Education
The 25-year-old Venezuelan goalkeeper was under AEK Athens radar for a while and as his team, Caracas Football Club, officially announced his transfer -on a one-year loanto the Greek club was completed.
The 25-year-old Venezuelan goalkeeper was under AEK Athens radar for a while and as his team, Caracas Football Club, officially announced his transfer -on a one-year loanto the Greek club was completed.
He currently plays for AEK Athens. Club Born in Caracas, Alain debuted for the national team at age 25. Initially second-choice to Dani Hernandez, he soon worked his way up to first-choice and eventually earned his first senior cap following some brilliant performances at club level with Caracas Football Club. On 17 July 2015, AEK Athens reached an agreement with Caracas Football Club for the transfer of Alain Baroja on a one-year loan.
He started as the indisputable first goalie of the club, till 17 December 2015 when he suffered a finger injury in training and will remain out of action for at least one month.
He was called again to play a friendly match against Nigeria but he didn"t play either. Under the new management of Noel Sanvicente, Dani Hernandez was used as first choice goalkeeper in the first 4 friendly games of Sanvicente.
Baroja was chosen as the starting goalkeeper and finally debuted for the national team at age 25. On 10 November 2015, Baroja is doubtful for the games with his national team, but his injury isn"t serious enough to worry AEK. Baroja played for a couple of minutes at the end of the game against Asteras Tripolis suffering two-headed muscle injury.
The football player travelled to Venezuela and according to the National team"s medical staff his injury isn"t too severe.
2015 Copa America
On 12 May 2015, Baroja was named in Venezuela"s 23-man squad for the Copa America 2015 and assigned the number 01 shirt. Initially second-choice to Dani Hernandez, he soon worked his way up to first-choice following some brilliant performances at club level with Caracas Football Club and earned his first cap in a competitive match. In the team"s opening match of the tournament against Colombia, he kept a clean sheet and stopped a shot from James Rodriguez helping the team"s victory.
Baroja started the next 2 group games of Venezuela and made a world-class save in the last group match, stopping a header from Brazil"s centre-back Thiago Silva.
Despite his good performance in the tournament Venezuela was eliminated in the group stage.
On 13 February 2016, almost two months from his last appearance, he replaced his teammate Giannis Anestis, being the first choice of AEK manager Gustavo Poyet, in a glorious 1-0 derby win against the undefeated, till that game, champions Olympiakos. On 1 October 2012, Baroja received his first call-up to the Venezuelan senior side, for a match scheduled to be played against Ecuador on 16 October 2012 for the 2014 Fédération internationale de football association World Cup qualification, but he didn"t play. In February 2015, there were scheduled 2 matches against Honduras, but because they were out of the Fédération internationale de football association calendar, Sanvicente could only call players from the Venezuelan Primera División for the national team Venezuela won both matches against Honduras and Baroja"s performance was very well received. Baroja started again against Peru on March, a game Venezuela won 1-0 with another good performance of the goalkeeper.
