Mark Baena
Encyclopedia
Mark Baena is a retired American soccer player. Baena is the highest goalscorer in the history of USL First Division
, where he amassed eighty-six goals. He also holds the record for most goals in a season and most points in a season.
, a two year community college
, located in Cupertino, California
. While at De Anza, Baena was named to the All-State team. He then transferred to California State University, Sacramento
, where he was the team captain, and All-America candidate and led the team in scoring both seasons. He finished his two years at Sac State with twenty goals. During his time at Sac State, Baena was in the Barcelona Olympics player pool.
club TuS Hoisdorf
. In his three and a half seasons with the team, he scored forty-six goals and assisted on another forty-four.
of USISL in 1996. He played only six games with the Scorpions late in the 1996 season before moving to the California Jaguars
of the USISL A-League
for the 1997 season. Baena scored twenty goals that year, putting him at second on the league’s goals and points list. That year he was invited to the Major League Soccer
(MLS) combine, but was not drafted. That season Baena was also named to the mid-season All Star team as well as First Team All League. He began the 1998 season with the Jaguars, but was traded to the Seattle Sounders
after eight games. He continued his torrid scoring pace in Seattle, this time topping the league’s goals list with twenty-four goals in twenty-eight games. Again he was named to both the All Star team and the First Team All League team, as well as earning the league MVP honor. On February 17, 1999, Baena signed a two year contract with the Sounders. That year, he was called up to the San Jose Clash in June 1999 after three Clash players suffered three injuries in a mid-season friendly with the Sounders. However, Baena never appeared with the Clash. Instead, he returned to the Sounders, tying again for first on the league's goals list and garnering his third straight All Star and third straight First Team All League nod.
On November 9, 1999, the Sounders traded Baena to the San Diego Flash
for Michael N’Doumbe, Anthony Farace
, cash and San Diego’s first two picks in the 2000 draft. In 2000, Baena was continuing his scoring pace, again leading the league in goals (eight goals in ten games) when an ankle injury sidelined him for the second half of the season. He finished the season with nine goals in sixteen games. On March 23, 2001, Baena moved again, joining the Portland Timbers
. He had another productive season, scoring thirteen goals in twenty-four games. However, on November 27, 2001, the Timbers released Baena at his request in order to allow him to pursue business opportunities.
In 2003, the USL inducted Baena into the league’s Hall of Fame.
to sign a multi-year contract after each of the 1997, 1998, and 1999 seasons. He joined the draft after the 1997 season, but was not selected due to problems with the contract terms. Baena again could not reach terms with the MLS after the 1998 and 1999 seasons and opted to continue his career in the USISL/A-League (USL). Baena was called up to the San Jose Clash during the 1997 season, but did not appear. Baena was again called up during the 1999 season for a match against the Columbus Crew
, but did not appear. Baena's only appearance was in 1999 as a second half substitute for the San Jose Clash in an exhibition game against UNAM Pumas of the Primera División de México
. Baena was in training camp with the San Jose Earthquakes
for a very short time during the 2002 pre-season, but opted to remain retired.
as a Senior Manager and was previously married to Michelle Baena.
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
, where he amassed eighty-six goals. He also holds the record for most goals in a season and most points in a season.
College
Baena attended De Anza CollegeDe Anza College
De Anza College is a community college located in Cupertino, California. It was founded in 1967 on the site of the Beaulieu Winery and is named after the Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza...
, a two year community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
, located in Cupertino, California
Cupertino, California
Cupertino is an affluent suburban city in Santa Clara County, California in the U.S., directly west of San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The population was 58,302 at the time of the 2010 census. Forbes...
. While at De Anza, Baena was named to the All-State team. He then transferred to California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
, where he was the team captain, and All-America candidate and led the team in scoring both seasons. He finished his two years at Sac State with twenty goals. During his time at Sac State, Baena was in the Barcelona Olympics player pool.
Germany
In 1992, Baena signed with German Third DivisionRegionalliga (football)
The Fußball-Regionalliga is the fourth tier of football in the German football league system. Until 1974, it was the second tier of the league system before being disbanded. The Regionalliga was then re-introduced as the third tier of the system in 1994...
club TuS Hoisdorf
TuS Hoisdorf
Tus Hoisdorf is a German association football club from the municipality of Hoisdorf, Schleswig-Holstein. The footballers are part of a sports club that includes departments for badminton, gymnastics, table tennis, volleyball, and fitness programs....
. In his three and a half seasons with the team, he scored forty-six goals and assisted on another forty-four.
USISL/A-League
In 1995, he left Hoisdorf to return to the U.S. where he joined the Sacramento ScorpionsSacramento Scorpions
The Sacramento Scorpions were an American soccer team that played in Sacramento, California.-Year-by-year:...
of USISL in 1996. He played only six games with the Scorpions late in the 1996 season before moving to the California Jaguars
California Jaguars
California Jaguars were an American soccer team that played in Salinas, California at the Salinas Sports Complex.They joined the USISL in 1995 as the Monterey Bay Jaguars, but changed the name a year later...
of the USISL A-League
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
for the 1997 season. Baena scored twenty goals that year, putting him at second on the league’s goals and points list. That year he was invited to the Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS) combine, but was not drafted. That season Baena was also named to the mid-season All Star team as well as First Team All League. He began the 1998 season with the Jaguars, but was traded to the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
after eight games. He continued his torrid scoring pace in Seattle, this time topping the league’s goals list with twenty-four goals in twenty-eight games. Again he was named to both the All Star team and the First Team All League team, as well as earning the league MVP honor. On February 17, 1999, Baena signed a two year contract with the Sounders. That year, he was called up to the San Jose Clash in June 1999 after three Clash players suffered three injuries in a mid-season friendly with the Sounders. However, Baena never appeared with the Clash. Instead, he returned to the Sounders, tying again for first on the league's goals list and garnering his third straight All Star and third straight First Team All League nod.
On November 9, 1999, the Sounders traded Baena to the San Diego Flash
San Diego Flash
San Diego Flash is an American soccer team based in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1998, the team returned to competitive play in 2011 when it made its debut in the Southwest Flight of the West Division of the National Premier Soccer League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
for Michael N’Doumbe, Anthony Farace
Anthony Farace
Anthony Farace is a retired U.S. soccer player who spent his career with Southern California based teams in the Major Indoor Soccer League and USL A-League....
, cash and San Diego’s first two picks in the 2000 draft. In 2000, Baena was continuing his scoring pace, again leading the league in goals (eight goals in ten games) when an ankle injury sidelined him for the second half of the season. He finished the season with nine goals in sixteen games. On March 23, 2001, Baena moved again, joining the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
. He had another productive season, scoring thirteen goals in twenty-four games. However, on November 27, 2001, the Timbers released Baena at his request in order to allow him to pursue business opportunities.
In 2003, the USL inducted Baena into the league’s Hall of Fame.
MLS
Baena was approached by Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
to sign a multi-year contract after each of the 1997, 1998, and 1999 seasons. He joined the draft after the 1997 season, but was not selected due to problems with the contract terms. Baena again could not reach terms with the MLS after the 1998 and 1999 seasons and opted to continue his career in the USISL/A-League (USL). Baena was called up to the San Jose Clash during the 1997 season, but did not appear. Baena was again called up during the 1999 season for a match against the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, but did not appear. Baena's only appearance was in 1999 as a second half substitute for the San Jose Clash in an exhibition game against UNAM Pumas of the Primera División de México
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
. Baena was in training camp with the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
for a very short time during the 2002 pre-season, but opted to remain retired.
Personal life
Baena now works for WebsenseWebsense
Websense is a San Diego-based company specializing in Web security gateway software. It enables clients to block access to chosen categories of websites.-History:Websense was founded by Phil Trubey in 1994...
as a Senior Manager and was previously married to Michelle Baena.