Alec Smir

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Alec Smir

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|4|13}}

| birth_place = Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

| height = 187 cm

| currentclub = Minnesota United

| clubnumber = 1

| position = Goalkeeper

| youthyears1 = 2013–2017

| youthclubs1 = North Carolina Fusion

| collegeyears1 = 2017–2021

| college1 = North Carolina Tar Heels

| collegecaps1 = 68

| collegegoals1 = 0

| years1 = 2017

| clubs1 = Carolina Dynamo

| caps1 = 2

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2018

| clubs2 = Ocean City Nor'easters

| caps2 = 4

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2022–

| clubs3 = Minnesota United 2

| caps3 = 20

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2023

| clubs4 = → Colorado Springs Switchbacks (loan)

| caps4 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2024–

| clubs5 = Minnesota United

| caps5 = 3

| goals5 = 0

| club-update = October 20, 2024

}}

Alec Smir (born April 13, 1999) is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for MLS club Minnesota United.

Career

=Youth=

Smir attended Greensboro Day School, also playing club soccer for NC Fusion from 2013 to 2017, captaining the team during the 2016 season. He was also selected for training camps with the United States under-18 side.{{Cite web|url=https://goheels.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/alec-smir/22794|title=Alec Smir - Men's Soccer|website=University of North Carolina Athletics}}{{Cite web|url=https://journalnow.com/sports/goalie-alec-smir-of-north-carolina-a-greensboro-native-a-key-player-on-tar-heels/article_40fcf4ca-b330-11eb-9ca2-035e13d547bf.html|title=Goalie Alec Smir of North Carolina, a Greensboro native, a key player on Tar Heels' run to College Cup|first=John|last=Dell|website=Winston-Salem Journal}} In 2017, he also played with Carolina Dynamo in the USL PDL.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/18032258|title=North Carolina Fusion U23 - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - # - Alec Smir -|website=www.uslleaguetwo.com}}

= College =

In 2017, Smir committed to playing college soccer at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He redshirted his sophomore season in 2018, but went on to make 68 appearances for the Tar Heels. He was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Second Team and United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team in 2020, and All-ACC First Team and United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team in 2021.

During the summer of 2018, Smir also appeared in the PDL for Ocean City Nor'easters, making four regular season appearances.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/24326616|title=Ocean City Nor'easters - 2018 Regular Season - Roster - # - Alec Simr -|website=www.uslleaguetwo.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://oceancityfc.demosphere-secure.com/latest-news/alec-smir-earns-shutout-in-nor-easters-rain-delayed-win-at-evergreen-fc-video|title=Alec Smir earns shutout in Nor'easters' rain-delayed win at Evergreen FC (VIDEO)|date=June 10, 2018|website=Ocean City FC}}

=Professional=

On January 11, 2022, Smir was selected 62nd overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fcdallas.com/news/fc-dallas-selects-six-players-in-2022-mls-superdraft|title=FC Dallas Selects Six Players in 2022 MLS SuperDraft|website=FC Dallas}}{{Cite web|url=https://chapelboro.com/sports/fc-dallas-selects-unc-goalkeeper-alec-smir-in-mls-superdraft|title=FC Dallas Selects UNC Goalkeeper Alec Smir in MLS Superdraft|first=Michael|last=Koh|date=January 12, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://greensboro.com/sports/high-school/alec-smir-embarks-on-pro-soccer-career-in-texas/article_c27c04c4-7576-11ec-894d-a7667e1ce798.html|title=Alec Smir embarks on pro soccer career in Texas|first=Joe|last=Sirera|website=Greensboro News and Record}} On March 23, 2022, it was announced that Smir had signed with MLS Next Pro side Minnesota United 2 ahead of their inaugural season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnufc.com/news/minnesota-united-announce-mnufc2-roster-for-inaugural-mls-next-pro-season|title=Minnesota United Announce MNUFC2 Roster for Inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Season | Minnesota United FC|website=MNUFC}} Smir went on to make eight regular season appearances for Minnesota in 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/players/alec-smir/stats/|title=Alec Smir | MLSsoccer.com|website=mlsnextpro}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnufc.com/news/mnufc2-made-waves-in-their-inaugural-season|title=MNUFC2 Made Waves in Their Inaugural Season | Minnesota United FC|website=MNUFC}} He was also the winner of Goalie Wars, part of the MLS NEXT Pro All-Star Skills Challenge at the 2022 MLS All-Star Game on August 10, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/news/mnufc2-goalkeeper-alec-smir-wins-goalie-wars-at-mls-all-star-skills-challenge|title=MNUFC2's Alec Smir wins Goalie Wars at MLS All-Star Skills Challenge | MLSNEXTPro.com|website=mlsnextpro}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/alec-smir-minnesota-united-development-team-mnufc-goalie-wars-all-star-skills/600197089/|title=Loons development team goalkeeper Alec Smir wins 'Goalie Wars' challenge at All-Star event|first=Jerry|last=Zgoda|website=Star Tribune}}

On March 13, 2023, Smir was loaned to USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks for the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.switchbacksfc.com/news/2023/03/switchbacks-fc-announce-acquisition-of-alec-smir-from-minnesota-united-fc/|title=Switchbacks FC Announce Acquisition of Alec Smir from Minnesota United FC|access-date=June 19, 2023}} On May 16, 2023, Smir was recalled from his loan after making only a single appearance for Colorado Springs, which came in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnufc.com/news/mnufc2-recalls-goalkeeper-alec-smir-from-colorado-springs-switchbacks-fc|title=MNUFC2 Recalls Goalkeeper Alec Smir from Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Minnesota United FC|website=MNUFC|access-date=June 19, 2023}} On June 15, 2024, Smir made a permanent move to Minnesota United's first team roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnufc.com/news/mnufc-signs-goalkeeper-alec-smir-to-semi-guaranteed-contract|title=MNUFC Signs Goalkeeper Alec Smir to Semi-Guaranteed Contract | Minnesota United FC|website=MNUFC}}