Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 26 December 2004 | ||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) [1] | ||
Position(s) | Right-back [1] | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | New York City FC | ||
Number | 35 | ||
Youth career | |||
2011–2016 | NK Bela Krajina | ||
2016–2019 | NŠ Bela Krajina | ||
2019–2021 | Domžale | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
2021–2023 | Domžale | 32 | (3) |
2023– | New York City FC | 19 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2020 | Slovenia U17 | 1 | (0) |
2021–2022 | Slovenia U18 | 3 | (1) |
2022–2023 | Slovenia U19 | 6 | (0) |
2022– | Slovenia U21 | 11 | (0) |
2024– | Slovenia | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 August 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 March 2024 |
Mitja Ilenič (born 26 December 2004) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Major League Soccer club New York City FC.
Ilenič started his football career in 2011, at the age of six, with Bela Krajina, [2] and then joined Domžale in the summer of 2019. [3] He initially played as a forward, but later moved to the position of right-back when he was still a youngster. [4] He signed his first professional contract with Domžale at the age of sixteen, [5] and made his Slovenian PrvaLiga debut on 22 May 2021 against Aluminij, in the final round of the 2020–21 season. [6]
In October 2022, Ilenič extended his contract with Domžale until 2025. [7] [8] Throughout 2022, he established himself in the club's starting eleven, [9] as he attracted the interest of several foreign clubs, including Sturm Graz, Hellas Verona, Lugano, Sparta Prague and New York City FC. [10] [11]
On 4 January 2023, Ilenič joined Major League Soccer club New York City FC on a permanent deal, signing a contract until 2026, with an option for another year. [12]
Ilenič has represented Slovenia at all youth international levels from under-17 to under-21. [13] He made his debut for the Slovenia under-21 team on 25 March 2022, starting the match and playing the full 90 minutes in a goalless draw against Kosovo, a match from the qualification round of the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. [14] At the age of 17 years, two months and 27 days, he became the second youngest player to ever represent the team, behind only Jan Oblak. [12]
He made his debut for the senior Slovenia national team on 20 January 2024 in a friendly against the United States. [15]
Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Domžale | 2020–21 | 1. SNL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
2021–22 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | ||
2022–23 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |||
Total | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 | ||
New York City FC | 2023 | MLS | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 [a] | 0 | 21 | 0 |
Career total | 51 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 3 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Slovenia | 2024 | 1 | 0 |
Total | 1 | 0 |