Canadian soccer player
Lazar Stefanovic
Stefanovic in 2023
Date of birth
(2006-08-10 ) August 10, 2006 (age 17) Place of birth
Clearwater, Florida , United States Height
1.87 m (6 ft 1+ 1 ⁄2 in) Position(s)
Centre-back Current team
Toronto FC II Number
76
Oakville SC 2016–
Toronto FC Years
Team
Apps
(Gls ) 2022–
Toronto FC II
31
(0) 2023
→ Toronto FC (loan)
2
(0) 2022
Canada U17
13
(1) 2024–
Canada U20
3
(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 12, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of February 27, 2024
Lazar Stefanovic (Serbian Cyrillic : Лазар Стефановић , romanized : Lazar Stefanović ; born August 10, 2006) is a professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for Toronto FC II in MLS Next Pro . Born in the United States, he is a youth international for Canada.
Early life
Born in Clearwater, Florida , Stefanovic moved to Canada at a young age and was raised in Oakville, Ontario .[1] He began playing soccer at age three with Oakville SC.[2] In 2016, he joined the Toronto FC Academy .[3] In June 2023, he was named to the MLS Next All-Star Game.[4]
Club career
Stefanovic with Toronto FC II in 2023
On April 30, 2022, Stefanovic made his professional debut with Toronto FC II in MLS Next Pro against FC Cincinnati 2 , as an academy call-up.[1] On June 30, 2023, he signed an official professional contract with Toronto FC II, after having already played 13 games that season as an academy call-up.[1] The next day, he joined the Toronto FC first team on a short-term loan,[5] making his Major League Soccer debut that day in a substitute appearance in a 1–0 loss to Real Salt Lake .[6] [7] He became the second-youngest player to appear in an MLS match for Toronto FC (16 years, 10 months and 22 days).[8] He signed another short-term loan ahead of a Leagues Cup match against Mexican club Atlas .[9] [10] He joined the first team for their 2024 preseason training camp.[11]
International career
Stefanovic is of Serbian descent, born in the United States, and raised in Canada, and eligible for all three nations at international level.[12]
In August 2022, Stefanovic was called up to a training camp for the United States U17 team.[13]
In October 2022, he made his debut in the Canadian program, attending a camp with the Canada U17 team.[2] He represented Canada at the 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship , where he scored his first goal on 22 February 2023, against Puerto Rico U17 .[14] In February 2024, he was named to the Canada U20 for the 2024 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship qualifiers.[15]
Career statistics
As of match played June 12, 2024 [16]
Club
Season
League
Playoffs
National Cup
Continental
Other
Total
Division
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Toronto FC II
2022
MLS Next Pro
1
0
0
0
–
–
—
1
0
2023
25
0
–
–
–
—
25
0
2024
5
0
0
0
–
–
—
5
0
Total
31
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
31
0
Toronto FC (loan)
2023
Major League Soccer
2
0
–
0
0
–
1[a]
0
3
0
Career total
33
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
34
0
References
^ a b c "Toronto FC II sign Academy product Lazar Stefanovic" . Toronto FC . June 30, 2023.
^ a b Lazar Stefanovic at the Canadian Soccer Association
^ Garbutt, Herb (March 9, 2016). "Four Oakville soccer players selected to join TFC Academy" . Oakville Beaver .
^ "Rosters for 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate" . Major League Soccer . June 29, 2023.
^ "Toronto FC sign Gavran and Stefanovic to short-term agreements" . Toronto FC . July 1, 2023.
^ "Toronto FC loses to Real Salt Lake in Terry Dunfield's debut" . Sportsnet . July 1, 2023.
^ Molinaro, John (August 2, 2023). "Lazar Stefanovic a beacon of light during dark times for TFC" . TFC Republic .
^ Molinaro, John (December 14, 2023). "TFC 2's Lazar Stefanovic offers Toronto FC hope for the future" . TFC Republic .
^ "Toronto FC sign Stefanovic and Batiz to short-term agreements ahead of Leagues Cup match" . Toronto FC . July 30, 2023.
^ "Toronto FC call up Lazar Stefanovic and Jesús Batiz from TFCII for Leagues Cup clash" . Waking the Red . July 30, 2023.
^ Molinaro, John (February 8, 2024). "Random thoughts on TFC: Reds shouldn't rush Lazar Stefanovic" . TFC Republic .
^ Molinaro, John (July 21, 2023). "Lazar Stefanovic: From writing a math exam to making his MLS debut with TFC" . TFC Republic .
^ "U17 MNT Heads to California Training Camp" . Top Drawer Soccer . August 16, 2022.
^ Tierney, Mitchell (February 23, 2023). "Future looking bright at centre-back for Canada at U-17 Concacaf Championship" . Canadian Premier League .
^ Molinaro, John (February 12, 2024). "TFC 2's Lazar Stefanovic named to Canada's under-20 squad" . TFC Republic .
^ Lazar Stefanovic at Soccerway
External links