Robert Baggio Kcira

Robert Baggio Kcira (born January 9, 1994) is an American soccer player of Albanian descent.

Robert Baggio Kcira
Personal information
Full name Robert Baggio Kcira
Date of birth (1994-01-09) January 9, 1994
Place of birth New York City, United States
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward / Midfielder
Youth career
New York Red Bulls Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 Wiener Neustadt 0 (0)
2012–2015 Wiener Neustadt II 25 (13)
2016–2017 Miami FC 14 (2)
2019 Miami FC 1 (0)
2021 Miami FC 24 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 4, 2021

Career

Youth career

Robert Baggio Kcira began his youth career playing in New York for Clarkstown FC's youth squad where he still holds multiple records for scoring and assists. Kcira was selected to play for the NY State Olympic Development Program[1] (ODP). While playing for ODP, Baggio was invited to play for the U.S. Regional 1 team and then soon selected for the U.S. National Pool. From there, he joined the New York Red Bulls Academy team where he played tournaments in Barcelona, Texas, and other major venues around the globe.[2]

SC Wiener Neustadt

Bypassing college to play soccer professionally, Baggio signed with SC Wiener Neustadt,[3] a member of the Austrian Football Bundesliga, in 2012. It was during the 2014–2015 season where Baggio shined brightest, leading the reserve team in both goals and assists, while helping them place second in the fifth tier. He was then selected to the Starting XI of the league, an honor reserved for the most premiere players at each position.[4]

Miami FC

In January 2016, Kcira signed professionally for North American Soccer League side Miami FC,[5] where he was assigned the number 14 shirt.[2] Miami FC is coached by former Italian World Cup winning defender Alessandro Nesta.[2] After a short 2016 season in which he played 20 minutes in total, Kcira started 2017 by making 11 appearances and scoring twice for Miami as the team dominated the league (on route to winning both the Spring and Fall seasons). His first goal came against North Carolina FC on April 22, 2017, when he scored late in stoppage time to tie the game, 1-1.[6][7] An ACL and meniscus injury midway through the year ended his season early.[8]

Following the end of the 2017 season and the subsequent cancellation of the 2018 NASL season, Kcira did not return to Miami FC as the team explored options to continue play. In January 2019 it was announced the Kcira had returned to the club for its second season in the National Premier Soccer League, a semi-professional league generally considered the fourth tier of American soccer, where he made one appearance in the season opener against Miami United FC as the team went on to win a second NPSL National Championship.[9][10]

Kcira remained on the roster as Miami FC returned to professional play in the newly created National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) but did not play in any of the team's Fall 2019 games.

On June 6, 2021, Kcira returned to Miami for a third stint with the team now playing in the USL Championship.[11]

Personal life

Born in New York, Kcira is of Albanian origin on his father's side. He was named after his father Frank's sporting idol, Italian former footballer Roberto Baggio.[2][12]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played November 4, 2021[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Miami FC 2016 NASL 3000--30
2017 1122000-132
2019 NPSL 100000-10
2019 NISA 0000-00
2021 USLC 240-10-250
Career total 3922010--422

References
  1. "Olympic Development Program | US Youth Soccer". US Youth Soccer. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  2. Matteo Politanò (February 23, 2017). "Il Miami FC di Nesta ha un nuovo fantasista: Roby Baggio (Kcira)" (in Italian). Panorama. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  3. "SC Wiener Neustadt". www.scwn.at. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  4. "Miami FC Adds Youthful Attacking Duo". NASL. January 21, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  5. "MIAMI FC INKS AMBITIOUS NEW YORK DUO". www.miamifc.com. Miami FC. January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  6. "Miami FC vs. North Carolina FC - Football Match Summary - April 22, 2017 - ESPN". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  7. "NORTH CAROLINA FC BATTLES TO 1-1 DRAW AGAINST MIAMI FC". northcarolinafc.com. North Carolina FC. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  8. Bunch, Matthew. "Robert Baggio Kcira says in Instagram post he's out until 2018". magiccity.soccer. Magic City Soccer. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  9. "ROBERT BAGGIO KCIRA RETURNS FOR SECOND STINT WITH MIAMI FC". miamifc.com. The Miami FC. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  10. "THE MIAMI FC OPENS 2019 SEASON WITH CONVINCING MAGIC CITY CLÁSICO VICTORY". miamifc.com. The Miami FC. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  11. Communications, Miami FC (June 6, 2021). "Miami FC Announces Signing of Baggio Kcira". Miami FC. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  12. "NASL, il Miami FC di Nesta scommette su Robert Baggio" (in Italian). Eurosport. February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  13. "R.Kcira". soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
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