Dejan Jakovic facts for kids
Jakovic with Serbian White Eagles in 2022
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 July 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Karlovac, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.88 m | ||
| Playing position | Centre-back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Serbian White Eagles | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Kingsview | |||
| Rexdale SC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007 | Canadian Lions | ||
| 2008–2009 | Red Star Belgrade | 3 | (0) |
| 2009–2013 | D.C. United | 98 | (1) |
| 2014–2016 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 42 | (0) |
| 2017 | New York Cosmos | 22 | (1) |
| 2018–2020 | Los Angeles FC | 34 | (1) |
| 2019 | → Las Vegas Lights (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2021 | Forge FC | 5 | (0) |
| 2022– | Serbian White Eagles | ||
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008 | Canada U23 | 5 | (0) |
| 2008–2018 | Canada | 41 | (1) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2023 | Toronto FC (assistant) | ||
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Dejan Jakovic (born 16 July 1985) is a Canadian soccer player. He plays as a centre-back, which means he helps protect the goal. Currently, he plays for the Serbian White Eagles. Dejan also played for the Canadian national team from 2008 to 2018.
Contents
Early Life and Soccer Start
Dejan Jakovic was born in Karlovac, a city in what was then Yugoslavia. When he was six, a war started in his home country. His parents moved their family to Canada in 1991 to find safety. They settled in Etobicoke, a part of Toronto. Dejan's father, Nenad, also played soccer in Croatia.
Dejan started playing soccer in Canada. He was a great player at Scarlett Heights Academy. He was named the most valuable player (MVP) in his junior and senior years. He also captained both his indoor and outdoor teams. Dejan played for Canada's youth soccer teams. He also played for the Woodbridge Strikers, a team that won the Ontario Cup twice.
College Soccer Journey
After high school, Dejan received a scholarship to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He played college soccer for the Blazers for four years. In 2007, he also played for the Canadian Lions in the Canadian Soccer League. He was chosen to play in their All-Star game.
Playing for Clubs
Dejan Jakovic has played for many soccer clubs around the world.
Red Star Belgrade
In 2008, when he was 23, Dejan joined Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. He played three league games at the start of the season. However, after a new coach took over, he did not play as much.
D.C. United
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Dejan moved to the Major League Soccer (MLS) team D.C. United in the United States in 2009. He scored his first goal for the team in 2012. It was a winning goal in a 3-2 game against the New England Revolution. He stayed with D.C. United for several years.
Shimizu S-Pulse
In 2014, Dejan signed with a Japanese club called Shimizu S-Pulse. He played there for three years before leaving in 2017.
New York Cosmos
After Japan, Dejan returned to North America. In March 2017, he joined the New York Cosmos soccer team.
Los Angeles FC
In 2018, Dejan came back to the MLS. He signed with the new team Los Angeles FC. He played his first game for LAFC against the Seattle Sounders. He stayed with Los Angeles FC until 2020. During this time, he also played a few games on loan for Las Vegas Lights.
Forge FC
In 2021, Dejan signed with Forge FC, a team in the Canadian Premier League. He played five games for them but had to leave due to an injury.
Serbian White Eagles
In 2022, Dejan returned to the Canadian Soccer League. He signed with the Serbian White Eagles. He helped the team win the regular-season title. This meant they were one of the best teams that year.
Playing for Canada
Dejan Jakovic played for the senior Canadian men's soccer team for the first time in 2008. He played against Martinique. Later that year, he played five games for Canada's Under-23 team. He also played in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. This is a big soccer tournament for teams in North and Central America. Canada did well in that tournament.
Dejan was also chosen for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. However, he got a hamstring injury right before the tournament. Another player had to take his spot.
Becoming a Coach
In 2023, Dejan started a new part of his soccer career. He became an assistant coach for the Toronto FC academy program. Now, he is the head coach for the Under-16 Academy team. He helps young players learn and grow in soccer.
Honours
D.C. United
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2013 (A major soccer cup in the U.S.)
Serbian White Eagles
- Canadian Soccer League Regular Season: 2022 (Best team in the regular season)
See also
In Spanish: Dejan Jaković para niños
