Rafael Baca
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Rafael Baca Miranda | ||
Date of birth | 11 September 1989 | ||
Place of birth | Tuxpan, Michoacán, Mexico | ||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Monterey Bay FC | ||
Number | 10 | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2007–2010 |
Loyola Marymount Lions | 79 | (19) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011–2013 | San Jose Earthquakes | 79 | (2) |
2014–2023 | Cruz Azul | 265 | (8) |
2023– | Monterey Bay FC | 12 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:57, 22 October 2023 (UTC) |
Rafael Baca Miranda (born 11 September 1989) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Monterey Bay FC in the USL Championship.[1][2]
Career
Early career
Born in Tuxpan, near Morelia, Baca moved to California at the age of 7,[3] and graduated from Ánimo Leadership Charter High School in Inglewood in 2007. While there he scored a total of 58 goals and received the Athlete Academic Award.[4] Baca attended Loyola Marymount University[5] (2007–2010), where he was a star player for the team. LMU won their first conference championship in school history in 2010 during Baca's junior season, in which Baca was named to the thirty player watch list for the Hermann Trophy. Baca captained the Lions in his final three seasons, and was named First-Team All-West Coast Conference those three seasons as well. A member of the LA Galaxy academy program while at LMU, Baca was not offered an opportunity with the club after he had graduated.[6]
San Jose Earthquakes
Baca was not selected in either of the year's two drafts, but on July 8, 2011, Baca signed a
Baca was a key component of San Jose's midfield in the
Baca started the club's first ten games of the
Cruz Azul
Baca was reported to have been signed by
Baca broke into the side during the
Baca was replaced by summer signing Jonatan Cristaldo at the half in Cruz Azul's goalless draw with UNAM, and he missed the next two matches as Boy had to manage the club's foreign players with the new 10/8 rule going into effect.[19] Baca was considered a foreign player by the FMF as he was not registered to play football in the country before the age of 18, although Baca was considered a domestic player for the 2017 Apertura following an appeal.[20] Baca finished the 2016 Apertura with 15 starts, playing the entire game in 11. Boy was sacked during the Apertura, and Spanish coach Paco Jémez took charge for the Clausura. Baca received 16 starts during the campaign, and he started every game in the 2017 Apertura, as Cruz Azul qualified for their first Liguilla since the 2014 Clausura. Baca started both quarterfinal matches against América, both of which ended as goalless draws as América advanced due to their better placing in the regular season.
After the Apertura, Jémez did not renew his contract, and he was replaced by Portuguese coach Pedro Caixinha. Baca started all but one match in the 2018 Clausura due to a suspension he picked up after being sent off against Atlas on February 2. Baca received 14 starts in the 2018 Apertura, including starting the first 10 until he picked up a knock against Atlas on September 22.[21] Baca also made four appearances in Cruz Azul's Apertura 2018 Copa MX conquest, although he did not appear in the 2–0 final win over Monterrey. Cruz Azul finished in first place in the regular season, and advanced past Querétaro and Monterrey in the playoffs, setting up a final with rivals América. Baca started the first three matches, but was replaced by Javier Salas in the midfield for the second leg against Monterrey. Salas also started both legs against América, as Baca did not come off the bench in the final leg, a 2–0 defeat at the Estadio Azteca after the first leg ended scoreless.
Monterey Bay
Rafael Baca was announced as a signing for USL Championship club Monterey Bay FC on July 27, 2023. He was reunited with former San Jose Earthquakes manager Frank Yallop who is now Monterey Bay's manager, as well as former San Jose teammates Ramiro Corrales and Simon Dawkins who are with Monterey Bay as an assistant coach and midfielder respectively.[22]
Honours
San Jose Earthquakes
Cruz Azul
- Liga MX: Guardianes 2021
- Copa MX: Apertura 2018
- Campeón de Campeones: 2021
- Supercopa de la Liga MX: 2022
- Supercopa MX: 2019
- Leagues Cup: 2019
References
- ^ Lepper, Geoff. "Some attacking flair: World Cup vet Walter Martinez gives San Jose Earthquakes midfield a new look". Mlsscoccer.com. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ "Liga MX, Cruz Azul Veteran and Former San Jose Earthquakes Midfielder Rafael Baca Signs with Monterey Bay F.C." Monterey Bay Football Club | USL Championship. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ^ a b Schwab, Matt (July 17, 2012). "Ramiro Corrales, Rafael Baca a winning blend for San Jose Earthquakes". The Mercury News.
- ^ "LMULIONS.com :: Rafael Baca Bio :: Loyola Marymount Official Athletic Site :: Men's Soccer".
- ^ "Sports Briefs". Los Angeles Wave. 2010. Archived from the original on 2014-03-17.
- ^ a b Espinosa Bautista, Eduardo (April 15, 2015). "De "mojado" a pieza clave". Milenio.
- ^ "Earthquakes sign former LMU midfielder Baca". 8 July 2011.
- ^ Almond, Elliott (2012). "Rafael Baca providing clutch midfield play for the San Jose Earthquakes". San Jose Mercury News.
- ^ Almond, Elliott (March 1, 2011). "Earthquakes aim to land English midfielder Simon Dawkins on loan from Tottenham". East Bay Times.
- ^ French, Scott (February 15, 2011). "Guardian angel leads Rafael Baca to MLS". ESPN.
- ^ "Former Lion Rafael Baca Debuts With San Jose Earthquakes". West Coast Conference. July 12, 2011.
- ^ Jonas, Robert (July 22, 2011). "Offense takes a step forward while the defense takes a step back in San Jose Earthquakes 2–2 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC". SB Nation.
- ^ a b Almond, Elliott (December 22, 2013). "San Jose Earthquakes reportedly lose Rafael Baca to Mexican soccer giant". The Mercury News.
- ^ Jonas, Robert (September 19, 2012). "Rafael Baca: San Jose Earthquakes' Most Influential Player". SB Nation.
- ^ Jonas, Robert (May 20, 2013). "Quakes settle for 1–1 draw against Rapids". SB Nation.
- ^ Black, Michael (June 1, 2013). "Real Salt Lake 3, San Jose Earthquakes 0: MLS Match Recap". MLS Soccer.
- ^ Jonas, Robert (August 30, 2013). "Depleted San Jose Earthquakes look for correct combination to unlocking tough LA Galaxy side in California Clasico". SB Nation.
- ^ Quiroga Fuente, Toño (January 31, 2015). "Se olvidaron del gol". Televisa Deportes.
- ^ Marshall, Tom (May 24, 2016). "Liga MX approves 10-player limit on foreigners and naturalized players". ESPN.
- ^ Moran, Nayib (July 18, 2017). "Rafael Baca, Cruz Azul firmly support and believe in Paco Jemez's project". ESPN.
- ^ Treviño, Ramón (September 23, 2018). "Lesiones no preocupan en Cruz Azul". El Universal.
- ^ "Liga MX, Cruz Azul Veteran and Former San Jose Earthquakes Midfielder Rafael Baca Signs with Monterey Bay F.C." Monterey Bay Football Club | USL Championship. Retrieved 2023-07-29.