Gustavo Baez '24 Recruiting Profile

My name is Gustavo Báez, I have played soccer uninterrupted since I was 3 years-old, and I am a highschool junior student from Ponce, Puerto Rico.  I attend the Centro Residencial de Oportunidades Educativas de Villalba (CROEV), which is a boarding school specializing in Math, Science and Soccer.  CROEV is one of the top ranked schools cademically in Puerto Rico.  At the moment CROEV Futbol Varsity is Puerto Rico’s champion in two disciplines, outdoor soccer (11vs11) and  indoor soccer (5vs5).  At CROEV I perform as Captain of the Varsity Team, even though I’m still a junior. Also I am part of the starting lineup playing as an attacking midfielder.

Furthermore, I play at Puerto Rico Surf Soccer 05’.  The club plays the Liga Elite de Fútbol de Puerto Rico, where last season the team finished 3rd in regular season. Qualified to play-off, the team reached the U17 Division 1 semifinals.  This season we finished the regular league in first position, qualifying directly to the play-offs semifinals. My main goal is to become a student-athlete in 2023 in a college where I get top level education and a competitive men’s soccer program.  Meanwhile I play on the college’s team, I would like to obtain a degree in medicine focused on physical therapy and rehabilitation, to become a physiatrist. 

As a student, I have always been hard working and responsible.  My elementary and middle school were at Liceo Ponceño, where I graduated as the 8th highest grade point average of among 60 students in the class.  Since the 9th grade, I have attended CROEV where I have maintained a GPA of 3.75.  I was a cub scout from 1st grade reaching the arrow of light award, until the 9th grade, reaching the First Class Rank with Boy Scouts of America Troop 411.  I have participated in many community service programs, helped to clean beaches and spreaded joy along with food and clothes to those who need them the most.  I have been a member of the National Honor Student Society since the 9th grade until the present. I am part of the school’s cooperative where I work during the week.  I participated in the school’s underwater robotics team from 9th to 10th grade. In the present, I am part of the school’s Math Olympics team and finally I will begin a science investigation on the topic of Bentford’s Law to participate in the annual science fair in my senior year.

As a player I perform as an attacking midfielder, both in school’s varsity and Puerto Rico Surf.  I can also play as an outside midfielder or a defensive midfielder.  My strengths in the field are my short and long passes, vision of the field, positioning on the pitch, and my longshots.  I have a clear understanding of the tactical and technical needs to develop and create offensive plays.  I consider my greatest strength is my leadership among my peers, in and out of the pitch. Another of my assets is that I’m a very versatile player and I can adapt to any position when my team needs me.  As a human being, I have flaws and the one I consider that I should work on the most is my communication to adults.  Meaning at times I’m shy with teachers and coaches.

I would like to emphasize that I'm a diligent student and a dedicated athlete. I love to watch soccer games and analyze them.  In the same way, I like to train my body and mind to keep improving as a student-athlete, family member, and part of the community I live in.

I'm sixteen (16) year old Puerto Rican soccer (futbol) player.  I have been playing grassroots football (soccer) since three and a half (3 1/2) years-old (2009).  I started playing as a left back, I rapidly stepped forward to the left wing position.  After a couple of years in this position I  started playing as an Attacking Midfielder (in creative position, #10 or #8).  Also I have played as an Outside Midfielder (left wing), and last but not least important, I occasionally play as defensive midfielder pivot position or bette know as Stopper (Central Midfielder #5).

I have always has a dream to become a professional footballer (soccer player), and it has been  a priority without unattended my student life.  Nevertheless, as a student I’m in a boarding school specialized in Math and science have maintained a 3.75 GPA in one of the top academic schools of Puerto Rico.  At the same time during my three high school year I have been part of the Varsity Team since nine grade maintaining a high competitive performance as a footballer (soccer player).  Now at 11th grade I reached one of the two Captains position at school's varsity.  Next week, we’ll be playing at the High School Football (soccer) national champion final, and hoping to help our tema to win the national champion back to back.  As proof of my leadership skill, is that our girls football (soccer) varsity team at lost their coach and the PE teacher ended as coach, him and school's principal knowing I have a vast knowledge of football (soccer) appointing me as assistant coach.  We have taken the girl's varsity to state finals which are going to be played on May 26, 2022 too.

Therefore, I would like to been scouted and seen on my footballer (soccer player) phase at La Liga ID camps upcoming next months June 30 - July 1, 2022 in Dallas, Tx, USA, so the coaches get to see me in action.

Below you will find a list of my full trajectory as a youth footballer (soccer player) in Puerto Rico football minor leagues.

Achievements and participation: 

• 2022 January to May - PR Surf Soccer Club - 1st place season & Semifinal (Playoff) (Elite Division) of Liga Elite de Fútbol de Puerto Rico (Play-off)

• 2021 November - PR Surf Soccer Club - Participation in New England Football Club (Thanksgiving Showcase 1W-1D-1L)

• 2021 August to December - PR Surf Soccer Club - 3rd place season & Semifinalist (Playoff) (Elite Division) of Liga Elite de Fútbol de Puerto Rico

• 2021 Summer - Taurinos de Cayey U16 (Travel Team) - Participation in World Soccer Foundation Miami Cup (1W-2D-0L)

• 2020 January until spring 2021 - Due COVID local government regulation didn’t allow play team sport in Puerto Rico. But I keep practicing and training by my now and at the school.

• 2019 August to December - Caribe Soccer Club U15 - Champion Liga de Fútbol de PR Division1 & Champion Copa Alianza (Apertura  Tournament)

• 2019 Summer - Participation on the U15 PR National Team Invitational Showcase (Tryout)

• 2019 January to May - Caribe Soccer Club U15 - Participation Liga de Desarrollo de Fútbol de PR (Division 1) & U15 Copa Alianza (Clausura Tournament)

• 2018 August to December - Caribe Soccer Club U13 - Runner-Up (2nd place) Liga de Fútbol de PR Division2  & U13 Participation in Copa Alianza (Apertura Tournament)

• 2018 January to May - Caribe Soccer Club U13 - Participation in Liga de Fútbol de PR Division2  & U13 Participation in Copa Alianza (Clausura Tournament)

• 2017 August to December - Caribe Soccer Club U13 - Participation in Liga de Desarrollo de Fútbol de PR (Division 2) & U13 Copa Alianza (Clausura Tournament)

• 2017 January to May - Caribe Soccer Club U13 - Participation in Liga de Fútbol de PR (Division 2) & U13 (Clausura Tournament)

• 2017 Summer - Red Lions Soccer Academy U13 - Champion Thunderbolt Summer Tournament

• 2016 August to December - Red Lions Soccer Academy U11- Participation in Liga de Fútbol de PR Division2 & U13 Copa Alianza, Apertura

• 2016 February - Liceo Ponceño Elementary School Team - Champion Inmaculada Private School Tournament

• 2016 January to June - Rambla Soccer Club U11- Participation in Copa Alianza (Clausura Tournament).

• 2015 August to December - Ponce Señorial Futbol Club U11 - Runner-Up (2nd place) Copa Alianza (Apertura Tournament); Participation in Copa Las Americas (Xmas Tournament)

• 2015 January to June - Ponce Señorial Futbol Club U11 - Champion Soccer Blast (Summer Tournament); 2nd Runner-Up (3rd place) Willy Miranda Marin (Summer Tournament); 3rd Runner-Up (4th place) Caribe (Apertura Tournament); Participation in Legislador (Summer Tournament)

• 2014 August to December - Ponce Señorial Futbol Club U9 - 2nd Runner-Up (3rd place) Copa Caribe (Clausura Tournament); Copa Las Americas (Xmas Tournament)

• 2014 January to June - Ponce Señorial Futbol Club U9 - Runner-Up (2nd place) Soccer Blast (Summer Tournament); Participation Copa Willy Miranda Marin (Summer Tournament); Copa Caribe (Clausura Tournament)

• 2013 August to December - Ponce Señorial Futbol Club U9 - Participation in Liga Asociación Sureña de Futbol de PR (Fall Tournament); Copa Las Americas (Xmas Tournament)

• 2013 January to June - Ponce Señorial Futbol Club U9 - Participation in Liga Asociación Sureña de Futbol de PR (Spring Tournament); Copa Legislador (Summer Tournament)

• 2012 August to December - Ponce Señorial Futbol Club U7 - Champion Soccer Blast (Summer Tournament); Participation in Liga Asociación Sureña de Futbol de PR (Fall Tournament)

• 2012 January to June - Caribe Soccer Club U9 - Champion Copa Caribe (Clausura Tournament); Participation in Liga Metro.

• 2011 August to December - Champion Liga Metro U7 (Division 1); Champion Copa Caribe (Clausura Tournament); Champion Copa Las Americas (Xmas Tournament); Champion Copa Aguila del Sur (pre Season Tournament).

• 2011 January to June - Runner-Up (2nd place) Liga Metro U7 (Division 1); Champion Copa Legislador; Runner-Up (2nd place) Copa Caribe (Apertura Tournament); Champion Copa de La Amistad del Sur (pre Season Tournament).

• 2010 August to December - Caribe Soccer Club U6 - Participation in Liga Metro, Copa Caribe (Clausura Tournament); Copa Las Americas.

• 2010 January to June - Caribe Soccer Club U6 - Participation in Liga Metro, Copa Caribe (Apertura Tournament) & Copa Legislador.

• 2009 August to December - Caribe Soccer Club U6 - Participated in Liga del Este & Copa Legislador; Champion Copa Caribe (Clausura Tournament).