Drake Steven Callender (born October 7, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.

D. Callender
Callender with Inter Miami in 2023
Personal information
Full name Drake Steven Callender[1]
Date of birth (1997-10-07) October 7, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Sacramento, California, United States
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Inter Miami
Number 1
Youth career
2010–2012 Cap FC United
2012–2013 Placer United
2013–2016 San Jose Earthquakes
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 California Golden Bears 54 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 San Francisco Glens 0 (0)
2020– Inter Miami 89 (0)
2021Fort Lauderdale CF (on loan) 17 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 19, 2024

Early life

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Callender played youth soccer with Cap FC United and Placer United,[3] before going on to be part of the San Jose Earthquakes academy from 2013 to 2016.[4][5]

In 2016, Callender began playing college soccer for the California Golden Bears. In four seasons, Callender made 54 appearances, keeping 16 clean sheets. He was named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA All-Far West Region First Team and the All-Pac-12 First Team for the 2017 season. For the 2018 season, he was named to the preseason MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List and earned United Soccer Coaches NCAA All-Far West Region Third Team and All-Pac-12 Second Team honors.[3]

While in college, Callender spent time with USL League Two side San Francisco Glens, but didn't appear for the team during the 2019 season.[6]

Club career

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On November 12, 2019, Inter Miami acquired Callender's homegrown player rights from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for the 27th draft pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, and potentially up to $150,000 in General Allocation Money if Callender were to meet certain performance-based metrics. He joined the club's roster ahead of their inaugural Major League Soccer season in 2020.[7]

Callender made his professional debut on May 7, 2021, starting for Inter Miami affiliate Fort Lauderdale CF against Union Omaha in USL League One.[8] Callendar made six saves during Inter Miami's 2023 season-opening victory over CF Montréal, earning him a spot in the league's Team of the Matchday for week one.[9] On August 19, 2023, his team, Inter Miami, won the first edition of the Leagues Cup after a penalty kick shootout, in which he scored a penalty and saved two.[10] Thanks to this, Callender was awarded the best goalkeeper title of the 2023 Leagues Cup[11] and won Man of the Match.[12]

On September 9, Callender had made 100 saves for Inter Miami in the 2023 MLS season, with him making his 100th save of the season against Sporting Kansas City.[13]

International career

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In August 2023, Callender received his first call-up to the United States senior national team by head coach Gregg Berhalter, for two friendly matches against Uzbekistan and Oman.[14]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played November 9, 2024[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Inter Miami 2020 Major League Soccer 0 0 0 0
2021 0 0 0 0
2022 24 0 1 0 3 0 28 0
2023 33 0 5 0 7[a] 0 45 0
2024 32 0 3 0 4[b] 0 3[a] 0 42 0
Total 89 0 4 0 8 0 4 0 10 0 115 0
Fort Lauderdale CF (loan) 2021 USL League One 17 0 17 0
Career total 106 0 4 0 8 0 4 0 10 0 132 0
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Leagues Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup

Honors

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Inter Miami

United States

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "National team roster – 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals: USA" (PDF). CONCACAF. May 19, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Drake Callender". Inter Miami CF. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Drake Callender - Men's Soccer". University of California Golden Bears Athletics.
  4. ^ "San Jose Earthquakes". sjeq.ussoccerda.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Alumni | San Jose Earthquakes". Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "San Francisco Glens SC | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  7. ^ "Inter Miami CF Acquires Homegrown Player Rights for Goalkeeper Drake Callender from the San Jose Earthquakes | Inter Miami CF".
  8. ^ "Fort Lauderdale CF vs. Union Omaha - May 7, 2021 | USLLeagueOne.com". www.uslleagueone.com.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (February 28, 2023). "Team of the Matchday: Who shined brightest on MLS is Back weekend?". Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Kaufman, Michelle (August 19, 2023). "Messi scores, Callender shines, Inter Miami wins League Cup in 11-round PK shootout". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Drake Callender: The goalkeeping hero of Inter Miami CF's Leagues Cup 2023 triumph". Leagues Cup. August 20, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  12. ^ intermiamicf. "MATCH RECAP: Inter Miami CF Wins 2023 Leagues Cup Title to Clinch Historic First Trophy for the Club | Inter Miami CF". intermiamicf. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  13. ^ intermiamicf. "Drake Callender | Inter Miami CF". intermiamicf. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  14. ^ "BERHALTER SELECTS 24-PLAYER BIOSTEEL USMNT TRAINING CAMP ROSTER AHEAD OF SEPTEMBER MATCHES". US Soccer. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  15. ^ Drake Callender at Soccerway
  16. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (October 2, 2024). "Inter Miami win 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield". Major League Soccer. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  17. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (August 20, 2023). "Lionel Messi & Inter Miami are Leagues Cup champions!". Major League Soccer. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  18. ^ "U.S. beats Canada to win Nations League as Balogun opens account". ESPN. June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  19. ^ "Adams Reyna on target as United States complete three peat". CONCACAF. March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
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