Aljaž Ivačič Explained

Aljaž Ivačič
Birth Date:29 December 1993
Birth Place:Ljubljana, Slovenia[1]
Height:1.88 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:New England Revolution
Clubnumber:31
Youthyears1:2003–2011
Youthclubs1:Domžale
Youthyears2:2012
Youthclubs2:Olimpija Ljubljana
Years1:2012–2016
Clubs1:Olimpija Ljubljana
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2012–2013
Clubs2:Rudar Trbovlje (loan)
Caps2:22
Goals2:0
Years3:2013
Clubs3:Bela Krajina (loan)
Caps3:9
Goals3:0
Years4:2015–2016
Clubs4:Radomlje (loan)
Caps4:20
Goals4:0
Years5:2016–2017
Clubs5:Radomlje
Caps5:35
Goals5:0
Years6:2017
Clubs6:Pafos
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:2017–2019
Clubs7:Olimpija Ljubljana
Caps7:43
Goals7:0
Years8:2019–2024
Clubs8:Portland Timbers
Caps8:54
Goals8:0
Years9:2019
Clubs9:Portland Timbers 2
Caps9:12
Goals9:0
Years10:2024–
Clubs10:New England Revolution
Caps10:25
Goals10:0
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:Slovenia U20
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update: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]

Notes and References

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