Rafael Díaz (footballer) explained

Rafael Díaz
Fullname:Rafael Alejandro Díaz, Jr.
Birth Date:8 October 1991
Birth Place:Dominican Republic
Height:1.85 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Collegeyears1:2010–2013
College1:St. John's Red Storm
Years1:2012
Clubs1:Jersey Express
Caps1:11
Goals1:0
Years2:2013
Clubs2:Brooklyn Italians
Caps2:12
Goals2:0
Years3:2014
Clubs3:Orlando City
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2015–2017
Clubs4:New York Red Bulls II
Caps4:10
Goals4:0
Years5:2017
Clubs5:New York Red Bulls
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2017
Clubs6:New York Red Bulls II
Caps6:11
Goals6:0
Years7:2018–2021
Clubs7:Sacramento Republic
Caps7:25
Goals7:0
Years8:2022
Clubs8:Monterey Bay
Caps8:3
Goals8:0
Nationalyears1:2021–
Nationalteam1:Dominican Republic
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:04:42, 22 March 2022 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:5 June 2021

Rafael Alejandro Díaz (born 8 October 1991) is a Dominican professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Dominican Republic national team.

Career

Youth and college

Díaz played club soccer for PDA in New Jersey. Díaz also played college soccer for St. John's University from 2010 to 2013. While with the Red Storm he was a four-year starter and made 72 appearances and recorded a school record 32 shutouts.[1]

During his college career Díaz also played with USL PDL side Jersey Express S.C., making 11 appearances as a starter during the 2012 season .[2]

Professional

Coming out of St. John's Díaz was considered one of top Goalkeeper prospects in the country.[3] On 20 March 2014 Díaz signed his first professional contract with USL Pro side Orlando City SC.[4] Díaz made his first team debut with Orlando on 14 May 2014 coming on as a late game substitute for Carl Woszczynski in a 4-1 U.S. Open Cup victory over Ocala Stampede.[5]

Díaz went on trial with Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls during the 2015 preseason.[6] He caught the attention of the club and signed with New York Red Bulls II for the 2015 season and made the game day roster for the side in its first ever match on 28 March 2015 which ended in a 0–0 draw with Rochester Rhinos.[7] On 12 April 2015 he made his debut with the club coming on as a late game substitute in a match against Wilmington Hammerheads FC.[8] On 18 April 2015 Díaz made his debut as a starter for New York Red Bulls II in a 1–1 draw against the Charleston Battery.[9]

On 17 April 2016 Díaz made his season debut for New York in a scoreless draw against the defending league champion Rochester Rhinos.[10] His performance that day earned him USL Team of the Week honors.[11]

On 24 January 2017 the New York Red Bulls announced that Díaz had been signed to an MLS contract after two years with the reserve team.[12]

On 6 February 2018 Díaz signed with Sacramento Republic FC for the 2018 season.[13]

On 4 February 2021 Díaz signed with USL Championship expansion team Monterey Bay FC for the 2021 season.[14] Díaz was included in the starting 11 for Monterey Bay's inaugural match, a 4–2 loss to Phoenix Rising FC.[15] His contract option was declined by the club at the end of the season.[16]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsUS Open CupCONCACAFTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
New York Red Bulls II20156000100070
20164000000040
2017110000000110
Career total210001000220

Honors

New York Red Bulls II

2016

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rafael Diaz St. John's Red Storm. redstormsports.com .
  2. Web site: Rafael Diaz Jersey Express stats . uslpdl.com .
  3. Web site: Diaz signs with Orlando City SC. Rafael Diaz MLS .
  4. Web site: Diaz signs with Orlando City SC. redstormsports.com . 20 March 2014 .
  5. Web site: Lions take down Ocala Stampede 4-1. thecitybeautifulgame.com . 14 May 2014.
  6. Web site: Red Bulls release 2015 preseason roster . newyorkredbulls.com. 27 January 2015.
  7. Web site: Red Bulls II 0 Rochester Rhinos 0 . newyorkredbulls.com. 28 March 2015.
  8. Web site: Red Bulls II fall to Hammerheads. newyorkredbulls.com . 12 April 2015.
  9. Web site: Abang's equalizer gives NYRB II gutsy road point at Blackbaud. newyorkredbulls.com. 18 April 2015.
  10. Web site: MATCH RECAP: New York Red Bulls II 0, Rochester Rhinos 0. newyorkredbulls.com . 17 April 2016 .
  11. Web site: Rafael Diaz named to USL Team of the Week. newyorkredbulls.com . 19 April 2016 .
  12. Web site: New York Red Bulls Sign Rafael Diaz to MLS Contract 0. newyorkredbulls.com . 24 January 2017 .
  13. Web site: Sacramento Republic FC Sign Goalkeeper Rafael Díaz . www.sacrepublicfc.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180207062936/http://www.sacrepublicfc.com/news_article/show/884093 . 2018-02-07.
  14. Web site: Monterey Bay F.C. Signs Veteran Goalkeeper Rafael Díaz. 2022-02-04. www.montereybayfc.com.
  15. Web site: PHOENIX RISING VS. MONTEREY BAY 4 - 2. soccerway.com. 22 May 2022.
  16. Web site: Monterey Bay Football Club Announces 2023 Roster Moves.