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A policeman, customs officer and admin clerk: Meet the Gibraltarians
.jpg "A policeman, customs officer and admin clerk: Meet the Gibraltarians")
Julio Ribas
The Uruguayan (66) spent his playing career in South America and spent two years at Lincoln Red Imps before taking the national job in July 2018. He has won six out of his 47 matches and suffered two defeats (1-0 and 2-0) to Mick McCarthy’s Ireland in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Goalkeeper
Dayle Coleing (Lincoln Red Imps)
Age: 26 Caps: 24
One of several national side players who play their club football with Lincoln Red Imps, Coleing had a previous stint at Glentoran in the season before last. He kept nine clean sheets in 23 games to help Lincoln to a third successive league title last term. Has started each of Gibraltar’s last five internationals and kept successive clean sheets against Liechtenstein and Andorra last November.
Defenders
Jack Sergeant (Lincoln Red Imps)
Age: 28 Caps: 51
The versatile right-back was once at Sevilla’s youth academy and was a mainstay in Lincoln’s side this term. Made his international debut in 2013 and has faced Ireland three times previously.
Roy Chipolina (Lincoln Red Imps)
Age: 40 Caps: 67
The most experienced player in the current Gibraltar side, the London-born centre-half has been with Lincoln since 2006. The national captain also works as a customs officer on the country’s border.
Bernardo Lopes (Lincoln Red Imps)
Age: 29 Caps: 13
Previously at Benfica’s youth academy, centre-half Lopes has been with Lincoln for eight years and has played every minute of Gibraltar’s last 13 internationals.
Jayce Olivero (Europa FC)
Age: 24 Caps: 49
Captain of Europa, making 84 appearances since 2019, as the domestic club finished in second last term. An impressive 49 caps since making his debut at 17. Started each of Gibraltar’s last 10 games.
Ethan Britto
(Lincoln Red Imps)
Age: 22 Caps: 29
A left-back who can also play further forward, Britto started all but two games for Lincoln this term, helping them to another league triumph. A mainstay for the national side since 2021, he also made a late cameo at the Aviva Stadium four years ago.
Midfielders
Nicholas Pozo (Cadiz U-19s)
Age: 18 Caps: 4
Currently plying his trade with Cadiz’s academy, he signed his first professional deal with the La Liga club last month. Made his international debut 12 months ago at 17 and started against France in last Friday’s 3-0 defeat.
Niels Hartman (Loughborough University)
Age: 22 Caps: 2
The Dutch-born centre-half is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at Loughborough University and lines out for their football club, who play in the ninth tier of English football. Made his first international start against the French last week.
Forwards
Lee Casciaro (Lincoln Red Imps)
Age: 41 Caps: 56
The veteran striker has been with Lincoln since 1998 and scored a famous winner in a 2016 Champions League qualifier against Celtic. He also scored Gibraltar’s first competitive goal against Scotland at Hampden Park in 2015, with tonight his fifth clash against Ireland. Works as a policeman.
Ayoub El Hmidi
(St Joseph’s FC)
Age: 22 Caps: 1
The attacker can play across the front three. Capped at U-19 and U-21 level, he made his first start for Gibraltar in Friday’s home defeat to France before coming off on the hour mark.
Kian Ronan (Lincoln Red Imps)
Age: 22 Caps: 24
Born in Harlow, Ronan was at Ipswich Town’s youth academy before he was released in 2019. He has won three league titles with Lincoln since moving to Gibraltar four years ago. The versatile player has started each of the national side’s last three games and has never faced Ireland before.
Substitutes
Joseph Chipolina (Glacis United)
Age: 35 Caps: 54
Younger brother of captain Roy, the left-back is another veteran of the national side and has faced Ireland four times. Works as an administration clerk.
Aymen Mouelhi (St Joseph’s FC)
Age: 36 Caps: 28
Born in Barcelona, the centre-half made his Gibraltar debut in 2018 but has not made an international start since November 2021. Replaced El Hmidi last Friday but scored a late own goal against the French.
Louie Annesley (Dundalk)
Age: 23 Caps: 36
London-born centre-half Annesley came through Blackburn’s academy before signing for Dundalk last January. Has only made five starts at Oriel Park to date after contracting sepsis last March but has recovered in time to earn a call-up and started the Lilywhites’ final two games before the break.
Anthony Hernandez (Bruno’s Magpies)
Age: 28 Caps: 28
The attacking midfielder was once at Cadiz’s academy and hit seven goals and five assists last term for Europa ahead of an impending move to fellow domestic side Bruno’s Magpies.
Tjau De Barr (Wycombe Wanderers)
Age: 23 Caps: 31
The forward signed for Wycombe in August 2021 and made 21 first-team appearances last season for the League One club. Last scored for Gibraltar against Latvia in September 2021.
