Jan. 15, 2009
ST. LOUIS - UIC All-American midfielder Baggio Husidic (Velika Kladusa, Bosnia/Libertyville [Ill.] H.S.) was selected by the Chicago Fire in the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft held at the St. Louis Convention Center on Thursday, Jan. 15.
Husidic, one of nine Generation adidas players eligible for this year's SuperDraft, was taken with the fifth pick in the second round (20th overall selection) by his hometown team after the Fire made a trade with the Colorado Rapids to move up to take him.
"There is no better place for me to begin my professional career," Husidic said. "Having the opportunity to play for the Fire in front of my friends and family is a dream come true."
The selection makes Husidic UIC's highest-ever Major League Soccer draft pick and the fourth player in UIC history to be drafted by an MLS side. Eric Lukin (Colorado Rapids, 2001 SuperDraft), Tonci Skroce (Columbus Crew, 2007 Supplemental Draft) and Cesar Zambrano (Colorado Rapids, 2008 Supplmental Draft) are the other Flames to enter the Major League Soccer ranks as draft picks.
Husidic, a 2008 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I First Team All-American and a College Soccer News All-America Second Team selection, scored nine goals while serving up six assists for 24 points as a junior in 2008.
In addition to his All-American honors, Husidic was named to the 2008 NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes Region First Team, the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Season First Team and the All-Horizon League First Team while bringing home the Horizon League Player of the Year, Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year and Soccer America MVP First Team awards.
In three seasons Husidic scored 12 goals, chalked up seven assists and tallied 31 points in 65 matches from 2006-2008. UIC went 38-13-17 during his tenure, advancing to the 2007 NCAA Elite Eight and the 2008 NCAA Sweet 16 while reaching as high as No. 4 in the national polls.
Special thanks to the Chicago Fire and En Fuego, the Fire's Official Blog, for quote and photo.
