Aaron Long – USMNT

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Aaron Long is proof that it’s still possible for American soccer to miss on a talented player. Long seemed destined to spend his pro career in the second division with occasional glimpses at MLS. That changed after winning the USL Defender of the Year award in 2016 and benefiting from an injury crisis at the Red Bulls the following season. Long won the MLS Defender of the Year award in 2018, showing he is a top level defender. Long got his first look with the USMNT in 2018, becoming a first choice defender during the summer of 2019. A member of the Gold Cup squad, Long has shown he belongs at international level.

USMNT Highlights

2021: Started against Trinidad & Tobago on Jan 31 picking up an assist. 2020: Started the Feb 1 friendly against Costa Rica. Started against El Salvador on Dec 9. 2019: Part of January camp and called into the Gold Cup squad. Played in the warm-up friendlies against Jamaica on Jun 5 and Venezuela on Jun 9. Started the Gold Cup group stage games against Guyana on Jun 18 and Trinidad and Tobago on Jun 22 scoring twice. Started the quarterfinal against Curacao on Jun 30 and Jamaica on Jul 3. Started against Mexico in the 2019 Gold Cup final. Started against Mexico on Sep 6 and Uruguay on Sep 10. Started against Canada in the Nations League on Oct 15. Scored in another start against Canada on Nov 15. Started against Cuba on Nov 19. 2018: Won his first cap on Oct 16 against Peru.

Professional Highlights

2020: Finished 6th in the East and exited in the first round of the playoffs with the Red Bulls. 2019: Finished 6th in the East with New York. 2018: MLS Defender of the Year with the Red Bulls playing in 34 league games and scoring three goals for the Supporters’ Shield winners. 2017: Moved to the Red Bulls where he played in 31 games. 2016: Joined Red Bulls II winning the USL Cup and named Defender of the Year. 2015: Played in 27 games for Seattle Sounders II in USL 2014: Drafted by Portland 36th overall and appeared for Sacramento FC and the Orange County Blues. Joined the Seattle Sounders in July. Youth and College: Played for Serrano High and spent four seasons with UC Riverside.