FOXBOROUGH — Since October, Revolution winger Esmir Bajraktarevic has been preparing for Paris with the US Olympic team, making six appearances in seven games.
But when the squad is announced this week, Bajraktarevic’s name might not be listed. Roster limits (18) and the addition of three “overage” players will be working against Bajraktarevic, 19, the second-youngest member of the squad (he’s a week older than Inter Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi).
“They are eligible for the next Olympic cycle, as well,” US coach Marko Mitrovic said on a conference call. “We strongly believe in Esmir’s potential and we believe that Esmir has potential to play for the men’s national team one day. I worked with Esmir for more than two years with the U-19s and I have high beliefs in Esmir in the future.”
Bajraktarevic, meanwhile, is keeping cool about the announcement.
“I’m not really worried about it, to be honest,” he said. “I’m not really thinking about it. I just try as best I can for my club and at the camps, and what happens happens.”
Whether or not he gets the call, Bajraktarevic had an eventful month. On June 1, he scored his first MLS goal in a 2-1 victory over Nashville. After joining the US for a send-off 2-0 loss to Japan in Kansas City, Bajraktarevic converted for the Revolution in a 3-2 victory over Vancouver. Then he went 90-plus minutes in the Revolution’s fourth straight win, a 2-1 result at Cincinnati.
“That was great scoring the first one,” said Bajraktarevic. “And after that, I’m just doing what I can, honestly, to help the team, because we were in a pretty bad place. Now, it’s obviously getting better, but we still have a long way to go. I definitely feel like I’m getting better.”
Bajraktarevic found the right place when he joined the Revolution three years ago, though New England seemed an unlikely destination. He made his first soccer moves in Appleton, Wis., where his parents, Elmir and Emina, landed as refugees from the Bosnian war. Esmir progressed through the youth ranks, and by the time he was 16, he was ready to move on.
“I played soccer ever since I could walk, really,” Bajraktarevic said. “I played in rec leagues, just for fun, my family couldn’t really afford playing for club teams. I met this kid, his name’s Liam [Wasco], he’s still my best friend. His dad started talking to my dad and it was, ‘Oh, your son’s pretty good, where’s he playing? He’s not playing anywhere, blah, blah.’ And they kind of just helped me out to play club.”
Soccer brought the Bajraktarevic and Wasco families close.
“We almost merged,” Dr. Kevin Wasco, Liam’s father, said of the families. “My wife Mitzi and I became Esmir’s guardians. We say I’m the Catholic dad and [Elmir] is the Muslim dad.”
Esmir and Liam were “like gym rats,” teaming up to take on older opposition, Kevin Wasco said. When Liam was diagnosed with diabetes, Esmir learned to administer insulin. Their paths split as Esmir pursued a pro career while Liam performed in high school and committed to play at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
In 2021, Kevin Wasco realized the time had come for Esmir to depart.
“Esmir has special skills,” Wasco said. “He does things, creates things, that you can’t teach. He’s a special kid.”
At Marquette, Wasco had studied Middle Eastern religions, which opened lines of communication between the adults, and also played soccer, providing connections for Esmir.
Revolution sporting director Curt Onalfo calls Bajraktarevic’s recruitment “a team effort.” It started with Wasco contacting Revolution II assistant coach Marcelo Santos, a former Marquette assistant, along with University of Milwaukee coach Kris Kelderman, an ex-Revolution midfielder and University of Virginia teammate of Onalfo’s.
The Revolution offered Bajraktarevic a contract, plus room and board. Everything seemed copacetic in Foxborough, but Bajraktarevic suffered from homesickness.
“Wisconsin to Massachusetts is pretty far,” he said. “It was horrible at first. Especially the first month, two months, without my family. Being with my friends at the academy house kind of made it easier. I stayed busy training every day and I was never really alone. We were all in the same situation.”
Bajraktarevic broke into the Revolution II lineup soon after arriving in August 2021, and the next year made his first-team debut, starting in a 1-0 loss to New York City FC in a US Open Cup match.
“Sometimes I got three calls a day,” Kevin Wasco recalled of Bajraktarevic’s early days with the Revolution. “He had to learn to be a professional. He had to learn to be a two-way player, and he had to learn to work through things and play for different coaches.”
Bajraktarevic has grown taller and stronger (though he is still listed at 5 feet 8 inches, 142 pounds) while retaining an ability to dart past defenders, usually with the ball on his left foot, cutting in from the right wing. Bajraktarevic ranks fourth on the Revolution in scoring with three goals in all competitions, the most impressive finish a right-footer inside the near post against a Nashville double-team.
Should Bajraktarevic continue to improve, he could follow the path of Bosnian refugee Vedad Ibisevic, who was recruited by the US while living in St. Louis but ended up starring for Bosnia and in the German Bundesliga, and is now a New York Red Bulls assistant coach.
Bajraktarevic appeared for the full US team in a friendly against Slovenia in January, but remains free to choose his country.
“He thinks of himself as US,” Kevin Wasco said. “But he is a Bosnian Muslim kid. If he goes [to Europe], he will be able to take care of his family better, and if he plays for Bosnia, he can help turn around the team.
“But if he picks Bosnia, it doesn’t mean he’s not proud to be US. And if he picks the US, it doesn’t mean he’s not proud to be Bosnian. He’s not anti-one or the other. Europe is his dream, but the biggest thing is, he’s all about the team’s success and he wants to be the best player he can be.”
The Revolution expect to lose Bajraktarevic to international duty, whether the Olympics or full national team. Also, European club offers are likely for Bajraktarevic, who has three years remaining on a contract worth $120,000 annually.
“He’s a high-potential player for US soccer, it’s that simple,” Onalfo said. “And he’s going to get interest [from Europe]. All we’re focusing on is him playing and getting goals and assists for us this year, and work towards next year. He gets better and better every day. It’s enjoyable to see him progressing and starting to produce.”
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at frankdellapa@gmail.com.