Yaikel Perez
Encyclopedia
Yaikel Perez is a Cuba
n soccer player currently playing for Puerto Rico Islanders
in the North American Soccer League.
. Along with several of his teammates he defected
to the United States during the final qualifying phase, and eventually signed for USL First Division
expansion team Miami FC
in 2006.
After being released by Miami Perez briefly played for Laredo Heat
in the USL Premier Development League
before moving to Puerto Rico, where he played for Atlético de San Juan and Sevilla FC Puerto Rico in the new Puerto Rico Soccer League
from 2007 to 2009, making 48 appearances and scoring 16 goals for Sevilla, and helping them to the league title in 2008.
On March 9, 2010, Crystal Palace Baltimore announced the signing of Perez to a contract for the 2010 season. Perez played 17 games and scored 1 goal for Baltimore before the team ceased operations at the end of the season.
He transferred to River Plate Puerto Rico
in the USL Professional Division in 2011, but played just three games before the team was removed from USL Pro due to financial difficulties. He moved to Puerto Rico Islanders
in the North American Soccer League in June, and made his debut for his new team on June 1 in a 1-1 tie with the NSC Minnesota Stars
.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n soccer player currently playing for Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the North American Soccer League.
Club
Perez played youth soccer for his local club, Ciudad Habana, and was part of the n national team which qualified for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the eighth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested in the United States in July 2005. The United States emerged victorious in the final against an upstart Panama team led by tournament...
. Along with several of his teammates he defected
Defection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
to the United States during the final qualifying phase, and eventually signed for USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
expansion team Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in 2006.
After being released by Miami Perez briefly played for Laredo Heat
Laredo Heat
Laredo Heat is an American soccer team based in Laredo, Texas, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South 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...
before moving to Puerto Rico, where he played for Atlético de San Juan and Sevilla FC Puerto Rico in the new Puerto Rico Soccer League
Puerto Rico Soccer League
The Puerto Rico Soccer League or PRSL is an association football league in Puerto Rico. It is the first unified football league in the island's history, and had a total of six teams for the 2011 season. Association football has been growing in popularity in recent years, and this is an attempt to...
from 2007 to 2009, making 48 appearances and scoring 16 goals for Sevilla, and helping them to the league title in 2008.
On March 9, 2010, Crystal Palace Baltimore announced the signing of Perez to a contract for the 2010 season. Perez played 17 games and scored 1 goal for Baltimore before the team ceased operations at the end of the season.
He transferred to River Plate Puerto Rico
Club Atletico River Plate Puerto Rico
Club Atlético River Plate Puerto Rico is a Puerto Rican professional association football team based in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2007, the team plays in the Puerto Rico Soccer League, and is the reigning Supercopa DirecTV champion....
in the USL Professional Division in 2011, but played just three games before the team was removed from USL Pro due to financial difficulties. He moved to Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the North American Soccer League in June, and made his debut for his new team on June 1 in a 1-1 tie with the NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Career statistics
- (correct as of 15 August 2010)
Club Season League Cup Play-Offs Total Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Miami 2006 6 1 ? ? ? ? 6 1 ? Total 2009 6 1 ? ? ? ? 6 1 ? Crystal Palace Baltimore 2010 17 1 1 1 0 0 18 1 1 Total 2010–present 17 1 1 1 0 0 18 1 1 Career Total 2006–present 23 2 1 1 0 0 24 2 1