{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 2005)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Rocco Vata | image = File:Rocco Vata 12072025 (2).jpg | caption = Vata in 2025. | full_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|4|18|df=y}} | birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland<ref name=wf>{{WorldFootball.net|rocco-vata}}</ref> | height = 1.75 m<ref name=wf/> | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Watford | clubnumber = 11 | youthyears1 = 2012–2021 | youthclubs1 = Celtic | years1 = 2021–2024 | clubs1 = Celtic B | caps1 = 55 | goals1 = 28 | years2 = 2022–2024 | clubs2 = Celtic | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2024– | clubs3 = Watford | caps3 = 45 | goals3 = 5 | nationalyears1 = 2019–2020 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U15 | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2021–2022 | nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U17 | nationalcaps2 = 8 | nationalgoals2 = 3 | nationalyears3 = 2021 | nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U18 | nationalcaps3 = 2 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2022–2023 | nationalteam4 = Republic of Ireland U19 | nationalcaps4 = 8 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | nationalyears5 = 2023– | nationalteam5 = Republic of Ireland U21 | nationalcaps5 = 10 | nationalgoals5 = 6 | nationalyears6 = 2025– | nationalteam6 = Republic of Ireland | nationalcaps6 = 1 | nationalgoals6 = 0 | club-update = 1 March 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 23:37, 10 October 2025 (UTC) }} '''Rocco Vata''' (born 18 April 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|Watford}} club Watford. Born in Scotland, he represents the Republic of Ireland national team.
==Club career== ===Celtic=== thumb|left|200px|Vata with Celtic in 2024. Born in Glasgow, Vata followed in the footsteps of his father, former professional footballer and Celtic player Rudi Vata by joining Celtic at the age of seven.<ref name=dr>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-rocco-vata-celtic-starlet-26449653|title=Who is Rocco Vata? Celtic starlet with a famous father and his 'killer attitude' that sounds oven ready for Angeball|first=Steven|last=Mair|date=12 March 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=dailyrecord.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.celticfc.com/players/celtic-b/Rocco-Vata/|title=Rocco Vata|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=celticfc.com}}</ref> He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/rocco-vata-son-celtic-cult-21008984|title=Rocco Vata - son of Celtic cult hero Rudi - signs first professional deal for the Hoops|first=Daniel|last=Caw|date=9 July 2021|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=glasgowlive.co.uk}}</ref>
He was included in pre-season training with the Celtic first team ahead of the 2022–23 season, but was assigned to the club's B team in 2022, making his debut in the Lowland League the same year.<ref name=dr/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/20287974.rocco-vata-given-looks-ready-celtic-assessment-veteran-coos-starlets-quality/|title=Rocco Vata given 'looks ready' Celtic assessment as veteran coos over starlet's quality|first=James|last=McLaughlin|date=18 July 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=heraldscotland.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.balls.ie/football/europe-biggest-interested-rocco-vata-529334|title=Report: Europe's Biggest Clubs Lining Up To Sign Ireland Youth Star|first=Gary|last=Connaughton|date=20 October 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=balls.ie}}</ref> Following impressive performances for Celtic's youth and B teams, he is seen as one of Celtic and Ireland's most promising players, and was linked with Italian clubs Juventus, Roma and AC Milan, as well as English sides Arsenal and Manchester City in October 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/he-could-become-the-ronaldo-of-ireland-high-hopes-for-talented-16-year-old-41028718.html|title='He could become the Ronaldo of Ireland' – High hopes for talented 16-year-old|first=Aidan|last=Fitzmaurice|date=8 November 2021|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=independent.ie}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/tmw-celtic-tutti-pazzi-per-rocco-vata-classe-2005-e-seguito-da-juventus-e-milan-1745726|title=Celtic, tutti pazzi per Rocco Vata: classe 2005, è seguito da Juventus e Milan|trans-title=Celtic, all crazy for Rocco Vata: born in 2005, followed by Juventus and Milan|first=Andrea|last=Losapio|date=20 October 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=tuttomercatoweb.com|language=Italian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/rocco-vata-celtic-exit-talk-25329085|title=Rocco Vata Celtic exit talk addressed by Postecoglou with Callum McGregor example after 'valuation'|first=Ben|last=Banks|date=22 October 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=glasgowlive.co.uk}}</ref>
Vata made his first team debut for Celtic on 28 December 2022, coming on as a substitute for Matt O'Riley as Celtic beat Hibernian 4–0 away at Easter Road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scots Prem (Sky Sports) |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/hibernian-vs-celtic/teams/465128?authId=1%2A104er5v%2A_a%2AcmVHOXFFN1U0UC1xV0pLTGFqZXV2LWVwbWhUQVFQZnZycmhOWGpER3ozYWVSUk9zQU0yNV9sYTV4Tk5pb3oxUg.. |access-date=4 January 2023 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref> He scored his first senior goal in a 5–0 rout of Buckie Thistle on 21 January 2024 in the 2023–24 Scottish Cup.
===Watford=== On 5 July 2024, Vata signed for EFL Championship club Watford on a four-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Rocco Vata: Watford sign Celtic teenager on four-year deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cgr5d69z68lo |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==International career== Vata is eligible to represent Albania through his father (who played for the Albania national team), the Republic of Ireland through his grandmother on his mother's side, Scotland through his mother and by virtue of being born there, and Montenegro.<ref name=dr/>
On 31 August 2023, Vata received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for their 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification fixtures against Turkey U21 and San Marino U21 on 8 and 12 September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/crawford-names-u21-squad-for-euro-qualifiers-in-cork|title=Crawford names U21 squad for EURO qualifiers in Cork | Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie}}</ref> He made his U21 debut in the San Marino game, scoring twice in a 3–0 win at Turners Cross.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/ireland-u21s-san-marino-6167053-Sep2023/|title=Perfect start for the Irish U21s as they cruise to routine win over San Marino|first=Gavin|last=Cooney|date=12 September 2023|website=The 42}}</ref> On 22 March 2024, he scored a hat-trick on his second appearance for the side, in a 7–0 win away to San Marino U21.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/rocco-vata-bags-hat-trick-and-sinclair-armstrong-on-the-double-as-ireland-hammer-san-marino-as-it-happened/a1163053254.html|title=Rocco Vata bags hat-trick and Sinclair Armstrong on the double as Ireland hammer San Marino: As it happened|date=22 March 2024|website=Irish Independent}}</ref>
On 13 March 2025, Vata received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland senior team, for their UEFA Nations League games against Bulgaria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/0313/1501883-vata-and-abankwah-receive-republic-of-ireland-call-ups/|title=Vata and Abankwah receive Republic of Ireland call-ups|date=13 March 2025|via=www.rte.ie}}</ref>
==Personal life== Rocco is the son of former footballer Rudi Vata.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/former-celtic-star-rudi-vata-on-fleeing-communist-albania-and-why-a-game-in-dublin-changed-his-life/a283541589.html|title=Former Celtic star Rudi Vata on fleeing communist Albania and why a game in Dublin changed his life|date=23 November 2024|website=www.independent.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/rocco-vata-6596548-Jan2025/|title='Success without merit... this is worse than defeat' - The tough love that shaped Rocco Vata|first=Gavin|last=Cooney|date=19 January 2025|website=The 42}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|matches played 1 November 2025}}<ref>{{Soccerway|rocco-vata/757878}}</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|National cup{{efn|Includes Scottish Cup, FA Cup}} !colspan=2|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=4|Celtic B |2021–22 |Lowland League |24||7||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||0||0||24||7 |- |2022–23 |Lowland League |16||9||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=statsSCC|Appearance(s) in the Scottish Challenge Cup}}||1||18||10 |- |2023–24 |Lowland League |15||12||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=statsSCC}}||1||16||13 |- !colspan=2|Total !55!!28!!colspan=2|—!!colspan=2|—!!3!!2!!58!!30 |- |rowspan=3|Celtic |2022–23 |Scottish Premiership |4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0 |- |2023–24 |Scottish Premiership |1||0||1||1||0||0||0||0||2||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !5!!0!!1!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!6!!1 |- |rowspan=2|Watford |2024–25 |EFL Championship |33||3||1||1||3||0||colspan=2|—||37||5 |- |2025–26 |EFL Championship |10||2||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||10||2 |- !colspan=3|Career total !108!!34!!2!!2!!3!!0!!3!!2!!116!!38 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 20 March 2025}}
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="2"|Republic of Ireland |- |2025||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!1!!0 |}
==Honours== '''Celtic''' *Scottish Premiership: 2022–23, 2023–24<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/rocco-vata/757878/|title=Summary - Rocco Vata - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}</ref> *Scottish Cup: 2023–24<ref name="auto"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{CelticFC|players/celtic-b/Rocco-Vata}}
{{Watford F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vata, Rocco}} Category:2005 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Glasgow Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Irish people of Albanian descent Category:Irish people of Montenegrin descent Category:Irish people of Scottish descent Category:Scottish people of Irish descent Category:Scottish people of Albanian descent Category:Scottish people of Montenegrin descent Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Lowland Football League players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:Celtic F.C. players Category:Watford F.C. players Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen