Player Details

Name

Aaron Long

Pronunciation

Long

Height

6' 1"

Weight

174 lbs

Date of Birth

10.12.1992 (32)

Birthplace

Oak Hills, CA, USA

Position

Defender

Position Detail

Central Defender

Preferred Side

Centre

Footedness

Right

Roster Category

Senior
Career Summary

HIGHLIGHTS

  • MLS Western Conference Champion (2023) 
  • CONCACAF Champions League runner-up (2023) 
  • CONCACAF Champions League Best XI (2023) 
  • NYRB team captain (2022) 
  • finalist, U.S.Soccer Male Player of the Year (2019)
  • MLS Supporters’ Shield winner (2018)
  • MLS Defender of the Year (2018)
  • USL Defender of the Year (2016)
  • most goals by a defender in New York Red Bulls history

PERSONAL

  • avid coffee lover 
  • graduated from the University of California-Riverside, where he majored in Environmental Sciences
  • attended Serrano High School (Phelan, Calif.), where he played multiple sports
  • soccer idols growing up were Patrick Vieira and Carlos Bocanegra
  • converted from center midfielder to center back upon joining NY Red Bulls
  • Aaron and his wife, Elise, have two children (Kaia and Rome)
Scouting Report

PROFESSIONAL

2023 (Los Angeles Football Club):

  • made 21 regular-season appearances (17 starts), logging one assist in 1,518 minutes played
  • made his LAFC debut 3/4/23, replacing Giorgio Chiellini in the 80th minute of 3-2 home win over Portland
  • MLS Team of the Week (Week 19)
  • in all competitions, registered 36 appearances (29 starts), including 7 starts in CCL and 4 in MLS Cup playoffs 
  • named to CCL Team of the Matchday for quarterfinals Leg 2 vs.Vancouver and semifinals Leg 2 vs.Philadelphia
  • named to CCL Best XI 

2022 (New York Red Bulls): 

  • started 28 of 29 appearances, logging 2,370 minutes played 
  • scored four goals, setting a career high 
  • ranked third in MLS in goals scored by a defender in 2022 (4) 
  • made his 10th career appearance in an MLS Cup playoff game 
  • appeared in all five of NYRB's U.S.Open Cup matches in 2022, adding a goal (his 2nd US Open Cup goal) and two assists
  • made two appearances for United States National Team during CONCACAF World Cup qualifying (35 minutes played)

2021 (New York Red Bulls):

  • started all five matches he played
  • suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon that required season-ending surgery (5/17/21)

2020 (New York Red Bulls):

  • appeared in 16 matches (15 starts), scoring two goals in 1,330 minutes played 
  • made his 100th career MLS appearance 11/8/20 

2019 (New York Red Bulls):

  • started all 24 appearances with 2,115 minutes played
  • scored one goal; helped Red Bulls post six clean sheets
  • made four starts in CONCACAF Champions League 
  • signed three-year extension 2/19/19 

2018 (New York Red Bulls):

  • named to 2018 MLS All Star team; started the All Star game against Juventus 
  • named MLS Defender of the Year
  • started 31 of his 34 MLS appearances 
  • helped lead NYRB to Supporters’ Shield title
  • posted three goals and two assists
  • recorded first career MLS assist 7/1/18
  • helped NYRB post 14 clean sheets
  • started both legs of MLS Eastern Conference semifinal, posting an assist in Leg 2 vs.Columbus
  • started all six matches in CONCACAF Champions League, helping NYRB post three clean sheets
  • called into his first ever United States Mens National team camp in September for friendlies against Brazil and Mexico
  • earned first USMNT cap against Peru (10/17/18), playing all 90 minutes 

2017 (New York Red Bulls):

  • joined New York Red Bulls on 2-year deal 2/22/17 
  • started 30 of 31 appearances as a rookie
  • recorded one goal in 2,659 minutes played; led all NYRB defenders in minutes
  • helped NYRB post 10 regular-season clean sheets and two more in postseason
  • helped NYRB post two clean sheets in U.S.Open Cup 
  • started all three of his appearances in MLS Cup playoffs 
  • made MLS debut in season opener (3/5/17)
  • scored first MLS goal 9/2/17 vs.FC Dallas
  • started five U.S.Open Cup matches

2016 (New York Red Bulls II):

  • joined New York Red Bulls II as free agent 9/16/16 
  • started 19 of the 22 matches he appeared in, logging 1,517 minutes
  • scored two goals in five shots on target
  • loaned to Red Bulls senior squad 12/31/16
  • debuted with Red Bulls first team 8/16/16 in CONCACAF Champions League match vs. Alianza FC 

2015 (Seattle Sounders FC II):

  • signed by Seattle Sounders FC 2, 3/15/15
  • made 27 appearances (20 starts), scoring one goal in 2,188 minutes 

2014 (Portland Timbers, Sacramento FC [USL], Orange County Blues [USL]):

  • drafted 36th overall (2nd rd) by Portland Timbers in 2014 MLS SuperDraft
  • loaned to Sacramento Republic and Orange County Blues, logging two starts and five appearances (228 minutes)
  • signed with Seattle Sounders in July 2014, but did not appear for the first team 

INTERNATIONAL

  • started 5 of 6 appearances in 2019 Gold Cup (USMNT finished second)
  • has appeared in 28 matches with USMNT
  • scored three goals in 2,065 minutes played 
  • selected to wear the captain's armband twice 
  • called into his first United States Mens National team camp in Sept.2018
  • earned first career cap against Peru (10/17/18) 
  • captained USMNT five times in his career, USMNT went undefeated in those matches

COLLEGE (University of California-Riverside)

  • four-year starter in central midfield 2010-2013
  • started 65 of 70 appearances
  • scored 13 goals on 85 shots, adding five assists
  • named All-Big West as a senior (2nd team) and a junior (1st team)