Ignacio Baez
Encyclopedia
Ignacio Baez is a former Mexican-American soccer midfielder
who played professionally in Mexico and the United States first divisions. He has coached in the U.S. lower divisions and currently coaches at the Blanchet Catholic School
.
at 15. Two years later, he moved to the United States and signed with the Portland Timbers
of the North American Soccer League
as a seventeen year old midfielder. Baez never broke into the first team and he returned to Mexico to play for Cruz Azul and Club Irapuato
. In 1988, he signed with F.C. Portland
of the Western Soccer Alliance. He remained with the team in 1989, now renamed the Portland Timbers
. In 1990, he moved to the New Mexico Chiles
of the American Professional Soccer League
.
. In 2006, Baez was hired as the head coach of Blanchet Catholic School
soccer team. At some point in his career, he was also the Director of Coaching for Leon. He also coaches two local club teams in Salem, Oregon. He coaches the U-15 CFC Boca Juniors and U-17 CFC Atlas. He made these teams State Champions in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played professionally in Mexico and the United States first divisions. He has coached in the U.S. lower divisions and currently coaches at the Blanchet Catholic School
Blanchet Catholic School
Blanchet Catholic School is a private Catholic high school and middle school in Salem, Oregon, United States.-History:Blanchet was founded in 1995 after the tradition of two former Catholic secondary schools in Salem, Sacred Heart Academy and Serra Catholic...
.
Playing
Baez signed his first professional contract with Mexican powerhouse Club AméricaClub América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
at 15. Two years later, he moved to the United States and signed with the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (NASL)
The Portland Timbers were a team in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1982. The name has been used by two other soccer franchises: the Timbers of the WSA/APSL, Portland Timbers of the USL and the current team which began play as part of Major League Soccer in 2011.-History:In January...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
as a seventeen year old midfielder. Baez never broke into the first team and he returned to Mexico to play for Cruz Azul and Club Irapuato
Club Irapuato
The Club Deportivo Irapuato, is located in Irapuato, Mexico. That has mostly played in the second tier of Mexican football . From 2000 to 2004, the team briefly rose to prominence and to the first division reaching the playoffs or liguilla...
. In 1988, he signed with F.C. Portland
F.C. Portland
Portland Timbers, previously known as F.C. Portland, came into existence in 1985 as an independent U.S. soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1989, the team adopted the name Portland Timbers. Portland was composed of both professional and amateur players. The amateur players largely came...
of the Western Soccer Alliance. He remained with the team in 1989, now renamed the Portland Timbers
F.C. Portland
Portland Timbers, previously known as F.C. Portland, came into existence in 1985 as an independent U.S. soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1989, the team adopted the name Portland Timbers. Portland was composed of both professional and amateur players. The amateur players largely came...
. In 1990, he moved to the New Mexico Chiles
New Mexico Chiles
The New Mexico Chiles were an American soccer club established in 1990 which competed in the American Professional Soccer League. In 1991, the team merged with the New Mexico Roadrunners and moved to the USISL until its disestablishment in 1996....
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
.
Coaching
In 1995, Baez became the head coach of the Oregon Surge, an expansion team in the USISL. He also spent time as the head coach of the Yakima RedsYakima Reds
Yakima Reds was an American soccer team based in Yakima, Washington, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference...
. In 2006, Baez was hired as the head coach of Blanchet Catholic School
Blanchet Catholic School
Blanchet Catholic School is a private Catholic high school and middle school in Salem, Oregon, United States.-History:Blanchet was founded in 1995 after the tradition of two former Catholic secondary schools in Salem, Sacred Heart Academy and Serra Catholic...
soccer team. At some point in his career, he was also the Director of Coaching for Leon. He also coaches two local club teams in Salem, Oregon. He coaches the U-15 CFC Boca Juniors and U-17 CFC Atlas. He made these teams State Champions in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.