Esmir Bajraktarevic

American soccer player

Esmir Bajraktarevic
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-03-10) March 10, 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Appleton, Wisconsin, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 New England Revolution
Number 47
Youth career
0000–2019 SC Waukesha
2019–2020 Chicago Fire
2020–2021 SC Wave
2021 New England Revolution
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 New England Revolution II 31 (6)
2022– New England Revolution 20 (0)
International career‡
2022 United States U19 3 (1)
2023– United States U23 6 (1)
2024– United States 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 17, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 25, 2024

Esmir Bajraktarevic (born March 10, 2005) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.[2][3][4]

Professional career

Bajraktarevic moved from Wisconsin to Foxborough, Massachusetts to join the Revolution Academy in August 2021. He signed a professional contract with New England Revolution II on November 18, 2021. He signed a homegrown contract with the first team on May 23, 2022.[5] In doing so he became the 9th homegrown player to sign for the Revolution first team, and the first from the club's residency program.[6]

Esmir made his MLS debut on August 17, 2022, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 draw against Toronto FC.[7] He'd make his first start three days later on August 20, 2022, in the Revolution's 4-0 loss to CF Montréal.[8]

Esmir spent the 2022 MLS offseason training with AZ Alkmaar.[9] He scored his first professional goal, a 78th minute equalizer against Querétaro F.C. in the Leagues Cup, on August 8, 2023.[10] He recorded his first assist for the Revolution first team on February 29, 2024 in the club's 3-0 win over C.A. Independiente de La Chorrera in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.[11]

International career

At 17 years old, Bajraktarevic received a call-up to the United States under-19 national team ahead of the Slovenia Nation's Cup.[12]

He has additionally earned two call-ups to the United States under-20 national team, the first coming as an invitation to the team's January Camp, where, at 16 years old, he was the youngest member of the team's roster.[13] In April, he rejoined the team for training camp in April 2022 ahead of the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[14]

On October 8, 2023, Bajraktarevic was called up to the United States under-23 national team ahead of friendlies against Mexico and Japan.[15]

On January 5, 2024, Bajraktarevic received his first call-up to the senior United States national team ahead of the friendly against Slovenia.[16]

Career statistics

International

As of match played January 20, 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States 2024 1 0
Total 1 0

Personal life

Born in the United States, Bajraktarević is of Bosnian descent.[17] His family is from Srebrenica.[18]

References

  1. ^ Esmir Bajraktarevic at Soccerway. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  2. ^ "Esmir Bajraktarevic Stats, News, Bio". ESPN. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "New England Revolution sign midfielder Esmir Bajraktarević as Homegrown Player | New England Revolution".
  4. ^ "The Story of Esmir Bajraktarevic, A Rising Star In American Soccer". theblazingmusket.com. February 12, 2024.
  5. ^ Nye, Josh (March 23, 2022). "Revolution sign Esmir Bajraktarević to Homegrown contract". www.thebentmusket.com. Vox Media. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "ESMIR BAJRAKTAREVIĆ AT A GLANCE". revolutionsoccer.net. May 17, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Dell'Apa, Frank (August 17, 2022). "A formation switch and younger lineup leads to a Revolution tie with Toronto FC". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  8. ^ "Kei Kamara makes history, CF Montreal blow out Revolution". August 20, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  9. ^ Macomber, Seth (December 12, 2022). "Revolution Homegrown Esmir Bajraktarević is training with AZ Alkmaar". www.thebentmusket.com. Vox Media. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  10. ^ Gregoire, Kayla (August 8, 2023). "Esmir Bajraktarevic nets first goal, but Revolution fall in PKs during Leagues Cup". masslive.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  11. ^ "Recap Nacho Gil, Chancalay, Kaye score as Revs beat CAI 3-0 at home, advance 4-0 on aggregate". revolutionsoccer.net. February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  12. ^ "Revolution Homegrown Midfielder Esmir Bajraktarevic and Academy Graduate Jack Panayotou Called in to U.S. Under-19 Men's Youth National Team". September 20, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  13. ^ Nye, Josh (January 24, 2022). "Esmir Bajraktarevic called into US U-20 January camp". Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  14. ^ Langone, Matt (April 21, 2022). "Two players with New England ties called up to the U.S. U-20 Men's YNT". www.nesoccerjournal.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  15. ^ "Twenty-three Players Called to U.s. Olympic Men's Soccer Team Training Camp as Preparations for Paris 2024 Kick Off in Phoenix". ussoccer.com. October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  16. ^ "Twenty-Five Players Called for USMNT January Training Camp in Orlando Ahead of USA-Slovenia on Jan. 20 | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  17. ^ "Esmir Bajraktarevic | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  18. ^ "INTERVJU/ Bosansko čudo iz SAD-a: Moji su iz Srebrenice, u meni je BiH, a Džeku gledam od pete godine".

External links

  • v
  • t
  • e
New England Revolution – current squad


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