Head coach Gregg Berhalter has decided his team’s final World Cup preparation will include New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long.
Aaron Long : Usmnt | Injury | Transfermarkt | Stats
Aaron Ray Long (born October 12, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer and the United States national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aaron Ray Long | ||
| Date of birth | October 12, 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Oak Hills, California, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Center-back | ||
Born in Oak Hills, California, Long played four seasons of college soccer for the UC Riverside Highlanders before being drafted in the second round of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by the Portland Timbers with the 36th overall pick.
After loan spells with USL Pro clubs Sacramento Republic and Orange County Blues, Long was released by the Timbers and subsequently signed by rivals Seattle Sounders FC.
Long was part of the Sounders organization for two seasons. After not making an appearance for the senior team, Long signed a contract with their reserve side, Seattle Sounders 2. He spent a season with Sounders 2 before joining the New York Red Bulls II in 2016.
During his one season with Red Bulls II, Long helped the side win the USL championship and was named the USL Defender of the Year.
Aaron Long Usmnt
The U.S. will face two fellow 2022 FIFA World Cup Finalists ahead of this winter’s tournament in Qatar.
First will be defending AFC Asian Cup runner-up Japan on September 23 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Following this, the team will travel south to Murcia, Spain for a match against Saudi Arabia on September 27.
With the Red Bulls taking a break through next weekend before an October 1 meeting with Columbus Crew, Long is not expected to miss any MLS matches.
This is Long’s third USMNT roster call-up this year making it his most productive season at the national stage since 2019. That year he made 14 appearances and scored three goals while 2022 has seen him capped six times including four starts.
This year’s slate has also been more diverse in competition including friendlies, FIFA World Cup Qualifying and CONCACAF Nations League.
This all followed a pandemic-limited 2020 slate where he only appeared twice and an injury shortened 2021. Prior to rupturing his Achilles tendon in May of 2021, Long had played in three friendlies for the US.
His 27 appearances over half a decade tie him with fellow defender Reggie Cannon as the ninth most capped player in this team’s roster.
Injury
Long has been ruled out “day-to-day” by New York Red Bulls head coach Gerhard Struber following his calf injury in Tuesday’s 3-0 road win over D.C. United.
The 29-year-old was substituted off in the opening 15 minutes at Audi Field, watching from the sidelines as the Red Bulls booked their spot in the Round of 16.
Tuesday’s injury came one year after Long suffered a ruptured Achilles in May 2021, which sidelined him for eight months. However, Struber seems confident that Long will make a speedy recovery.
“The scan yesterday was clean, it was very great feedback,” Struber said Thursday in a conference call with reporters. “He is on the field today with the team, we will see how he is feeling and then go day-by-day. I don’t know about his status for Saturday, but we are very happy with how the scan went and after talking with him he doesn’t feel that bad.”
Long has been one of the top centerbacks in MLS when healthy, totaling 129 league appearances for the Red Bulls since 2017. He’s contributed 10 goals and four assists over that time.
Long has earned 23 caps for the USMNT to date, scoring three goals and being named to the Concacaf Gold Cup Best XI in 2019. With Miles Robinson sidelined due to a ruptured Achilles, Long could be considered as an option in Gregg Berhalter’s backline with four matches coming this June.
The USMNT faces Morocco and Uruguay in a pair of home friendlies before taking on Grenada (home) and El Salvador (away) in Concacaf Nations League group stage action.
Aaron long Transfermarkt
Long was drafted by Portland Timbers in the second round (36th overall) of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
After signing with Portland, Long was loaned to their USL Pro affiliate Sacramento Republic, where he made his debut on March 29, 2014, in a 1–1 draw against LA Galaxy II.
He also played for Orange County Blues during the 2014 season on a short-term loan. Long was released by Portland on July 2, 2014.
Long joined Seattle Sounders FC during the 2014 season, but did not make an appearance with the first team. On March 14, 2015, Long signed with Seattle Sounders FC 2.
On July 12, 2015, Long scored his first goal as a professional in a 4–0 victory over Arizona United SC.
He was a regular starter for Sounders 2 playing as a midfielder before being converted to centerback, appearing in 28 matches and recording one goal and two assists.
Long went on trial with New York Red Bulls during the 2016 pre-season, and on March 10, 2016, signed with affiliate club New York Red Bulls II.
Long made his official debut for the club appearing as a starter in a 2–2 draw against Toronto FC II.
On June 19, 2016, Long scored his first goal for the club helping them to a 2–2 draw at Orlando City B.
On June 26, 2016, Long helped New York to a 4–1 victory against the Wilmington Hammerheads scoring the club’s second goal of the match.
Stats
On September 2, 2018, Long received his first call up to the United States national team. He made his first international appearance in a 1–1 draw against Peru. The following year, he captained the national team in a 3–0 friendly victory against Panama on January 27, 2019.
| College career | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2013 | UC Riverside Highlanders | 71 | (13) |
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2013 | FC Tucson | 17 | (3) |
| 2014 | Portland Timbers | 0 | (0) |
| 2014 | → Sacramento Republic (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2014 | → Orange County Blues (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2014 | Seattle Sounders FC | 0 | (0) |
| 2015 | Seattle Sounders FC 2 | 27 | (1) |
| 2016 | New York Red Bulls II | 22 | (2) |
| 2016 | → New York Red Bulls (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2017– | New York Red Bulls | 137 | (12) |
In June 2019, Long was called up to his first international tournament when Gregg Berhalter named him to the final roster for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
On June 22, Long scored his first two international goals in a Gold Cup victory over Trinidad and Tobago.
On February 26, 2022, after a long absence due to injury, Long appeared as a starter in a 3-1 victory over San Jose Earthquakes in the opening match of the 2022 season.
And On March 5, 2022, Long scored his first goal of the season in a 4-1 victory over Toronto FC.
On July 12, 2022, Long was named to the MLS All-Star Team for the second time in his career, this time for their 2022 friendly against the Liga MX All-Stars.