Michael Salazar

PLAYER PROFILE: MICHAEL SALAZAR

By: PXI STAFF (@ProspectXI)

Position: Forward
Primary Role: Center Forward
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 165
DOB: 11/15/1992
Nationality: United States
Preferred Footed: Right
Club: Montreal Impact (MLS)
Twitter: @michaelworld_10

Has four senior appearances with Belize National Team.

Signed a Contract with Montreal Impact, March 1^st, 2016.

2011: California Baptist (NCAA – D2) – 20 games, 7 starts, 11 goals, 5 assists, 33 shots on goal, 1 yellow
2012: California Baptist (NCAA – D2) – 19 games, 15 starts, 6 goals, 5 assists, 24 shots on goal, 2 yellows
2014: UC Riverside (NCAA – D1) – 17 games, 16 start, 6 goals, 1 assist, 20 shots on goal, 1 yellow
2015: UC Riverside (NCAA – D1) – 19 games, 18 starts, 6 goals, 2 assists, 18 shots on goal, 1 yellow

Born in New York City, New York, Salazar and his family moved to California and played with Canyon Springs High School earning first team All-League scoring 25 goals in his senior season. Salazar signed with California Baptist in NCAA Division 2 and earned second team All-PacWest teams both years at the school, playing in 39 games, scoring 17 goals and adding 10 assists.

Salazar has represented Belize since U-16 also playing games for the U-17, U-18, U-20, and U-21 National Teams and was called to the senior team for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup making his senior team debut on June 11, 2013 against Guatemala. After the Gold Cup, Michael transferred to NCAA Division 1 school UC Riverside where Head Coach Junior Gonzalez said “Michael is a player that excited us coming out of a local Inland Empire high school. Our staff is confident that he can become an immediate impact player for us.”, although didn’t make his debut until the 2014 season. In two years with Riverside, Salazar scored 12 goals in 36 games and also added three assists being named to the All-Big West Conference first team twice.

Salazar was drafted 24^th overall with by the Montreal Impact and after a successful pre-season training camp was signed to a MLS contract on March 1^st 2016. Salazar has a real passion for soccer he also has a knack of being involved in big moments including a senior international and performed well in the US Open Cup playing for club team PSA Elite. What is yet known is can he be a consistent contributor throughout a whole professional season. Skill wise Salazar has good size and speed and can play center forward or as a winger although he needs to improve his soccer awareness, improve his finishing and be more aware of his teammates on the pitch.

+ Belize youth player at U-16 to U-21
+ Played two seasons with California Baptist in NCAA Division 2 soccer
+ Made his Belize Senior debut in 2013
+ Played two seasons with UC-Riverside in NCAA Division 1 soccer
+ Drafted in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft 24^th overall by the Montreal Impact
+ Signed an MLS contract with Montreal in 2016