{{Short description|Canadian soccer player (born 2005)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Christian Zeppieri |image = |image_size = |caption = |fullname = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|5|4}} |birth_place = Vaughan, Ontario, Canada |height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}} |position = Midfielder |currentclub = Vaughan Azzurri |clubnumber = |youthyears1 = 2008–2017 |youthclubs1 = Vaughan Azzurri |youthyears2 = 2017–2020 |youthclubs2 = Toronto FC |collegeyears1 = 2023– |college1 = York Lions |collegecaps1 = 41 |collegegoals1 = 25<!--as of 2025--> |years1 = 2021 |clubs1 = Vaughan Azzurri |caps1 = 10 |goals1 = 2 |years2 = 2023 |clubs2 = Vaughan Azzurri |caps2 = 19 |goals2 = 1 |years3 = 2024–2025 |clubs3 = York United |caps3 = 10 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2025 |clubs4 = → York United FC Academy (loan) |caps4 = 4 |goals4 = 0 |years5 = 2026– |clubs5 = Vaughan Azzurri |caps5 = 1 |goals5 = 0 |nationalyears1 = |nationalteam1 = |nationalcaps1 = |nationalgoals1 = |club-update = April 19, 2026 |nationalteam-update = }}
'''Christian Zeppieri''' (born May 4, 2003) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for Vaughan Azzurri in the Ontario Premier League.
==Early life== Zeppieri played youth soccer with Vaughan Azzurri and the Toronto FC Academy and also spent a year playing club soccer in Italy.<ref name=york />
==University career== In 2023, Zeppieri began attending York University, where he played for the men's soccer team.<ref name=york>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/mens-soccer/roster/christian-zeppieri/10539|title=Christian Zeppieri York Lions profile|work=York Lions}}</ref> In the first game of the 2023 season on September 1, he scored the tying goal via a penalty kick in a 1-1 draw against the Laurier Golden Hawks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/9/2/womens-soccer-zeppieri-zaps-hawks-with-late-equalizer-to-secure-season-opening-draw-for-lions.aspx|title=Zeppieri zaps Hawks with late equalizer to earn season-opening draw for Lions|date=September 2, 2023|first=Arpan|last=Kaur|work=York Lions}}</ref> In his rookie season, he was twice named the York Lions Athlete of the Week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/9/18/varsity-athletics-zeppieri-hannah-ives-named-york-athletes-of-the-week-for-period-ending-sept-17.aspx|title=Zeppieri, Hannah, Ives named York Athletes of the Week for period ending Sept. 17|date=September 18, 2023|work=York Lions}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/11/6/varsity-athletics-zeppieri-mclennan-named-york-athletes-of-the-week-for-period-ending-nov-5.aspx|title=Zeppieri, Mclennan named York Athletes of the Week for period ending Nov. 5|date=November 6, 2023|work=York Lions}}</ref> He helped York advance to the OUA final, but missed the final due to suspension, after earning a second yellow card in the semi-final after removing his jersey in celebration after scoring a goal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://49-sport.com/2023/11/02/york-lions-defeat-ontario-tech-oua-semifinal/|title=Zeppieri sees red for shirt celebration as York advance to OUA Final|work=49 Sport|date=November 2, 2023|first=Ben|last=Steiner}}</ref> At the end of his rookie season, he was named the OUA West MVP and an OUA First Team All-Star,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/11/2/womens-soccer-zeppieri-wins-oua-west-mvp-attardo-ramirez-earn-all-star-selections.aspx|title=Zeppieri wins OUA West MVP, Attardo, Ramirez earn All-Star selections|date=November 2, 2023|work=York Lions}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://oua.ca/sports/msoc/2023-24/releases/awards_and_all_stars|title=Veteran Marzouk, newcomer Zeppieri take home top honours at opposite ends of varsity tenure|work=Ontario University Athletics|date=November 2, 2023}}</ref> and was also named a U Sports First Team All-Canadian.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/11/8/mens-soccer-zeppieri-named-u-sports-first-team-all-canadian-following-stellar-rookie-campaign.aspx|title=Zeppieri named U Sports First-Team All Canadian following stellar rookie campaign|date=November 8, 2023|work=York Lions}}</ref> He was also name the school's Male Athlete of the Year for 2023-24.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2024/4/4/best-and-brightest-of-2023-24-take-centre-stage-at-55th-annual-york-varsity-athletics-banquet.aspx|title=Best and brightest of 2023-24 take centre stage at 55th annual York varsity athletics banquet|date=April 4, 2024|work=York Lions}}</ref> In 2024, he was again named the OUA West MVP and an OUA West First Team All-Star,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oua.ca/sports/msoc/2024-25/award_winners|title=Coore, Zeppieri claim most valuable player honors for their championship bound teams|date=November 1, 2024|work=Ontario University Athletics}}</ref> and was also award the Joe Johnson Memorial Trophy, as the most outstanding player of U Sports men's soccer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.usports.ca/sports/msoc/2024-25c/releases/MSOCAWARDS2024 |title=Christian Zeppieri named U Sports men's soccer player of the year |publisher=U Sports |date=November 6, 2024}}</ref> In 2025, he was named the OUA West MVP, an OUA West First Team All-Star, and a U Sports First Team All-Canadian, earning all three honours for the third consecutive year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2025/10/30/mens-soccer-zeppieris-third-straight-oua-west-mvp-headlines-long-list-of-lions-conference-award-winners.aspx|title=Zeppieri's third straight OUA West MVP headlines long list of Lions conference award winners|date=October 30, 2025|work=York Lions}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2025/11/5/mens-soccer-zeppieri-named-u-sports-first-team-all-canadian-for-third-straight-year-sciortino-morano-crack-all-rookie-squad.aspx|title=Zeppieri named U Sports First Team All-Canadian for the third straight year, Sciortino, Morano crack All-Rookie Squad|date=November 5, 2025|work=York Lions}}</ref>
==Club career== In 2021 and 2023, Zeppieri played with Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario.<ref name=21l1o>{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/48060027|title=Christian Zeppieri 2021 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}}</ref><ref name=23l1o>{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/64352939|title=Christian Zeppieri 2023 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}}</ref>
At the 2024 CPL-U Sports Draft, Zeppieri was selected in the first round (fourth overall) by York United FC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkunitedfc.canpl.ca/article/york-united-fc-select-christian-zeppieri-and-jason-hartill-in-2024-cpl-u-sports-draft|title=York United FC select Christian Zeppieri and Jason Hartill in 2024 CPL-U Sports Draft|date=December 14, 2023|work=York United FC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/12/14/mens-soccer-zeppieri-taken-by-york-united-fc-in-2024-u-sports-cpl-draft.aspx|title=Zeppieri Taken By York United FC In 2024 CPL-U Sports Draft|date=December 14, 2023|work=York Lions}}</ref> In April 2024, he signed a U Sports contract with the club, allowing him to maintain his university eligibility.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkunitedfc.canpl.ca/article/york-united-fc-announce-signing-of-midfielder-christian-zeppieri-to-u-sports-contract|title=York United FC announce signing of midfielder Christian Zeppieri to U SPORTS contract|date=April 12, 2024|work=York United FC}}</ref> In August 2024, he departed the club to return to university, with the club retaining his rights for the 2025 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/cpl-clubs-announce-multiple-u-sports-players-remaining-with-teams-returning-to-university|title=CPL clubs announce multiple U SPORTS players remaining with teams, returning to university|date=August 15, 2024|work=Canadian Premier League}}</ref> During the 2025 season, he spent some time with the second team York United FC Academy in League1 Ontario.<ref name=l1o>{{Cite web|url=https://league1ontario.com/player/6779032-christian-zeppieri/|title=Christian Zeppieri L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}}</ref> In August 2025, he again returned to university, but the club declined his rights for the 2026 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canpl.ca/news/cpl-clubs-announce-u-sports-players-remaining-with-teams-returning-to-university|title=CPL clubs announce U SPORTS players remaining with teams, returning to university|date=August 15, 2025|work=Canadian Premier League}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|August 15, 2025}}<ref>{{soccerway|christian-zeppieri/607259}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|Domestic Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division !Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=3|Vaughan Azzurri |2021<ref name=21l1o/> |rowspan=2|League1 Ontario |10||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||1||0 |- |2023<ref name=23l1o/> |19||1||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- ! colspan="2" |'''Total''' !29!!3!!1!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!31!!3 |- |rowspan=3|York United FC |2024 |rowspan=2|Canadian Premier League |8||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- |2025 |2||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- ! colspan="2" |'''Total''' !10!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!11!!0 |- |York United FC Academy |2025 |League1 Ontario Championship |4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0||4||0 |- ! colspan="3" |'''Career total''' !43!!3!!1!!0!!2!!0!!0!!0!!45!!3 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{soccerway|christian-zeppieri/607259}}
{{York United FC squad}} {{2024 CPL–U Sports Draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeppieri, Christian}} Category:2003 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian men's soccer players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Sportspeople from Vaughan Category:Vaughan Azzurri players Category:Toronto FC Academy players Category:Ontario Premier League players Category:Inter Toronto FC draft picks Category:Inter Toronto FC players Category:Canadian Premier League players Category:York Lions men's soccer players Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen Category:University and college men's soccer players in Canada Category:Inter Toronto FC Academy players