Yenith Elizabett Bailey de la Cruz (born 29 March 2001) is a Panamanian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Santa Fe FC and the Panama women's national team. She is nicknamed Chomba.

Yenith Bailey
Personal information
Full name Yenith Elizabett Bailey de la Cruz
Date of birth (2001-03-29) 29 March 2001 (age 23)[1]
Place of birth Panama City, Panama[2]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) [3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Santa Fe FC
Number 30
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 San Francisco
2019–2021 Tauro
2019Libertad/Limpeño (loan)
2021 Atlético Nacional 9[4]
2021–2023 Dimas Escazú
2023–2024 Tauro
2024– Santa Fe
International career
2017– Panama 32[4] (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 July 2019

Club career

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Bailey began playing in the top division in Panama as a 15-year-old and has spent much of her career in the country,[5] including earning multiple titles with Tauro FC and Santa Fe. On the back of Santa Fe's 2024 title, Bailey featured heavily in the subsequent title-winning campaign in the 2024 UNCAF Women's Interclub Championship and tougher 2024–25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup group stage.

International career

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Bailey appeared in three matches for Panama at the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship,[1][4] making 24 saves.[6] She won the tournament's Golden Glove award and was named to its Best XI.[7] Previously a midfielder, she was converted to goalkeeper by head coach Victor Suárez only a year before the tournament.[8]

Panama ended up fourth, advancing to a playoff against CONMEBOL side Argentina for a place in the 2019 Women's World Cup. In the 8th minute of the first leg Bailey saved a penalty from Estefanía Banini. The match finished 4-0 for Argentina, though, and after a 1-1 draw at home Panama was eliminated.

Bailey would then backstop Panama though the following World Cup campaign, with the team once again needing to go through the play-offs after the CONCACAF Championship. This time, Panama won both of their play-off matches, successfully qualifying for the World Cup for the first time. At the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Bailey played all three group stage matches but failed to advance from a group that included both Brazil and France.

Honors

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Tauro FC

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  • Liga de Fútbol Femenino (Panamá): Ap.2023 [es]

Santa Fe FC

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  • Liga de Fútbol Femenino (Panamá): Ap.2024 [es]
  • UNCAF Interclub Championship: 2024

Individual

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  • CONCACAF W Championship Golden Glove: 2018

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Panama". CONCACAF Women's Championship. CONCACAF. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Panamá tiene sus 23 convocadas para clasificar al Mundial femenino de la FIFA". 26 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Play-Off Tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023" (PDF). FIFA. 12 February 2023. p. 1. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Y. Bailey". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Yenith Bailey". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  6. ^ Yang, Stephanie (18 October 2018). "The United States won Concacaf qualifying but Panama GK Yenith Bailey stole the show (and our hearts)". Stars and Stripes. SB Nation. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Concacaf announces the individual awards and Best XI of the CWC". CONCACAF. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  8. ^ Arnold, Jon (16 October 2018). "Panama's teenage goalkeeper becomes breakout star at Concacaf tournament, but next step isn't clear". Goal.com. Retrieved 9 July 2019.