Terrence Boyd

Terrence Boyd

Boyd in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Terrence Anthony Boyd
Date of birth	(1991-02-16) February 16, 1991[1]
Place of birth	Bremen, Germany
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current team	Red Bull Liepzig
Number	18
Youth career
–2009	Hertha BSC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2011	Hertha BSC II	44	(15)
2011–2012	Borussia Dortmund II	32	(20)
2012–2014	Rapid Wien	59	(28)
2014–	Red Bull Leipzig	7	(2)
National team‡
2011	United States U20	2	(1)
2012	United States U23	2	(2)
2012–	United States	14	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:01, 5 November 2016 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2016

Terrence Anthony Boyd (born February 16, 1991) is a German American professional soccer player who plays for Red Bull Liepzig in the Bundesliga.^[2]

Early life

Boyd is the son of an American serviceman and his German wife. The family returned to the U.S. shortly after his birth, settling in Queens, New York. However, his parents soon divorced, and his mother returned to Germany along with Terrence. His father was soon out of his life, and his mother eventually remarried. Boyd credits his stepfather for much of his success, saying in a 2012 interview,^[3]

I don't think I would have become a pro without him because I am a lazy guy... He was really strict, but he helped me to stay out of the trouble and all the s--- that could do some problems for you. I'm a guy who is trying to get better every day, and that focus, I got it from him.

Career

Early career

Boyd grew up playing in the Hertha BSC youth system, finally debuting for their U-23 squad in 2010. After starting the season on the bench he found a role in the starting lineup and ended the season with 13 goals. After his contract with Hertha expired, he signed with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and debuted with their reserve squad Borussia Dortmund II.^[4] On October 22, 2011 Boyd received his first call-up to the Borussia Dortmund first team in their Bundesliga match against FC Cologne. Although he dressed as part of the 18-man squad, Boyd did not play in Dortmund's 5-0 win over FC Cologne.^[5]

Rapid Wien

In June 2012, Boyd signed a 3-year deal with Austrian club Rapid Wien.^[6] On July 21, making his professional first team debut, Boyd scored his first and second league goals and added an assist against Wacker Innsbruck; Boyd was named the Man of the Match. The youngster was impressive for Rapid during his inaugural season in the Austrian Bundesliga, second on the team in scoring with 13 goals as the capital club finished in third place and securing a place in the third qualifying round of the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League. Boyd scored 37 goals in 80 appearances for Rapid.

RB Leipzig

During the summer of 2014, Boyd was sold to RB Leipzig.^[7] On October 17, 2014, he made his debut in RB Leipzig's 1–0 loss to Nürnberg.^[8] He suffered a torn ACL in December 2014, missing the remainder of the season.^[9]

International career

Born to an American serviceman and a German mother, Boyd holds dual citizenship. His path to the U.S. national team began when his Hertha youth teammate Bryan Arguez, then a United States U-20 international, told then U-20 Head Coach Thomas Rongen that there were several Americans on Hertha's books that Rongen needed to recruit.^[3] Rongen soon invited him to a U-20 training camp, but Boyd did not yet have a U.S. passport. For Boyd, the process of obtaining a passport forced him to deal with the pain of his family's breakup, as he needed his biological father to sign the necessary paperwork. He eventually connected with other relatives on Facebook and used his paternal aunt as a go-between to get his papers signed.^[3]

With his passport in hand, Boyd made several appearances for the United States U-20 team. Boyd was called into the U-23 camp in Europe in November 2011.^[10] Boyd also participated in the December 2011 U-23 camp in Florida. Boyd was initially called into the U-23 pre-Olympic Qualifying camp and was set to join the team for its February 29, 2012 match against Mexico's U-23 team. However, he instead made his debut with the full U.S. national team in its February 29 victory over Italy, coming on in the second half.^[11]

Boyd for USA against Austria in 2013

Boyd was called to the U-23 Olympic Qualifying squad in March 2012.^[12] He scored two goals in the U-23 team's must-win game against El Salvador, but a late goal conceded sent the team out of the tournament in the group stage.

On May 20, Boyd was announced as one of the final additions to the U.S. squad for a five-game series set to culminate in two 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. On May 26, he earned his first start ever for the United States in a 5-1 win against Scotland.^[13] He cemented his status as an American in international soccer by playing in the FIFA World Cup qualifier on June 8, 2012 against Antigua and Barbuda.^[14]

Later in 2012, Boyd played a major role in a landmark result for the U.S. in a friendly match against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. His back heel allowed Michael Orozco Fiscal to score the only goal of the match, the United States' first ever victory at the stadium.

Boyd was included on Klinsmann's 30-man preliminary roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup; however, he did not make the final 23-man roster for Brazil.^[15]

Boyd has affirmed his commitment to the USMNT by getting a tattoo of the American flag on his arm.^[16]

Career statistics

Club

As of 24 June 2015.^[17]

International

As of 11 October 2016.

References

External links

• Terrence Boyd profile at Soccerway
• Terrence Boyd at National-Football-Teams.com