Corey Baird


Corey Jacob Baird is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.

Career

Youth

Baird, from Escondido, California, 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 team. Corey played in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy from 2010 through 2014.
From 2008 through 2014, Baird participated in Cal-South Olympic Development Program 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.

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 since 2001. Baird was twice named Pac-12 Player of the Week during the conference season and was named second team All-Pac-12 that year. He was also named to first team Freshman All-American teams by Soccer America and College Soccer News.
In his sophomore year, Baird started all 23 matches, helping to lead Stanford to both defend its Pac-12 men's soccer championship and win its first NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. Baird was named to the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team and again named to second team All-Pac-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 and defend its NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. Baird was named to both the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team and All-Pac-12 first team, as well as earning Pac-12 Player of the Week 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 and its third consecutive NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. Baird was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region first team, All-Pac 12 first team, and earned Pac-12 Player of the Week during the conference season.
Baird completed his Stanford career tied for third all-time in career assists while also scoring 16 goals

Professional

On January 5, 2018, Baird signed as a Homegrown Player for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.
Baird made his professional debut on March 17, 2018, as a 66th-minute substitute during a 1-0 win over New York Red Bulls. On March 30, 2018, Baird scored his first professional goal, in a 3-1 loss to Toronto FC, coming on in the 70th minute, and scoring in the 82nd. In May 2018, Baird won the Major League Soccer Week 11 AT&T Goal of the Week for a diving header against D.C. United.
On November 5, 2018, Baird was named the MLS Rookie of the Year for the 2018 Major League Soccer season.
On January 24, 2020, Baird signed a long-term contract extension with Real Salt Lake.

International

Baird was a member of the U.S. under-17 squad that competed in the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Panama City, 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 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.

Statistics

Professional

as of September 7, 2018
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International

As of Sepemtber 10, 2019.
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College

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Honors

Individual