Tai Baribo Explained

Tai Baribo
Birth Date:15 January 1998
Birth Place:Eilat, Israel
Height:1.81 m
Currentclub:Philadelphia Union
Clubnumber:28
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:2008–2015
Youthyears2:2015–2017
Youthclubs1:Hapoel Rishon LeZion
Youthclubs2:Maccabi Petah Tikva
Years1:2017–2021
Clubs1:Maccabi Petah Tikva
Caps1:96
Goals1:23
Years2:2021–2023
Clubs2:Wolfsberger AC
Caps2:62
Goals2:28
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Philadelphia Union
Caps3:16
Goals3:6
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Israel U19
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2018–2020
Nationalteam2:Israel U21
Nationalcaps2:13
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2022–
Nationalteam3:Israel
Nationalcaps3:11
Nationalgoals3:3
Pcupdate:08:58, 14 August 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:19 June 2023

Tai Baribo (Hebrew: תאי בריבו; born 15 January 1998) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer and the Israel national team.

Early life

Baribo was born and raised in Eilat, Israel, to an Israeli family of Sephardi Jewish descent.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] He explained that as an adult he has found out that the meaning of his unusual first name is a Hebrew acronym for the phrase "The Torah of the Land of Israel".[7] His mother Maya died of cancer when he was 11 years of age, and since then Baribo has decided that his career is dedicated to the memory of her.[7] His father Itzik[8] owns a Water Sports Center in Eilat, Israel, where Baribo was first noticed for his talent as an 11 years old youngster.[7] He is the youngest of three children.[9]

He was enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a soldier in 2016,[10] until his honorable discharge in 2019.[11]

He also holds a Portuguese passport, on account of his Sephardi Jewish ancestors, which eases the move to certain European football leagues.[12]

Club career

Maccabi Petah Tikva

Baribo started playing football for Israeli side Hapoel Rishon LeZion. Due to the long distance, he had to get to team training on flights. When he reached the age of 15, he signed with Maccabi Petah Tikva.

On 1 March 2017, Baribo made his senior debut in the 1–2 loss against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2016–17 Israel State Cup.[13]

Wolfsberger AC

Baribo signed a two-year contract with Austrian Football Bundesliga club Wolfsberger AC on 9 July 2021.[14] [15] He made his debut for the club on 25 July, the opening day of the 2021–22 season, coming off the bench as a late substitute for Thorsten Röcher in a 1–1 draw against Austria Klagenfurt.[16] He scored his first goals the following month, securing a 2–2 draw against WSG Tirol by netting a brace.[17]

Philadelphia Union

In August 2023, Philadelphia Union acquired Baribo from Wolfsberger AC for an undisclosed amount. Baribo signed a 2.5 year contract with the club. In 18 of July 2024 Baribo made his first hat trick against New England Revolution in a 5-1 win.[18] [19]

International career

Baribo made his senior debut for the Israel national team opening in a friendly 0–2 away loss to Germany on 26 March 2022.[20]

On 24 September 2022, Baribo scored the first goal for his native Israel against Albania in the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League in a 2–1 home victory for Israel.[21]

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueLeagueNational cupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Maccabi Petah Tikva2016–17Israeli Premier League401000000050
2017–188100400000121
2018–1931730400000387
2019–20Liga Leumit259414100003311
2020–21Israeli Premier League28610300000326
Total962391151000012025
Wolfsberger AC2021–22Austrian Football Bundesliga2911320000003213
Total2911320000003213
Career total12534123151000015238

International

[22]

National teamYearAppsGoals
Israel202273
202340
Total113

Scores and results list Israel's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Tai Baribo
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 24 September 2022 2–1 2–1 2022–23 UEFA Nations League B
2. 17 November 2022 1–0 4–2 Friendly
3. 20 November 2022 2–2 2–3

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: יוצא לאירופה: תאי בריבו חתם ל-3 שנים בוולפסברגר .
  2. Web site: Instagram .
  3. Web site: Instagram .
  4. Web site: Instagram .
  5. Web site: Instagram .
  6. Web site: Instagram .
  7. News: "אמא ביקשה שלא אפסיק לשחק" . Ynet . 25 September 2019 . נתן . דוד .
  8. Web site: תאי בריבו: "מקווה למספרים דומים לשל שון וייסמן ומואנס דאבור" – ספורט 5 .
  9. Web site: תאי בריבו ערך בכורה בהרכב מכבי פ"ת: "החיים הכריחו אותי להתבגר מהר" . 22 March 2018 .
  10. Web site: Instagram .
  11. Web site: Instagram .
  12. https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/tai-baribo/
  13. Web site: Match Details. English. IFA. 1 March 2017. 9 September 2020.
  14. Web site: Offensiv-Power RZ Pellets WAC . Wolfsberger AC . 27 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210711050041/https://www.rzpelletswac.at/2021/07/09/offensiv-power/ . 11 July 2021 . de-DE . 9 July 2021 . live.
  15. News: Israeli footballer Tai Baribo signs for Austria's Wolfsberger AC . 27 May 2022 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . 9 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220526073727/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/israeli-footballer-tai-baribo-signs-for-austrias-wolfsberger-ac-673324 . 26 May 2022.
  16. Web site: Austria Klagenfurt vs. Wolfsberger AC – 25 July 2021 . Soccerway . Perform Group . 27 May 2022.
  17. Web site: 2:2! Wolfsberg und WSG Tirol bleiben sieglos . Sky Sport Austria . 27 May 2022 . de-DE . 14 August 2021.
  18. Web site: US soccer team Philadelphia Union sign Israel's Tai Baribo . 2023-08-03 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . en-US.
  19. Web site: Union . Philadelphia . Philadelphia Union Sign Forward Tai Baribo . 2023-08-03 . Philadelphia Union . en.
  20. Web site: Germany vs. Israel. Benjamin. Strack-Zimmermann. www.national-football-teams.com.
  21. https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/match/2034543--israel-vs-albania/
  22. https://www.football.org.il/national-team-player/?player_id=103224