Blake Wagner

Blake Wagner (born January 29, 1988) is an American soccer coach for Tampa U23s and was a former player who most recently played for the Carolina RailHawks in the North American Soccer League.

Blake Wagner
Personal information
Full name Blake Wagner
Date of birth (1988-01-29) January 29, 1988
Place of birth Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Defender, Midfielder
Youth career
2003–2005 IMG Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 FC Dallas 37 (0)
2010 Vancouver Whitecaps 19 (4)
2011 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 9 (0)
2011 → Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 (loan) 2 (0)
2011 Real Salt Lake 2 (0)
2012–2013 San Antonio Scorpions 45 (3)
2014 Tampa Bay Rowdies 21 (3)
2015 Carolina RailHawks 22 (2)
National team‡
2003–2005 United States U17 24 (1)
2006–2007 United States U20 9 (0)
2008 United States U23 3 (0)
Teams managed
2017 Tampa Bay Rowdies U23 (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 13, 2016
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of July 18, 2012

Career

Youth

Wagner was identified by U.S. Soccer (U.S. National Team) when he was 13 through their national Olympic Development Program (ODP). He joined the U-14 National Team and was then recruited to their U-15 residency program at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he lived and trained. Through U.S. Soccer, he completed high school a year early at the Edison Academy. Wagner travelled globally with the team and was a starter with the U-17 National team when they played in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship.[1]

Wagner at first committed to playing college soccer at the University of Maryland, College Park, but instead chose to join the Generation Adidas program so that he could play professional soccer.

Professional

Wagner was drafted in the second round, 18th overall, of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas. Wagner made his first appearance with FCD's first team on July 19, 2006 as a substitute in a 2-0 friendly match win against UANL Tigres. It would be his only appearance with the first team during his rookie season. In 2007, Blake made his MLS career debut on September 30, 2007 starting in a 0-3 loss against Houston Dynamo. He would make 12 appearances with the team during the 2007 MLS Season. The 2008 MLS Season was a breakout year for the third-year defender. Blake started in 23 of 24 games played and appeared in four of FC Dallas' six international friendlies.

On February 2, 2010 Vancouver Whitecaps announced the signing of Wagner after he did not re-sign with Dallas.[2] He played his first match with the second division side on July 14, 2010 and played as a left wing midfielder and netted a hat trick in a 3-1 win over Miami FC.[3]

After a successful 2011 preseason trial, Wagner signed with the Major League Soccer version of Vancouver Whitecaps FC on March 11, 2011.[4] The Whitecaps released Wagner on July 28, 2011.[5]

On August 16, 2011 Wagner was signed by Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.[6] At season's end, the club declined his 2012 contract option and he entered the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Wagner was not selected in the draft and became a free agent.

Wagner signed with NASL club San Antonio Scorpions in March, 2012.[7]

Managerial career

In 2017 he became an assistant coach with Tampa Bay's U23 team.[8] Currently a staff coach with Tampa Bay United Rowdies soccer club.

References
  1. "Whitecaps Add Blake Wagner". OurSports Central. February 2, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  2. Whitecaps add Blake Wagner Archived September 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Wagner nets hat trick Archived July 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Wagner signs with MLS side". Whitecapsfc.com. March 11, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  5. "Whitecaps FC waive defenders Mouloud Akloul and Blake Wagner | Vancouver Whitecaps FC". Whitecapsfc.com. July 28, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  6. Randy Davis (August 16, 2011). "RSL feel they've filled a need with signing of Wagner". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  7. Constantineau, Bruce (March 20, 2012). "Salgado focuses on cracking lineup". Vancouversun.com. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  8. "20 Years: FC Dallas Homegrown Players". October 27, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
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