Position:
Midfielder/Forward
Height:
6'1" (1.85 m)
Weight:
172 lbs. (78.2 kg)
Born:
May 19, 1987 in Velika Kladusa, Bosnia
Hometown:
Libertyville, IL
Citizenship:
USA/Bosnia
College:
University of Illinois-Chicago (2006-2008)
How acquired:
Drafted in the second round (20th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft.
Fire Insider: How did it feel to get your first minutes with the Fire first team?
Baggio Husidic: It felt great - our team administrator Ron came over and called out my name to go on in the game against Chivas and I was really excited. Last game I get in as well and like Denis [Hamlett] says - we have to make the most of the opportunities so I'm going to keep working and hopefully keep getting those opportunities.
Fire Insider: Did you play any other sports growing up?
BH: I used to play tennis when I was younger in Germany, but I didn't play competitively at all. Soccer has always been my main sport and I feel really lucky that I am able to play for the Fire because that is the team I have followed since I was younger.
FI: How many people are in your family? Any siblings?
BH: I have one older brother who's 23 - we get along pretty well I guess. My parents were really excited when the Fire drafted me - they came into the back room where all of the media was and took a bunch of pictures, it was really cool.
FI: What's your favorite home-cooked meal? Do you know how to cook - if so what?
BH: I cook all the time, mostly Bosnian dishes that are hard to describe. My favorite dish is made up of rolled dough, meat, and potatoes - it's really good.
FI: Who's the best dressed player on the team?
BH: Bakary is the best dressed player on the team. He's always dressed up - even when we're leaving the locker room after practice.
FI: Who is the funniest player on the team or the biggest prankster?
BH: That's a tough question. There are a lot of funny guys on the team, but I think Calen Carr is probably the funniest.
FI: Which players do you spend the most time with off the field?
BH: I spend about the same amount of time with most of them; Peter Lowry and I started playing some tennis against each other so I've been with him the most.
FI: Do you have any nicknames?
BH: I don't really have any nicknames; people just call me Baggio.
FI: What's the last good book you've read?
BH: My favorite book is The Bourne Identity.
FI: Do you follow any other professional sports team?
BH: I follow the Chicago Cubs - I'm definitely a Cubs fan even though they're not doing so well right now.
FI: What's your favorite type of music? Any concerts you want to go to?
BH: I like reggae and chill music like OAR, Dave Matthews, The Fray. I really want to see the Dave Matthews concert at Alpine this summer, but don't know if I'll be able to make it.
FI: Where would you take a dream vacation?
BH: Anywhere in Spain would be my dream vacation. I've never been and always wanted to go.
FI: What do you think you'd be doing if you weren't playing professional soccer?
BH: I'd probably still be in school; I would have a year and a half or two years left.
FI: After having lived in a Chicago suburb and gone to college in the city, would you consider yourself a Chicago expert? What's the best thing to do downtown?
BH: Yeah, I guess I'm a bit of an expert. I know all the local bars and restaurants to go to. One thing anyone traveling to Chicago has to do is visit Millennium Park and go to the beach in the summer.
FI: How old were you when you started playing soccer?
BH: I started playing around age 4 or 5, but not competitively until I was about 10.
FI: Do you speak any other languages? Where did you learn?
BH: I speak fluent Bosnian and a little bit of Spanish. I also spoke German when we lived in Germany, but not really anymore.
FI: Advice you would give a young athlete that dreams of playing for the Fire?
BH: I would tell a youth athlete to always work hard, do all the little things that will help you do better later on, and just try your best at everything.
FI: What would you do with a million dollars?
BH: I would definitely buy a big house, maybe a couple of cars. Then I would donate some of the money to the Chicago Fire Foundation and probably give some to my parents, as well.
FI: Do you have any fears or phobias?
BH: I have a pretty big fear of heights, especially high places with no ledges.
FI: What was your major in college?
BH: My major was sociology.
