Corey Baird Explained

Corey Baird
Full Name:Corey Jacob Baird[1]
Birth Date:30 January 1996
Birth Place:Poway, California, United States
Height:5 ft 10 in
Position:Winger
Currentclub:FC Cincinnati
Clubnumber:11
Youthyears1:2002–2004
Youthclubs1:FC Heat
Youthyears2:2005–2012
Youthclubs2:San Diego Surf
Youthyears3:2012–2014
Youthclubs3:Real Salt Lake AZ
Years1:2015
Clubs1:PSA Elite
Years2:2016–2017
Clubs2:Burlingame Dragons
Caps2:16
Goals2:2
Years3:2018–2020
Clubs3:Real Salt Lake
Caps3:83
Goals3:15
Years4:2018
Clubs4:Real Monarchs (loan)
Caps4:1
Goals4:1
Years5:2021
Clubs5:Los Angeles FC
Caps5:14
Goals5:3
Years6:2021–2023
Clubs6:Houston Dynamo
Caps6:64
Goals6:10
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:FC Cincinnati
Caps7:15
Goals7:2
Nationalyears1:2011–2013
Nationalteam1:United States U17
Nationalyears2:2013–2014
Nationalteam2:United States U18
Nationalyears3:2014
Nationalteam3:United States U20
Nationalyears4:2015
Nationalteam4:United States U23
Nationalyears5:2019
Nationalteam5:United States
Nationalcaps5:4
Nationalgoals5:0
Collegeyears1:2014–2017
College1:Stanford Cardinal
Collegecaps1:83
Collegegoals1:16
Club-Update:July 26, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:September 10, 2019

Corey Jacob Baird (born January 30, 1996) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.

Career

Youth

Baird, from Escondido, California, 20 miles from San Diego, began his youth career with FC Heat, where he played from 2002 to 2004, before moving to San Diego Surf, where he played from 2005 through 2012. Corey played his final year of youth soccer with Real Salt Lake AZ, Real Salt Lake's U.S. Soccer Development Academy (DA) team. Corey played in the DA from 2010 through 2014.

From 2008 through 2014, Baird participated in Cal-South Olympic Development Program or ODP and various age group US soccer Youth National Teams. In August 2011, Baird was invited and attended the United States men's national under-17 soccer team Residency Program, hosted at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, from 2011 to 2013.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Collegiate

On February 6, 2013, Baird signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Stanford University. In his freshman year with the Cardinal, Baird appeared in all 19 matches, making 14 starts in the midfield and helped lead Stanford to its first Pac-12 men's soccer championship[6] since 2001. Baird was twice named Pac-12 Player of the Week during the conference season and was named second team All-Pac-12[7] that year. He was also named to first team Freshman All-American teams by Soccer America[8] and College Soccer News.[9]

In his sophomore year, Baird started all 23 matches, helping to lead Stanford to both defend its Pac-12 men's soccer championship[10] and win its first NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.[11] Baird was named to the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team and again named to second team All-Pac-12[12]

In his junior year, Baird appeared in all 23 matches, making 22 starts in the midfield and at forward, helping to lead Stanford to win its third consecutive Pac-12 men's soccer championship[13] and defend its NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.[14] Baird was named to both the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team and All-Pac-12 first team,[15] as well as earning Pac-12 Player of the Week[16] during the conference season.

In his senior year, Baird appeared in 18 matches, making 16 starts at forward, helping to lead Stanford to win its fourth consecutive Pac-12 men's soccer championship[17] and its third consecutive NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.[18] Baird was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region first team, All-Pac 12 first team,[19] and earned Pac-12 Player of the Week[16] during the conference season.

Baird completed his Stanford career tied for third all-time in career assists[20] while also scoring 16 goals.[21]

Club career

Real Salt Lake

On January 5, 2018, Baird signed as a Homegrown Player for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.[22] Baird made his RSL debut on March 17 as a 66th-minute substitute during a 1–0 win over the New York Red Bulls.[23] He was then sent to the Real Monarchs, RSL's USL affiliate, where Baird scored in a 3–2 win over the Tulsa Roughnecks in the Monarchs' first match of the season. Baird returned to the RSL first team following the match. He scored his first goal for Real Salt Lake on March 30 in a 3–1 loss to Toronto FC. He made his first MLS start on April 7 and picked up his first career assist in the match, helping Real Salt Lake defeat Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–1. On May 12, scored in a 3–2 win against D.C. United with a diving header. The goal was later named MLS Goal of the Week.[24] Baird ended the MLS regular season with 31 appearances, eight goals, and five assists, helping RSL finish sixth in the Western Conference and qualify for the playoffs.[25] His good performances saw him named MLS Rookie of the Year.[26] In the playoffs, Baird started and helped RSL beat LAFC 3–2 in the knockout round. He made 1 substitute over the 2 legs of the conference semifinals, as Real Salt Lake lost 5–3 to Sporting Kansas City on aggregate.

Baird and RSL opened the 2019 season on March 2 against the Houston Dynamo, with Baird picking up an assist in a 1–1 draw.[27] He scored his first goal of the season on May 14, helping Real Salt Lake to a 3–2 win over Rocky Mountain Cup rivals Colorado Rapids. On August 10, Baird scored twice to give RSL a 2–1 win against Sporting Kansas City. The performance against SKC saw him named to the MLS Team of the Week.[28] He scored again in their next match, a 3–0 win over Seattle Sounders FC on August 14. Baird finished the regular season with 5 goals and 4 assists from 31 appearances, as Real Salt Lake finished 3rd in the West.[29] [30] Baird picked up an assist to help RSL beat the Portland Timbers 2–1 in the first round of the playoffs. He would start the next match as RSL fell 2–0 to Seattle in the conference semifinals. Baird also made one appearance in the U.S. Open Cup and one appearance in the Leagues Cup during the season.[31]

On January 24, 2020, Baird signed a contract extension with Real Salt Lake.[32] After the first two games of the 2020 season, with Baird appearing in both, the MLS season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[33] MLS returned to play in July with the MLS is Back Tournament, with the group stage counting towards the regular season, while the knockout rounds did not. Baird started all 3 group stage games and picked up an assist, helping RSL advance. On July 27, he recorded an assist in their 5–2 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes in the round of 16.[34] On August 22, in Real Salt Lake's first match following MLS is Back, Baird scored once and had an assist in a 4–1 win vs the Rapids.[35] In a shortened season due to COVID-19, Baird appeared in 21 of a possible 23 games, scoring twice and recording 4 assists.[36] It was a poor season for Real Salt Lake as a team, finishing 11th in the Western Conference and failing to make the playoffs.[37]

Los Angeles FC

On January 11, 2021, Baird was traded to Los Angeles FC in exchange for $500,000 General Allocation Money, a 2021 international roster spot, and future considerations.[38] He made his debut for LAFC on April 14 against Austin FC, scoring the opener in a 2–0 victory.[39] On May 1, he scored to give LAFC a 1–1 draw with the Houston Dynamo. Baird scored three goals and had two assists in 14 appearances for LAFC.

Houston Dynamo

On July 30, 2021, after just seven months with Los Angeles FC, Baird was traded to the Houston Dynamo for $750,000 in allocation money and an international slot.[40] [41] He made his Dynamo debut on July 31, coming off the bench in a 0–0 draw against Real Salt Lake. After appearing in three games for Houston, Baird missed the next seven due to a leg injury.[42] Baird made seven appearances his first season in Houston; the Dynamo finished last in the Western Conference, missing out on the playoffs.[43]

On May 25, Baird scored his first goal of the season, and of his Dynamo career, in a 2–1 loss to Sporting Kansas City in an Open Cup match.[44] He scored his first MLS goal for Houston on August 27 in a 2–1 loss to Minnesota United FC.[45] Baird ended the season with 23 appearances, 2 goals, and 4 assists in MLS play, plus 2 appearances and a goal in the Open Cup. Houston failed to qualify for the playoffs again, finishing with 13th in the West.[46]

International

Baird was a member of the U.S. under-17 squad that competed in the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Panama City,[47] starting all four matches. He also represented the U.S. in the United States men's national under-15, under-18, and under-20 soccer teams.

On December 20, 2018, Baird was invited to participate[48] in head coach Gregg Berhalter's first United States senior men's national soccer team camp from January 6, 2019, to February 2, 2019, in Chula Vista, CA. He made his debut on January 27, 2019, in a friendly against Panama, as a starter.[49]

Statistics

College

SchoolSeasonNCAA Regular SeasonNCAA TournamentTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssists
Stanford University2014Div. I18441001944
2015182851523313
201618365002336
201713655021867
NCAA Total6715231617831630
Source: Corey Baird at Stanford University Men's Soccer

Club

[50] [51]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupPlayoffsContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Burlingame Dragons2016[52] PDL810021102
2017[53] 600060
Total14100210000162
Real Salt Lake2018MLS3180020338
201931510200010355
202021210222
Total8315104000209015
Real Monarchs (loan)2018USLC110011
Los Angeles FC2021MLS143143
Houston Dynamo2021MLS7070
202223221253
2023348535100424814
Total6410745100428017
FC Cincinnati2024MLS1013070
Career total1863184112306221639

International

As of September 10, 2019

Source: US Soccer

Honors

Individual

Stanford

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: United States . CONCACAF . 16 . May 21, 2019 . Bernews.
  2. Web site: Roster Finalized for Fall 2011 Semester of U.S. Soccer Residency Program. www.ussoccer.com. en. January 31, 2018.
  3. Web site: Roster Finalized for 2012 Spring Semester of U.S. Under-17 Residency Program. www.ussoccer.com. en. January 31, 2018.
  4. Web site: U-17 MNT Head Coach Richie Williams Finalizes Roster for 2012 Fall Semester of U.S. Under-17 Residency Program. www.ussoccer.com. en. January 31, 2018.
  5. Web site: Williams Names 31 Players to U.S. U-17 Men's National Team 2013 Spring Residency Roster. www.ussoccer.com. en. January 31, 2018.
  6. Web site: CHAMPS!. Stanford University. en. January 31, 2018.
  7. Web site: Pac-12 Men's Soccer Records.
  8. Web site: Soccer America's 2014 Men's College Awards. en. January 31, 2018.
  9. Web site: 2014 College Soccer News All-Freshman Teams - CollegeSoccerNews.com . January 31, 2018 . www.collegesoccernews.com . en-GB.
  10. Web site: Back-to-Back. Stanford University. en. January 31, 2018.
  11. Web site: Last Ones Standing. Stanford University. en. January 31, 2018.
  12. Web site: Pac-12 announces men's soccer All-Conference honors. Pac-12. en. January 31, 2018.
  13. Web site: Tree in a Row. Stanford University. en. January 31, 2018.
  14. Web site: Champions Again. Stanford University. en. January 31, 2018.
  15. Web site: Pac-12 Announces Men's Soccer All-Conference Honors. https://web.archive.org/web/20161117144739/http://pac-12.com/article/2016/11/15/pac-12-announces-mens-soccer-all-conference-honors. dead. November 17, 2016. Pac-12. en. January 31, 2018.
  16. Web site: Pac-12 men's soccer player of the week. https://web.archive.org/web/20161106103045/http://pac-12.com/article/2016/10/18/pac-12-mens-soccer-player-week. dead. November 6, 2016. Pac-12. en. January 31, 2018.
  17. Web site: Stanford men's soccer clinches Pac-12 title. Pac-12. en. January 31, 2018.
  18. Web site: Three-Peat Complete - Stanford University. Stanford University. en. January 31, 2018.
  19. Web site: Pac-12 announces Men's Soccer All-Conference honors. https://web.archive.org/web/20171213122042/http://pac-12.com/article/2017/11/14/pac-12-announces-mens-soccer-all-conference-honors. dead. December 13, 2017. Pac-12. en. January 31, 2018.
  20. Web site: Career Records - Stanford University. Stanford University. en. January 31, 2018.
  21. Web site: Corey Baird - 2017 Men's Soccer Roster - Stanford University. gostanford.com. en. January 31, 2018.
  22. News: Real Salt Lake sign forward Corey Baird to Homegrown contract. January 5, 2018. MLSsoccer.com. January 31, 2018. en.
  23. Web site: Corey Baird 2018 Match Logs. 2021-12-17. FBref.com. en.
  24. Web site: Boehm. Charles. May 17, 2018. Real Salt Lake rookie Corey Baird wins Week 11 AT&T Goal of the Week. live. December 17, 2021. Major League Soccer. https://web.archive.org/web/20180616003359/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/17/real-salt-lake-rookie-corey-baird-wins-week-11-att-goal-week . June 16, 2018 .
  25. Web site: 2018 Major League Soccer Stats. 2021-12-17. FBref.com. en.
  26. Web site: Bogert . Tom . Real Salt Lake's Corey Baird wins 2018 AT&T MLS Rookie of the Year . MLSsoccer.com . . November 5, 2018 . November 5, 2018.
  27. Web site: Corey Baird 2019 Match Logs. 2021-12-17. FBref.com. en.
  28. Web site: Rodriguez. Alicia. August 12, 2019. Team of the Week presented by Audi: Josef Martinez powers all in Week 23. live. December 17, 2021. Major League Soccer. https://web.archive.org/web/20211217213212/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/team-week-presented-audi-josef-martinez-powers-all-week-23 . December 17, 2021 .
  29. Web site: Corey Baird. live. December 17, 2021. Major League Soccer. https://web.archive.org/web/20211217213215/https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/corey-baird/stats/ . December 17, 2021 .
  30. Web site: 2019 Major League Soccer Stats. 2021-12-17. FBref.com. en.
  31. Web site: USA - C. Baird - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. 2021-12-17. int.soccerway.com.
  32. Web site: Bogert. Tom. January 24, 2020. Real Salt Lake, USMNT forward Corey Baird agree to contract extension. live. January 25, 2020. Major League Soccer. https://web.archive.org/web/20200125194811/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/24/real-salt-lake-usmnt-forward-corey-baird-agree-contract-extension . January 25, 2020 .
  33. Web site: Corey Baird 2020 Match Logs. 2021-12-17. FBref.com. en.
  34. Web site: Corey Baird 2020 Match Logs. 2021-12-17. FBref.com. en.
  35. Web site: Corey Baird Match Log. live. December 17, 2021. Major League Soccer. https://web.archive.org/web/20211217213217/https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/corey-baird/match-log/ . December 17, 2021 .
  36. Web site: Corey Baird. live. December 17, 2021. Major League Soccer. https://web.archive.org/web/20211217213215/https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/corey-baird/stats/ . December 17, 2021 .
  37. Web site: 2020 Major League Soccer Stats. 2021-12-17. FBref.com. en.
  38. News: Calhoun . Damian . LAFC adds forward Corey Baird in trade with Real Salt Lake . August 21, 2021 . Los Angeles Daily News . January 11, 2021.
  39. Web site: Corey Baird 2021 Match Logs. 2021-12-17. FBref.com. en.
  40. News: Baxter . Kevin . LAFC sends forward Corey Baird to the Dynamo for cash and international roster spot . August 21, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . July 30, 2021.
  41. Web site: July 30, 2021. LAFC Acquires $750,000 In Allocation Money & International Slot From Houston Dynamo In Exchange For Forward Corey Baird. live. December 17, 2021. LAFC. https://web.archive.org/web/20210730164544/https://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-acquires-750-000-in-allocation-money-international-slot-from-houston-dynamo . July 30, 2021 .
  42. Web site: Roepkin. Corey. September 17, 2021. Dynamo's Michael Nelson knows the rivalry with FC Dallas. live. December 17, 2021. Houston Chronicle. https://web.archive.org/web/20210919001038/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/dynamo/article/Dynamo-s-Michael-Nelson-knows-the-rivalry-with-16468207.php . September 19, 2021 .
  43. Web site: Major League Soccer Stats. 2021-12-17. FBref.com. en.
  44. Web site: C. Baird - Matches . 2023-02-22 . int.soccerway.com.
  45. Web site: Corey Baird 2022 Match Logs . 2023-02-22 . FBref.com . en.
  46. Web site: 2022 Major League Soccer Stats . 2023-02-22 . FBref.com . en.
  47. Web site: U-17 MNT Head Coach Richie Williams Names 20-Player Roster for 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Panama. www.ussoccer.com. en. January 31, 2018.
  48. Web site: Berhalter Calls 27 Players to Chula Vista For U.S. MNT's 2019 January Camp. www.ussoccer.com. en. January 18, 2019.
  49. Web site: Major League Soccer. USA v Panama game report. January 27, 2019. January 28, 2019. May 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190507143220/https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-01-27-us-mens-national-team-vs-panama/recap. dead.
  50. Web site: Corey Baird. live. December 17, 2021. Major League Soccer. https://web.archive.org/web/20211217213215/https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/corey-baird/stats/ . December 17, 2021 .
  51. Web site: Corey Baird Stats. 2021-12-17. FBref.com. en.
  52. Web site: Burlingame Dragons FC · 2016. live. December 17, 2021. USL League Two. https://web.archive.org/web/20190327222610/https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/12440564 . March 27, 2019 .
  53. Web site: Burlingame Dragons FC · 2017. live. December 17, 2021. USL League Two. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416100112/https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/18561272 . April 16, 2019 .