# Emiliano Vecchio

Emiliano Gabriel Vecchio (born 16 November 1988) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Chilean club Unión Española as a midfielder.

## Club career
### Rosario Central

Born in Rosario, Vecchio began his career at hometown professional club Rosario Central, joining its youth ranks in 1997 at the age of nine. He progressed through the club's youth setup, also being a teammate of Ángel Di María.
On 6 November 2005 Vecchio made his first team debut, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for Diego Calgaro in a 1–2 away loss against Newell's Old Boys; aged only 16, he became the fourth youngest to debut for the club. He scored his first professional goal on 1 March of the following year, netting the equalizer in a 1–1 home draw against Argentinos Juniors.

### Spain

In January 2008, after a failed trial at Real Madrid, Vecchio joined Segunda División B side CF Fuenlabrada. After suffering relegation with the club, he moved to neighbouring CF Rayo Majadahonda, in Tercera División; he left the latter in 2009.

### Grêmio Barueri / Defensores de Belgrano

In February 2009, Vecchio signed a one-year deal with Corinthians in March, being immediately loaned to Grêmio Barueri. After being rarely used, his loan was cut short early, and he spent the following six months practicing MMA fight.
In 2010, after returning to his hometown, Vecchio joined Defensores de Belgrano de Villa Ramallo. With the side he scored in an impressive rate, netting a career-best 11 goals in 2011–12.

### Chile

In 2012, Vecchio signed for Chile's Campeonato Nacional side Unión Española to face the Torneo Apertura and the Copa Libertadores. At the team led by José Luis Sierra in the age, he highlighted in both competitions. His first continental goal was against Colombian side Junior, scoring his side's goal following a nice free kick in a 2–1 away loss. During the season, he scored six goals in 35 appearances and helped Unión to be runner-up of the 2012 Clausura.
On 26 December 2012, it was confirmed that Vecchio alongside his teammate at Unión, Emilio Hernández, were the new signings of Colo-Colo for the 2013 season. After an irregular season for the club, the following year Vecchio was protagonist of the league title obtained, being an undisputed player at Héctor Tapia's formation. On 26 December 2015, he announced his departure after having altercations with the club's president, Anibal Mosa.

### Qatar SC / Santos

On 20 January 2016, Vecchio joined Qatar SC, signing a six-month contract. On 10 May, he agreed to a pre-contract with Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Santos FC, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal on 13 June.
Vecchio made his debut for Peixe on 16 July 2016, coming on as a late substitute for Gabriel in a 3–1 home win against Ponte Preta. After being completely ostracized by Dorival Júnior, he started to feature more regularly under Levir Culpi, and scored his first goal for the club on 19 July 2017 in a 1–0 home win against Chapecoense.
On 14 August 2018, Vecchio was loaned to Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC for one year.

### Al-Ittihad

On 11 July 2019, Santos announced the transfer of Vecchio to Al-Ittihad Club.

### Return to Chile

In 2024, Vecchio rejoined Unión Española from Racing Club.

## Career statistics

    As of 30 September 2022
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Rosario Central | 2005–06 | Primera División | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 |
| Rosario Central | 2006–07 | Primera División | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Rosario Central | Subtotal | Subtotal | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 |
| Fuenlabrada | 2007–08 | Segunda División B | 19 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 2 |
| Grêmio Barueri | 2009 | Série A | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Defensores de Belgrano (VR) | 2010–11 | Torneo Argentino B | 29 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 9 |
| Defensores de Belgrano (VR) | 2011–12 | Torneo Argentino A | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 11 |
| Defensores de Belgrano (VR) | Subtotal | Subtotal | 44 | 20 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 46 | 22 |
| Unión Española | 2012 | Campeonato Nacional | 33 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 45 | 11 |
| Colo-Colo | 2013 | Campeonato Nacional | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 2 |
| Colo-Colo | 2013–14 | Campeonato Nacional | 32 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 10 |
| Colo-Colo | 2014–15 | Campeonato Nacional | 28 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 7 |
| Colo-Colo | 2015–16 | Campeonato Nacional | 14 | 3 | 12 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 5 |
| Colo-Colo | Subtotal | Subtotal | 90 | 19 | 22 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 24 |
| Qatar SC | 2015–16 | Qatar Stars League | 11 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 4 |
| Santos | 2016 | Série A | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 |
| Santos | 2017 | Série A | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 1 |
| Santos | 2018 | Série A | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Santos | Subtotal | Subtotal | 20 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 41 | 1 |
| Shabab Al-Ahli | 2018–19 | UAE Pro-League | 23 | 4 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 6 |
| Al-Ittihad | 2019–20 | Saudi Professional League | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 13 | 4 |
| Bolívar | 2020 | Primera División | 5 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Rosario Central | 2020 | Primera División | — | — | 13 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 5 |
| Rosario Central | 2021 | Primera División | — | — | 26 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 6 |
| Rosario Central | 2022 | Primera División | — | — | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 |
| Rosario Central | Subtotal | Subtotal | — | — | 48 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 48 | 11 |
| Racing Club | 2022 | Primera División | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 271 | 57 | 99 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 396 | 83 |
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Campeonato Paulista
* 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Copa de la Liga Profesional and Copa Argentina
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Copa de la Liga Profesional

## Honours
### Club
#### Colo-Colo

* Primera División de Chile (2): 2014 Clausura, 2015 Apertura

#### Shabab Al-Ahli

* UAE League Cup (2019)
* UAE President Cup (2019)

### Individual

* El Gráfico Magazine Awards: 2012 Team of the Season
* SIFUP Awards: 2013–14 Best Left Midfielder