{{Short description|Australian association footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Josh Cavallo | fullname = Joshua John Cavallo | image = Josh Cavallo Adelaide United FC.jpg | caption = Cavallo with Adelaide United in 2021 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|11|13|df=yes}} | birth_place = Bentleigh East, Victoria, Australia | height = 1.76 m<ref name="sw"/> | position = Left back, central midfielder | currentclub = Stamford | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2015–2016 | youthclubs1 = Melbourne Victory | youthyears2 = 2017–2019 | youthclubs2 = Melbourne City | years1 = 2017–2019 | clubs1 = Melbourne City NPL | caps1 = 72 | goals1 = 7 | years2 = 2019–2021 | clubs2 = Western United | caps2 = 9 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2021–2025 | clubs3 = Adelaide United | caps3 = 49 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2025 | clubs4 = Peterborough Sports | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2025– | clubs5 = Stamford | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2018 | nationalteam1 = Australia U20 | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 09:11, 8 October 2025 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 23 March 2020 }}
'''Joshua John Cavallo''' (born 13 November 1999) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays for Southern League Premier Division Central club Stamford. Cavallo has represented the Australian under-20 national team. He came out as gay in 2021, becoming the first active male top-flight professional soccer player to do so.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-18 |title=Cavallo reveals daily death threats for being gay |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44300898/josh-cavallo-1st-openly-gay-male-player-reveals-daily-death-threats |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Early life== Joshua John Cavallo<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/13384|title=AFCS|website=stats.the-afc.com|accessdate=27 October 2021}}</ref> was born on 13 November 1999 in Bentleigh East, Victoria.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nationalworld.com/sport/josh-cavallo-what-did-adelaide-united-football-player-say-about-coming-out-as-gay-and-support-received-3434113| title=Josh Cavallo: what did Adelaide United football player say about coming out as gay - and support received| publisher=National World| date=27 October 2021| accessdate=27 October 2021}}</ref> He is of Italian and Maltese descent.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/maltese-australian-player-cavallo-comes-out-as-gay-in-a-league-first.910836| title = Maltese-Australian footballer Josh Cavallo comes out as gay| date = 27 October 2021}}</ref>
He says that he was initially more into playing tennis, but his brother encouraged him to kick a ball around in the backyard and it was not long before he "fell in love" with the game.<ref name=interview2021/>
==Club career== ===Youth=== [[File:Joshua Cavallo.jpg|thumb|right|Cavallo with Melbourne Victory Youth in 2016]] Cavallo was scouted by a national program at the age of 15, and later offered a scholarship by Melbourne Victory.<ref name=interview2021/> He represented both Melbourne Victory FC Youth and Melbourne City FC Youth.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-01-29|title=Youth in Focus: Josh Cavallo|url=https://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/news/youth-focus-josh-cavallo|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Melbourne City FC|language=en}}</ref>
===Western United=== On 15 April 2019, Melbourne City announced that Cavallo would leave the club at the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2018–19 season.<ref>{{cite news|website=Melbourne City FC|date=15 April 2019|accessdate=27 October 2021|title=Cavallo to depart at season's end|url=https://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/news/cavallo-depart-seasons-end}}</ref>
On 24 June 2019, new A-League side Western United,<ref name =wu2019/> representing western Melbourne suburbs and western Victorian regional towns,<ref>{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.wufc.com.au/about-us |website=Western United FC |access-date=13 March 2024 }}</ref> announced that Cavallo would join the club ahead of its inaugural season.<ref name =wu2019>{{cite news|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/western-united-confirm-two-new-signings|title=Signing news: Western United confirm double swoop|website=A-League|date=24 June 2019|first=Jacob|last=Windon}}</ref> He made his debut on 3 January 2020 in a 3–2 loss at his previous club. On as a 71st-minute substitute for Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, he earned a penalty when fouled by goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, which was converted by Besart Berisha.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Greco |first1=John |title=Maclaren at the double as 10-man City hold off United fightback |url=https://www.a-league.com.au/match/melbourne-city-fc-v-western-united-fc-a-league-men-03-01-2020/2024008 |access-date=27 October 2021 |date=3 January 2020}}</ref>
Western United announced that Cavallo was leaving the club on 10 February 2021<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wufc.com.au/news/josh-cavallo-departs|title=Josh Cavallo departs|website=Western United FC|date=10 February 2021|accessdate=27 October 2021}}</ref> to seek more playing time with another A-League club.
===Adelaide United=== On 18 February 2021, Cavallo signed a short-term contract to play for Adelaide United.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 February 2021|title=Reds sign Cavallo for remainder of the season|url=https://www.adelaideunited.com.au/news/reds-sign-cavallo-remainder-season|access-date=11 August 2021|website=Adelaide United FC}}</ref> After a successful stint in the 2020–21 A-League, he signed a two-year contract extension on 11 May.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 May 2021|title=Reds extend Cavallo contract for two-years|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/reds-extend-cavallo-contract-two-years|access-date=11 August 2021|website=A-League}}</ref> He was rewarded with Adelaide United's A-League Rising Star award after a successful 2020–21 campaign, in which he started 15 games and made 18 appearances.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adelaideunited.com.au/news/waldus-and-halloran-claim-2021-alagich-vidmar-awards|website=Adelaide United FC|accessdate=27 October 2021|date=15 June 2021|title=Waldus and Halloran claim 2021 Alagich Vidmar Awards}}</ref>
He plays as a left back and central midfielder for the club.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-08-29|title=Joshua Cavallo|url=https://www.adelaideunited.com.au/player/joshua-cavallo|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Adelaide United|language=en|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112110220/https://www.adelaideunited.com.au/player/joshua-cavallo|url-status=dead}}</ref>
During the 2024–25 season, Cavallo failed to make a single appearance for Adelaide, only making the bench eight times throughout the season. He departed the club at the season's end.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thank you and farewell, Josh Cavallo |url=https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/thank-you-and-farewell-josh-cavallo/ |website=adelaideunited.com.au |access-date=21 June 2025 |date=22 May 2025}}</ref> On 13 January 2026, Cavallo stated that his departure from Adelaide United was influenced by homophobia. In a statement published on Instagram, he alleged that teammates had mocked him and shared images of him and his partner.<ref>{{cite web |title=Josh Cavallo alleges Adelaide United exit was due to homophobia |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/news/josh-cavallo-alleges-adelaide-united-exit-homophobia-508786/ |website=Attitude |date=13 January 2026 |access-date=13 January 2026}}</ref>
===Peterborough Sports=== On 11 July 2025, Cavallo joined English National League North side Peterborough Sports.<ref> {{cite tweet|number=1943702218919625155|title=𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞 🇦🇺 🛫🛬🇬🇧 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 🟠⚫️ 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐞 & 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐡'𝐬 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 Join us in welcoming Josh not only to the club but to the UK 🇬🇧|user=psfcturbines|author-link=Peterborough Sports F.C.|date=11 July 2025|accessdate=13 July 2025}}</ref>
==International career== Cavallo was in the Australian under-19 national team which played in the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship in October–November 2018, starting with a game against Korea Republic.<ref>{{cite web | title=Update to Young Socceroos squad for AFC U19 Championship | website=Socceroos | date=19 October 2018 | url=https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/update-young-socceroos-squad-afc-u19-championship | access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref>
Cavallo has represented the Australian under-20 national team.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|title=Australian Josh Cavallo becomes only openly gay male footballer in the pro game|work=The New York Times|date=28 October 2021|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4076068/2021/10/27/australian-josh-cavallo-becomes-only-openly-gay-male-footballer-in-the-pro-game/|access-date=2021-11-12|language=en}}</ref><ref name=aoty2023/>
Cavallo hoped to make the team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup,<ref>{{cite web | title=Josh Cavallo: My dream is to play in Qatar, but I don't want to put my life in danger | website=Marca | date=15 May 2024 | url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/2022/06/30/62bd7b9b268e3eca0f8b45ef.html | access-date=30 June 2022}}</ref> but was not selected to play. He was disappointed at FIFA's decision to ban players from wearing "OneLove" armbands at the tournament<ref>{{cite web | last=Emmet Lyons | first=Ami Kaufman | title=Josh Cavallo: Only openly gay top-flight male footballer says FIFA's 'OneLove' armband ban has made him feel 'excluded' | website=CNN | date=23 November 2022 | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/23/football/josh-cavallo-qatar-world-cup-fifa-armband-ban-spt-intl/index.html | access-date=24 January 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== He came out as gay in October 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-10-27|title=Josh Cavallo: 'I'm a footballer and I'm gay,' says Australian player|language=en-GB|work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-59060323|access-date=2021-11-12}}</ref><ref name=interview2021/> At the time, there were no other openly gay male footballers playing professional top-flight football. He said in a statement, "I hope that in sharing who I am, I can show others who identify as LGBTQ+ that they are welcome in the football community".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/oct/27/i-have-been-fighting-my-sexuality-a-league-player-josh-cavallo-comes-out-as-gay| title='I have been fighting my sexuality': A-League player Josh Cavallo comes out as gay| work=The Guardian | first=Emma| last=Kemp | date= 27 October 2021|access-date= 27 October 2021 | archive-date= 27 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211027065534/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/oct/27/i-have-been-fighting-my-sexuality-a-league-player-josh-cavallo-comes-out-as-gay | url-status=live}}</ref> Cavallo said he had "never smiled so much in my life" and had "the best night's sleep" after his announcement.<ref name=senior>{{cite web | title=Cavallo: 'I've never smiled this much' | website=The Senior | date=28 October 2021 | url=https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/7489120/cavallo-ive-never-smiled-this-much/ | access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref> He was fully and explicitly supported by Adelaide United management and fellow players.<ref name=berrill2022>{{cite web | last=Berrill | first=Sophie | title=Josh Cavallo: 'People don't have to get football to get my story' | website=Marketing Mag | date=22 August 2022 | url=https://www.marketingmag.com.au/featured/josh-cavallo-people-dont-have-to-get-football-to-get-my-story/ | access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Adelaide United supports Josh's truth | website=Football Australia | date=27 October 2021 | url=https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/adelaide-united-supports-joshs-truth | access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref> The announcement was widely reported in the international press,<ref>{{cite web | title=Australian footballer Josh Cavallo says he is gay in emotional social media post | website=BreakingNews.ie | date=27 October 2021 | url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/australian-footballer-josh-cavallo-says-he-is-gay-in-emotional-social-media-post-1205103.html | access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref> and Cavallo received messages of support from many football players, including Gerard Piqué, Marcus Rashford, Antoine Griezmann,<ref name=interview2021>{{cite interview | interviewer-last=Safi | interviewer-first=Michael|first= Josh| last=Cavallo| format=audio + text | title=Josh Cavallo: the world's only openly gay top-tier men's footballer | website=the Guardian | date=14 November 2021 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2021/nov/15/josh-cavallo-the-worlds-only-openly-gay-top-tier-mens-footballer | access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref> Jordan Henderson,<ref name=senior/> Gary Lineker,<ref name=interview2021/> and Zlatan Ibrahimović<ref>{{Cite news |title=Josh Cavallo exclusive: Nine months since coming out, Qatar fear, Jake Daniels and Premier League dream |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12642600/josh-cavallo-exclusive-nine-months-since-coming-out-qatar-fear-jake-daniels-and-premier-league-dream |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221005022545/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12642600/josh-cavallo-exclusive-nine-months-since-coming-out-qatar-fear-jake-daniels-and-premier-league-dream |archive-date=2022-10-05 |access-date=2026-01-14 |work=Sky Sports |language=en-GB}}</ref>, as well as fans, strangers, and celebrities such as Lil Nas X and Ellen DeGeneres.<ref name=berrill2022/>
Cavallo was the first high-profile player to come out during their career since English footballer Justin Fashanu made a similar announcement in 1990. Fashanu faced widespread homophobia after the announcement.<ref name=berrill2022/>{{efn|Fashanu committed suicide eight years later, after fleeing to England following charges being laid in the U.S. that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old boy, which he denied, saying that the sex had been consensual.<ref>{{cite web | title=Fashanu 'may have fled US'| website=BBC News | date=2 May 1998 | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/86840.stm | access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Justin Fashanu found hanged in lock-up garage| website=The Independent | date=4 May 1998 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/justin-fashanu-found-hanged-in-lockup-garage-1161425.html | access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref>}} In May 2022 English footballer Jake Daniels came out, aged 17, becoming the UK's only male professional footballer to be publicly out at the time, and the first since Fashanu.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12614531/jake-daniels-blackpool-forward-becomes-uks-first-active-male-professional-footballer-to-come-out-publicly-as-gay |title=Jake Daniels: Blackpool forward becomes UK's first active male professional footballer to come out publicly as gay |date=16 May 2022 |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=Sky Sports}}</ref> He cited Cavallo among those who had helped him to come out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Daniel |url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/jake-daniels-coming-out-gay-beautiful-moment-change-british-football-forever-1633724 | title=Jake Daniels coming out as gay is a beautiful moment that could change British football forever |date=16 May 2022 |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=i News}}</ref>
In March 2024, Cavallo proposed to his partner Leighton Morrell on the pitch at Coopers Stadium, Adelaide United's home ground.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trailblazer Cavallo gets engaged on Adelaide Utd pitch | website=BBC Sport | date=13 March 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68552458 | access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref> He posted three photos on Instagram, one of which showed Morrell wearing an engagement ring, and thanked his club for their support and encouragement to live his life authentically.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Starting this year with my fiancé... |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C4c4_HoSUtK/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website= Instagram}}</ref>
==Recognition== He won Adelaide United's Rising Star award for the 2020–21 season.<ref name=interview2021/>
In 2022, Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from Flinders University in Adelaide, in recognition of "his exceptional contributions as a role model in elite men's sport and as a champion for equality".<ref name=aoty2023>{{cite web | title=Josh Cavallo | website=Australian of the Year | url=https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/josh-cavallo | access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref>
Cavallo was nominated as 2023 SA Young Australian of the Year.<ref name=aoty2023/>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 18 March 2025}}<ref name="sw">{{cite web |title=J. Cavallo |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/joshua-cavallo/522062/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" Style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Australia Cup !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Western United |2019–20 |A-League |9||0||colspan="2"|–||9||0 |- |2020–21 |A-League |0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !9!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!9!!0 |- |rowspan="5"|Adelaide United |2020–21 |A-League |19||0||colspan="2"|–||19||0 |- |2021–22 |A-League Men |19||0||3||0||22||0 |- |2022–23 |A-League Men |7||0||3||0||10||0 |- |2023–24 |A-League Men |4||0||0||0||4||0 |- |2024–25 |A-League Men |0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="3"|Total !49!!0!!6!!0!!55!!0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !58!!0!!6!!0!!64!!0 |}
==See also== * List of Adelaide United FC club award winners
==Footnotes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerway|joshua-cavallo/522062}} * {{instagram|joshua.cavallo}} * [https://www.fotmob.com/players/970336/joshua-cavallo Profile] at FotMob
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cavallo, Josh}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:People from Bentleigh, Victoria Category:Sportsmen from Victoria (state) Category:Australian men's soccer players Category:Soccer players from Melbourne Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Melbourne Victory FC players Category:Melbourne City FC players Category:Western United FC players Category:Adelaide United FC players Category:Peterborough Sports F.C. players Category:National Premier Leagues players Category:A-League Men players Category:Australian LGBTQ soccer players Category:Australian gay sportsmen Category:Australian people of Italian descent Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent Category:Australian people of Maltese descent Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in England Category:National League (English football) players