Tony Taylor (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Antonio "Tony" Taylor (born July 13, 1989, in Long Beach, California
), is an American footballer who currently plays for Atlético Clube de Portugal
of the Portuguese
Liga de Honra
,
, attended Bishop Kenny High School
, and played one year of college soccer
at the University of South Florida
, before transferring to Jacksonville University
as a sophomore. As a Dolphin, Taylor helped the team achieve one of the best seasons in the program’s history. In 2008, with the help of Taylor, the Dolphins went 7-2 in the Atlantic Sun and won the conference tournament. In the NCAA tournament the Dolphins defeated Louisville in their first round matchup with Taylor providing a goal and an assist. He left Jacksonville after his sophomore year, and travelled to Europe intending to turn professional. He trained with Norwegian club IK Start, playing in a pre-season friendly, before signing with Traffic Sports of Brazil.
During his college years Taylor played for the Central Florida Kraze
in the USL Premier Development League
, netting 10 goals in 7 games, and being named finalist for U-19 PDL player of the year. He was also a member of Jacksonville-based USASA
club Lynch's FC's run to the first round of the US Open Cup in 2009.
, but the end of the transfer window saw Taylor going out on loan to Atlético Clube de Portugal
until July 2012.
, participating in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
.
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
), is an American footballer who currently plays for Atlético Clube de Portugal
Atlético Clube de Portugal
Atlético Clube de Portugal is a Portuguese football team from Alcântara, Lisbon, founded on 18 September 1942. The club was formed with the union of two clubs – Carcavelinhos Football Clube and União Foot-ball Lisboa. They currently play in the Liga de Honra after gaining promotion in the 2010-11...
of the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Liga de Honra
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
,
Youth and amateur
Taylor grew up in in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, attended Bishop Kenny High School
Bishop Kenny High School
Bishop Kenny High School is a private, college-preparatory, coeducational Catholic high school in Jacksonville, Florida. It is located in and administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine...
, and played one year of college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, before transferring to Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
as a sophomore. As a Dolphin, Taylor helped the team achieve one of the best seasons in the program’s history. In 2008, with the help of Taylor, the Dolphins went 7-2 in the Atlantic Sun and won the conference tournament. In the NCAA tournament the Dolphins defeated Louisville in their first round matchup with Taylor providing a goal and an assist. He left Jacksonville after his sophomore year, and travelled to Europe intending to turn professional. He trained with Norwegian club IK Start, playing in a pre-season friendly, before signing with Traffic Sports of Brazil.
During his college years Taylor played for the Central Florida Kraze
Central Florida Kraze
Orlando City U-23 is an American soccer team based in Lake Mary, Florida, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, netting 10 goals in 7 games, and being named finalist for U-19 PDL player of the year. He was also a member of Jacksonville-based USASA
USASA
The United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...
club Lynch's FC's run to the first round of the US Open Cup in 2009.
Professional
In December 2009 Traffic announced that they would be loaning Taylor to G.D. Estoril Praia. He made his league debut on April 18, 2010 against F.C. Penafiel and scored his first goal the following weekend in a 1-0 win against C.D. Aves. During the summer 2011 transfer period he was a trialist at Leeds United A.F.C.Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, but the end of the transfer window saw Taylor going out on loan to Atlético Clube de Portugal
Atlético Clube de Portugal
Atlético Clube de Portugal is a Portuguese football team from Alcântara, Lisbon, founded on 18 September 1942. The club was formed with the union of two clubs – Carcavelinhos Football Clube and União Foot-ball Lisboa. They currently play in the Liga de Honra after gaining promotion in the 2010-11...
until July 2012.
International
Taylor has played with the United States U-20'sUnited States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
, participating in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, was the 17th U-20 tournament, which was hosted by Egypt from 24 September to 16 October, in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez and Ismaïlia...
.