April 2 Plata made his debut for Toronto as a second half sub for Alen Stevanović, in a 1–1 home draw against Chivas USA.[9] On April 27 Plata made his first start for Toronto and provided two assists in a 3–0 away win against FC Edmonton in the first leg of the Canadian Championship.[10] For the second leg on May 4, Plata again made the starting line-up and provided an assist as well as receiving Man of the Match honours in a 1–0 home win, giving Toronto a 4–0 aggregate victory over FC Edmonton to advance to the Canadian Championship final.[11][12] Plata got his first MLS goal in a 2–1 victory over Houston Dynamo the goal was a well taken penalty and he later went on to set up the second for Maicon Santos, his performance earned him MLS player of the week.[13] On July 2 Plata scored a crucial goal against Vancouver Whitecaps FC helping seal Toronto's third consecutive Canadian Championship, earning the team a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League.[14] Plata was awarded the George Gross Memorial Trophy as the tournament's best player.[15] On July 27 Plata made his Champions League debut against Real Esteli F.C. coming on for Gianluca Zavarise in the 49th minute, Plata led his team to a 2–1 home victory scoring both goals.[16] Plata's success continued in the champions league scoring two goals in a crucial match-up against FC Dallas on October 18 in the final group stage game, with a 3–0 away victory it advanced Toronto to its first ever quarter final appearance.[17]

On January 11, 2012 the club announced a multi-year deal to keep Plata at Toronto FC; as per club policy and league, the details of the new contract signing were not disclosed, but reports suggest a $500,000 fee was paid to secure him.[18][19] Plata scored his first goal of the season on April 4, during the second leg of the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League semifinals against Santos Laguna, Plata scored both goals in a 6–2 away loss.[20]

Plata returned to LDU Quito on a six-month loan from Toronto on July 11, 2012.[21]

Real Salt Lake

Plata re-joined Toronto in January 2013 upon the end of the loan.[22] However, on January 30, 2013 he was traded to Real Salt Lake in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.[23]

In 2014, the Twitter hashtag #PlataEsOro became popular, a play on the meaning of Plata's name, "plata" being the Spanish word for "silver" and "oro" meaning "gold." [24]

His contract option was declined by Real Salt Lake after the Salt Lake's 2019 season.[25]

Toluca

On 6 July 2020 it was announced that Plata would join Liga MX side Toluca for the 2020–21 season.[26]

International career

Plata was a member of the Ecuador Under-20 national team. On May 20, 2011 Plata was given his first senior call-up to the national team that will play in three friendlies between May 28 – June 7 that will help determine La Tricolor's final roster for this summer's Copa América.[27] Plata made his debut for the senior team against Canada, on June 1, 2011, as a second half sub in a 2–2 away draw, at his club team, Toronto FC's home field BMO Field.[28] Plata was called up for friendlies against the United States and El Slavador, in the game against El Salvador Plata scored two goals in a 5–1 win over El Salvador

Style of play

Standing at 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in), Plata is the shortest player in MLS history, alongside Cristian Techera;[29][30] although not physically imposing, his small stature, combined with his low centre of gravity and resulting balance, make him extremely agile, and allow him to change direction very quickly in tight spaces, while his strong legs allow him to excel in short bursts of speed.[31][32] In addition to his mobility and elusiveness, Plata is an extremely quick and dynamic player, who is known for his great acceleration over short distances, and his pace on the ball, as well as his dribbling ability and technical skills.[31][32][33][34] A creative forward, Plata is an accurate finisher, and is capable of both scoring and assisting goals, which allows him to play in several offensive positions: although he has been used as a striker or as a supporting forward, his favoured role is on the left wing, a position which allows him to move out wide to receive the ball, beat players on the dribble, and subsequently cut into the middle of the pitch on his stronger right foot to either shoot on goal or set up his teammates.[31][32][33][34]

Career statistics
As of August 13, 2017
Ecuador League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Club League Season Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
LDU Quito Serie A 2010 710———710
Total 710———|710
Canada League Playoffs Canadian Championship CONCACAF Champions League Total
Toronto FC MLS 2011 2635—4135413589
2012 1000—3004201720
Total 3635—71396152109
Ecuador League Playoffs Other Copa Libertadores Total
LDU Quito Serie A 2012 1310———1310
Total 1310———1310
United States League Playoffs Open Cup CONCACAF Champions League Total
Real Salt Lake MLS 2013 2948201522—36611
2014 26136200100—29136
2015 1944—3103102564
2016 30912110220210351312
2017 2975000000—2975
2018 2588302000—28810
2019 100000000—100
Total 159454381311525201835348
Career total 2155048813186514812556557

International
As of October 16, 2018[35]
Ecuador national team
YearAppsGoals
201110
201432
201810
Total52

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreFinalCompetition
1.October 14, 2014Red Bull Arena, New Jersey, United States El Salvador
1–0
5–1
Friendly
2.
3–0

Honors

Club
LDU Quito
Toronto FC
Real Salt Lake

Individual
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References
  1. Ras Tas Tas with Joao Plata & Olmes Garcia | The Real World
  2. "Joao Plata y su debut". alfaromoreno.com.
  3. "Extra.ec – Joao Plata un salsero en la cancha". diario-extra.com. October 3, 2010
  4. Una excelente primera impresión. futbolinmediato.com. August 24, 2010
  5. "Liga Deportiva Universitaria – Liga de Quito; Un sitio de hinchas Liguistas para hinchas Liguistas". liguistas.com.
  6. Joao Plata: Estoy contento y esperemos seguir así. ecuavisa.com. September 21, 2010
  7. Joao Plata se suma a Estupiñan y Ganchoso en el sueño americano (Audio). teradeportes.com. January 6, 2011
  8. "Toronto FC Signs Stevanovic And Plata". torontofc.ca. March 24, 2011
  9. "Gordon Goal Gifts Reds a Draw". Toronto FC. April 2, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  10. "Toronto Takes A Stranglehold". Toronto FC. April 28, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  11. "Toronto Advances To NCC Final". Toronto FC. May 5, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  12. "Reds Rocket to NCC Final". Toronto FC. May 4, 2011. Archived from the original on May 8, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  13. "Joao Plata Named Player of the Week". Toronto FC. May 2011
  14. "Toronto FC wins 2011 Nutrilite Canadian Championship". Canada Soccer Association. July 2, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  15. "Plata wins 2011 George Gross Memorial Award". Canada Soccer Association. July 2, 2011. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  16. "Plata Paces Toronto To Victory". Toronto FC. July 27, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  17. "Toronto tops Dallas to reach CCL quarters". CONCACAF. October 18, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  18. "Plata's transfer fee". CSN.
  19. "TFC Agree To Terms With Joao Plata". TFC. January 10, 2012.
  20. "CCL: So Near Yet So Far". TFC. April 5, 2012.
  21. "Plata Loan Deal Finalized". Toronto FC. July 2012
  22. "Plata's TFC future up in air; agent tweets he may join RSL". MLSsoccer.com. January 24, 2013
  23. "Real Salt Lake acquires FW Joao Plata from Toronto". Real Salt Lake. January 2013
  24. "Real Salt Lake Twitter Account". Twitter. Real Salt Lake. May 3, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  25. "RSL Announces 2020 Roster Decisions". November 21, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  26. "Toluca se refuerza con Joao Plata, quien llega del Real Salt Lake". Mediotiempo.com (in Spanish). July 6, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  27. "Plata Receives Ecuador Call". Toronto FC. May 21, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  28. "Joao Plata Makes Ecuador Debut". Toronto FC. June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
  29. "Joao Plata Stands Tall". MLS Soccer. October 2, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  30. "Cristian Techera". www.whitecapsfc.com. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  31. "Real Salt Lake take first loss of 2016 prior to matchup against Houston Dynamo". HoustonDynamo.com. April 25, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  32. Will Parchman (March 10, 2016). "Unique challenges await Seattle Sounders in first road trip of 2016". SoundersFC. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  33. "Joao Plata - Profile". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  34. Sam Stejskal (April 4, 2016). "Stejskal: Real Salt Lake's Joao Plata emerging as true MLS star". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  35. Joao Plata at National-Football-Teams.com
  36. "RFB Toronto FC "Man of the Year" Award". redpatchboys.ca. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
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