After a slow start in Philadelphia, Israeli soccer player Tai Baribo is on a roll
The striker, who has also played for Israel’s national team, had a breakout month in July with a stunning hat trick but hasn’t forgotten his homeland as war rages on
PHILADELPHIA — When Tai Baribo scored the only goal in the Philadelphia Union’s 1-0 win over Charlotte FC on July 28, his father Itzik was watching the American soccer match from his home in Eilat at around 3:45 a.m. local time.
Of course, Baribo says, his dad watches every game, even when the 26-year-old — who has also played 11 games and scored three goals for the Israeli national team since 2021 — isn’t in the lineup. Until recently, that had been the case for much of this season.
Now, Baribo is making his presence felt — to his relief and to the delight of Union coach Jim Curtin.
“I’m proud of him,” said Curtin, who didn’t start playing Baribo regularly for his Major League Soccer (MLS) team until June. “While it was hard early on and maybe some decisions went against him, he was very professional about the whole thing.”
“He worked tirelessly and found a way to maintain fitness. This version of Tai has been incredible to watch and will get better and better as he gets more reps with the first team guys,” Curtin added. “This is the striker we saw and why we brought him here.”
For his part, Baribo seems to be taking it all in stride. When he scored his first two goals on June 19, he downplayed it because the team lost. But on July 17, he erupted for a three-goal hat trick in a resounding victory.
The July 28 goal was his seventh of the season in just 11 games. More importantly, Baribo’s confidence is soaring and he’s feeling more comfortable in his relatively new surroundings after arriving just about a year ago.
“We didn’t win before, so it was difficult for me to be completely happy because the most important thing is winning,” Baribo said, following the Charlotte game. “I think now with the goals and winning my confidence is high.”
“I came here last summer,” he said. “It had never happened before where I didn’t play at all. Of course, I was upset and my confidence went down. I continued to work hard and kept quiet. I knew that when I got my chance I needed to take advantage of it. I’m happy how it’s worked out.”
Last night, after playing to a 1-1 draw, the Union lost to Cruz-Azul of Mexico on a penalty kick shootout. Baribo had chances but did not score a goal. Philadelphia now advances to the round of 32 in the Leagues Cup against Montreal.
Split screen with Israel
While professionally he’s finally settled into a routine, the situation back home in Israel — where war has raged since the Hamas invasion on October 7 took 1,200 lives and saw 251 people kidnapped to the Gaza Strip — is always on his mind.
“This is my country,” said Baribo, who plans to return home in December to marry his fiancée, Linoy, from Rishon Lezion. “This is my blood. Israel is a very unique country. We’re all family. What’s happening there is very tough for me, especially since my family lives close to Gaza. My head is there all the time. Every day I speak with them.”
“But this is my job,” he said. “After the attack, Jim took me into his office. He told me if I needed some days off to take them and asked if my family was okay. He gave me all the things I needed.”
When the 2023 season ended Baribo returned home for a couple of months, where he experienced the war firsthand.
“When I was there I saw the rockets in the air a couple of times when I was driving and took shelter,” he said. “You can’t do anything. You just lie on the ground and pray.”
While he’s remained safe, both Baribo and Linoy have been personally affected by the war. Tragically, Linoy’s best friend Shiraz Brodash was killed alongside her boyfriend Avshalom Peretz during the massacre. Besides that, Daniella Gilboa, the daughter of his personal trainer, is among the hostages still being held by Hamas.
“I think about her and him and pray for all the hostages,” said Baribo, who then spoke about the July 27 horrific rocket attack by Hezbollah on the town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights. “They killed 12 children who were just playing soccer, just like us.”
Conceding that it’s hard to relate, his coach feels some of Baribo’s pain.
“Every player goes through a tough period where there’s an adjustment to a new league,” said Curtin, whose club was then on a three-game winning streak after going winless for 10 games. “Whether it’s on the field, off the field, culturally, getting settled, or finding a new place to live.”
“Then to also have what he has going on back at home, I can’t even pretend to imagine mentally what he’s going through,” Curtin added. “It’s not right for me to say or even try to understand what is going on back in his home, but there’s been such incredible focus and professionalism from him.”
Embraced by the Jewish community
Establishing a pro-Israel base to make him feel somewhat at home in the United States has smoothed the transition.
“I’ve met a lot of people from Israel,” said Baribo, who’s attended a few of the local synagogues. “There’s a big Jewish community supporting me and my fiancée.”
“Every country you go you need to get used to the culture; the mentality of the people. Understand how they’re thinking. You need to get used to the atmosphere. Then you become good at your job,” he said.
It’s taken a while, but finally that’s happening in Philadelphia. Last summer, Baribo agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Union, following a two-year stint with Wolfsberger AC of the Austrian Bundesliga, where he scored 27 goals.
“I did my season in Austria and was waiting for offers,” recalled Baribo about the process that brought him to Philadelphia. “I got some offers from the MLS and Europe, I did a Zoom with [Union sporting director] Ernst [Tanner] and Jim. They gave me confidence I would play.”
“They were counting on me and the offer was good,” he said. “So I decided to come here because there were a lot of good players. It was the right decision.”
Playing for the Union, which faces an uphill climb to make the MLS playoffs, is one thing. But what really has Baribo excited is the possibility of playing again for the Israeli national team, which will play Belgium and Italy in September, most likely in Hungary.
“It’s always a great honor to represent the country and wear the Israeli flag on my jersey,” said Baribo, who doesn’t know if that might conflict with the Union’s schedule. “I really hope the coach will call me for these games.”
Should that happen, proud Israeli Baribo, who served three years in the IDF, can count on one thing: His dad, not to mention the rest of the country, will be watching.
