Alec Smir

Alec Smir
Personal information
Date of birth	(1999-04-13) April 13, 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Minnesota United
Number	30
Youth career
2013–2017	North Carolina Fusion
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2021	North Carolina Tar Heels	68	(0)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017	Carolina Dynamo	2	(0)
2018	Ocean City Nor'easters	4	(0)
2022–	Minnesota United 2	20	(0)
2023	→ Colorado Springs Switchbacks (loan)	0	(0)
2024–	Minnesota United	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 20, 2024

Alec Smir (born April 13, 1999) is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for MLS club Minnesota United.

Career

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Youth

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Smir attended Greensboro Day School, also playing club soccer for NC Fusion from 2013 to 2017, captaining the team during the 2016 season. He was also selected for training camps with the United States under-18 side.^[1]^[2] In 2017, he also played with Carolina Dynamo in the USL PDL.^[3]

College

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In 2017, Smir committed to playing college soccer at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He redshirted his sophomore season in 2018, but went on to make 68 appearances for the Tar Heels. He was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Second Team and United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team in 2020, and All-ACC First Team and United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team in 2021.^[1]

During the summer of 2018, Smir also appeared in the PDL for Ocean City Nor'easters, making four regular season appearances.^[4]^[5]

Professional

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On January 11, 2022, Smir was selected 62nd overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas.^[6]^[7]^[8] On March 23, 2022, it was announced that Smir had signed with MLS Next Pro side Minnesota United 2 ahead of their inaugural season.^[9] Smir went on to make eight regular season appearances for Minnesota in 2022.^[10]^[11] He was also the winner of Goalie Wars, part of the MLS NEXT Pro All-Star Skills Challenge at the 2022 MLS All-Star Game on August 10, 2022.^[12]^[13]

On March 13, 2023, Smir was loaned to USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks for the 2023 season.^[14] On May 16, 2023, Smir was recalled from his loan after making only a single appearance for Colorado Springs, which came in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.^[15] On June 15, 2024, Smir made a permanent move to Minnesota United's first team roster.^[16]

Personal life

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He is of Jordanian descent.^{[citation needed]}

References

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^ ^a ^b "Alec Smir - Men's Soccer". University of North Carolina Athletics.
^ Dell, John. "Goalie Alec Smir of North Carolina, a Greensboro native, a key player on Tar Heels' run to College Cup". Winston-Salem Journal.
^ "North Carolina Fusion U23 - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - # - Alec Smir -". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
^ "Ocean City Nor'easters - 2018 Regular Season - Roster - # - Alec Simr -". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
^ "Alec Smir earns shutout in Nor'easters' rain-delayed win at Evergreen FC (VIDEO)". Ocean City FC. June 10, 2018.
^ "FC Dallas Selects Six Players in 2022 MLS SuperDraft". FC Dallas.
^ Koh, Michael (January 12, 2022). "FC Dallas Selects UNC Goalkeeper Alec Smir in MLS Superdraft".
^ Sirera, Joe. "Alec Smir embarks on pro soccer career in Texas". Greensboro News and Record.
^ "Minnesota United Announce MNUFC2 Roster for Inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Season | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
^ "Alec Smir | MLSsoccer.com". mlsnextpro.
^ "MNUFC2 Made Waves in Their Inaugural Season | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
^ "MNUFC2's Alec Smir wins Goalie Wars at MLS All-Star Skills Challenge | MLSNEXTPro.com". mlsnextpro.
^ Zgoda, Jerry. "Loons development team goalkeeper Alec Smir wins 'Goalie Wars' challenge at All-Star event". Star Tribune.
^ "Switchbacks FC Announce Acquisition of Alec Smir from Minnesota United FC". Retrieved June 19, 2023.
^ "MNUFC2 Recalls Goalkeeper Alec Smir from Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
^ https://www.mnufc.com/news/mnufc-signs-goalkeeper-alec-smir-to-semi-guaranteed-contract

Minnesota United FC – current squad

Head coach: Ramsay
Assistant coach: Knowles
Assistant coach: Hall
Assistant coach: Lawrence
Goalkeeping coach: Barber

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