Aljaž Ivačič

Aljaž Ivačič
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-12-29) 29 December 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth Ljubljana, Slovenia[1]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 New England Revolution
Number 31
Youth career
2003–2011 Domžale
2012 Olimpija Ljubljana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 Olimpija Ljubljana 2 (0)
2012–2013 → Rudar Trbovlje (loan) 22 (0)
2013 → Bela Krajina (loan) 9 (0)
2015–2016 → Radomlje (loan) 20 (0)
2016–2017 Radomlje 35 (0)
2017 Pafos 0 (0)
2017–2019 Olimpija Ljubljana 43 (0)
2019–2024 Portland Timbers 54 (0)
2019 Portland Timbers 2 12 (0)
2024– New England Revolution 25 (0)
International career
2013 Slovenia U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 October 2024

Aljaž Ivačič (born 29 December 1993) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.

Club career

Ivačič was signed by Portland Timbers on 18 January 2019.[2] He made his debut for the club in a 6–1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on 19 September 2020, earning three saves and giving up one goal.[3] On 25 September 2023, Ivačič filed a complaint with the MLS Players Association against the Timbers alleging abusive conduct and tampering.[4] A few days later, Major League Soccer announced it was suspending Ivačič for three matches and fining him an undisclosed amount for using threatening language toward team staff.[5] Ivačič left the team in March 2024 after his contract was waived.[6]

On 23 April 2024, the New England Revolution announced they had signed Ivačič through the 2025 season.[7] He was named MLS Player of the Matchday for week 19, following the Revolution's 1–0 victory over the New York Red Bulls in which he made five saves.[8] He became the first goalkeeper to win Player of the Matchday award since Dayne St. Clair in 2022, and the second Revolution keeper to win the award, following Matt Turner in 2021.[8]

International career

Ivačič made one appearance for the Slovenia under-20 national team in April 2013, in a 4–1 loss to Croatia.[9] In June 2023, he was called up to the Slovenia senior team by manager Matjaž Kek as a third-choice goalkeeper for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Finland and Denmark.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Aljaž Ivačič". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Portland Timbers acquire Slovenian goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič". timbers.com. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "San Jose Earthquakes 1, Portland Timbers 6". timbers.com. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  4. ^ Clarke, Ryan (23 September 2023). "Aljaz Ivacic files complaint with MLS Players Association against Portland Timbers". oregonlive.com. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  5. ^ Clarke, Ryan (28 September 2023). "MLS suspends Aljaz Ivacic for threatening language toward Portland Timbers staff". oregonlive.com. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Portland Timbers waive goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic". mlssoccer.com. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  7. ^ "New England Revolution sign goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic". mlssoccer.com. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  8. ^ a b Kurie, Brendan (10 June 2024). "After his sixth start with the club, Revolution goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic is tabbed MLS Player of the Matchday". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Aljaž Ivačič – Nogometna zveza Slovenije". nzs.si (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  10. ^ Plestenjak, Rok (7 June 2023). "Črne slutnje so se uresničile" (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 26 April 2024.