Perth Glory is delighted to confirm that commanding Ecuador international centre-back Luis Canga has signed a one-year deal with the club.
The 1.90m 29-year-old brings a wealth of experience having made more than 200 appearances in the LigaPro Serie A, Ecuador’s top-flight, played for Brazilian heavyweights Vasco de Gama and featured in South America’s premier club tournament, the Copa Libertadores.
After being capped by Ecuador at both Under-17 and Under-20 level, Glory’s latest recruit was just 19 when he won his first senior cap in a 2014 victory over Bolivia.
He is now relishing the challenge of establishing himself as a cornerstone of Glory’s defence.
“I am very happy to be joining a great club like Perth Glory and am looking forward to linking up with my teammates and working under Head Coach David Zdrilic,” he said.
“I’m totally committed and motivated to helping the club achieve its objectives this season and will be giving everything in each and every training session and game.
“I’m very excited to work hard and help bring success to the club.”
Glory Football Director, Stan Lazaridis, believes that Canga is a vital signing for the club.
“Luis is someone who adds a huge level of experience and physicality to our defence,” he said.
“He’s played international football, won titles at club level, is fierce and strong and is a good age at 29.
“His presence will help bring the best out of our younger defenders.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Head Coach David Zdrilic.
“Luis is a physically imposing defender who is also comfortable on the ball,” he said.
“He’s played against some of the best players in South American football and that experience and know-how will be absolutely invaluable for us.
“We’re confident that he has the quality to make a major impression during the upcoming A-League campaign.”
Canga began his football journey in the junior ranks at LDU Quito and duly made his senior debut for the club in 2014, by which time he had already featured for Ecuador’s Under-17 and Under-20 sides.
That same year he won three full international caps, following his debut against Bolivia by starting against both Brazil and the USA.
During that clash with Brazil, he came up against a host of world-class stars including Neymar, Willian, Fernandinho and Marquinhos.
2018 saw him join another leading Ecuadorian club, Delfin SC, whom he helped claim the LigaPro Serie A title a year later.
The combative defender went on to play more than 120 games for Delfin SC, eventually earning a move to Brazilian top-flight outfit Vasco de Gama where he spent one season before returning to Ecuador, this time signing for Aucas.
It was with Aucas that he claimed another LigaPro Serie A championship medal as the club claimed its first ever title in 2022 and subsequently featured in the Copa Libertadores.
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