Marko Bedenikovic
Encyclopedia
Marko Bedenikovic is an Canadian
soccer player currently playing for Portugal FC
.
for the San Francisco Dons
in 2001, and 2002, before turning professional in 2003 with Toronto Olympians of the Canadian Professional Soccer League
. After an unsuccessful tenure with the Olympians, Bedenikovic became an free agent in 2004 and signed a contract with Toronto Croatia
. Though he featured sporadically in the starting line up, Bedenikovic managed successful to contribute by securing a playoff berth for Toronto by concluding the season with a second place finish in the Western Conference. In the playoff round the Toronto side claimed its second CPSL Championship
, by defeating Vaughan Shooters by a score of 4-0.
The following season he was transferred to the newly expansion franchise the Oakville Blue Devils. Making his Oakville debut on August 4, 2005 against the Toronto Supra
. Under the guidance of head coach Duncan Wilde, Bedenikovic made the transition to an established defensive midfielder with a secured position in the starting eleven. Throughout the regular season Oakville dominated the Western Conference, and managed a second place finish. In the post season the Blue Devils managed to capture his first championship in club history by defeating Vaughan by a score of 2-1. The victory marked his second consecutive championship in a row. Bedenikovic appeared in all three matches, which included a goal scored in a match against Hamilton Thunder
in the semi-finals.
When Wilde was appointed the new head coach of the Toronto Lynx
one of his first acquisitions was the signing of Bedenikovic on April 6, 2006. He made his Lynx debut on April 22, against Virginia Beach Mariners
, and scored his first goal in a 1-0 victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders
on September 3, 2006. He was twice named USL First Division
Player of the Week, and he helped the Lynx reach the Open Canada Cup
finals for the first time in franchise history. Their opponents were Ottawa St. Anthony Italia
, but unfortunately the Lynx were defeated by a score of 2-0. Throughout the regular season assisted the club by setting a record for a 10 game undefeated streak at home. After the 2006 season the Lynx franchise dropped two divisions down to the USL Premier Development League
, thus releasing Bedenikovic from his Toronto contract. Following his release he was given a trial with Toronto FC
, but failed to receive a contract.
On June 24, 2007 he returned to Toronto Croatia
for a brief stint, and scored the winning goal against Gradiscanski Hrvat in a 1-0 victory in the Croatian World Club Championship
. During the tournament he scored a single goal in a 9-0 thrashing of Croatia Esseen, and helped Toronto Croatia claim the Championship by scoring a goal in the final against Canberra Croatia in a 3-1 victory. After training in his ancestral home in Croatia
, he returned to North America to sign with the Baltimore Blast
of the MISL
in September 2007, where he recorded 9 points in his rookie season. Was a major part of the power play, and sixth attacker for the Blast. The Baltimore Blast
were crowned 2007/2008 MISL Champions for their 4th Championship in 6 years.
In 2009, he traveled to aboard to Europe
to sign with Hungarian side Integrál-DAC
, where he appeared in 14 matches and scored a single goal. The club ceased operations in later 2009, which resulted in the termination of his contract. Bedenikovic returned to Canada in 2010 to sign with Portugal FC
, where he made his debut for the club on May 8, 2010 in a match against TFC Academy
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
soccer player currently playing for Portugal FC
Portugal FC
SC Toronto is a Canadian soccer team, founded in 2001. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the third tier of the Canadian soccer pyramid and the largest domestic professional soccer league in Canada...
.
Playing career
He began playing soccer at the college levelCollege soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
for the San Francisco Dons
San Francisco Dons
The San Francisco Dons is the nickname of the athletic teams at the University of San Francisco .-History:Athletics at USF dates back to its founding in 1855, when founder Anthony Maraschi, S.J. organized ball games as recreation for the first students...
in 2001, and 2002, before turning professional in 2003 with Toronto Olympians of the Canadian Professional Soccer League
Canadian Soccer League (current)
The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
. After an unsuccessful tenure with the Olympians, Bedenikovic became an free agent in 2004 and signed a contract with Toronto Croatia
Toronto Croatia
C.N.S.C. Toronto Croatia is a Canadian soccer team, founded in 1956. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the highest level soccer league in Canada, and play in the International Division....
. Though he featured sporadically in the starting line up, Bedenikovic managed successful to contribute by securing a playoff berth for Toronto by concluding the season with a second place finish in the Western Conference. In the playoff round the Toronto side claimed its second CPSL Championship
Rogers Cup (soccer)
The Canadian Soccer League championship final is the final play-off game of the Canadian Soccer League and its predecessor the Canadian Professional Soccer League...
, by defeating Vaughan Shooters by a score of 4-0.
The following season he was transferred to the newly expansion franchise the Oakville Blue Devils. Making his Oakville debut on August 4, 2005 against the Toronto Supra
Toronto Supra
There have been two semi-professional soccer teams named Toronto Supra:*Toronto Supra , of the Canadian National Soccer League*Toronto Supra , of the Canadian Professional Soccer League...
. Under the guidance of head coach Duncan Wilde, Bedenikovic made the transition to an established defensive midfielder with a secured position in the starting eleven. Throughout the regular season Oakville dominated the Western Conference, and managed a second place finish. In the post season the Blue Devils managed to capture his first championship in club history by defeating Vaughan by a score of 2-1. The victory marked his second consecutive championship in a row. Bedenikovic appeared in all three matches, which included a goal scored in a match against Hamilton Thunder
Hamilton Thunder
The Hamilton Thunder were a soccer team located in Hamilton, Ontario, playing in the Western Conference of the Canadian Professional Soccer League....
in the semi-finals.
When Wilde was appointed the new head coach of the Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx is a Canadian soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference....
one of his first acquisitions was the signing of Bedenikovic on April 6, 2006. He made his Lynx debut on April 22, against Virginia Beach Mariners
Virginia Beach Mariners
The Virginia Beach Mariners were an American soccer club, who formerly played in the USL First Division of the United Soccer Leagues, the second division in the US Soccer hierarchy behind Major League Soccer...
, and scored his first goal in a 1-0 victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
on September 3, 2006. He was twice named USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
Player of the Week, and he helped the Lynx reach the Open Canada Cup
Open Canada Cup
The Open Canada Cup was a Canadian soccer competition, similar in concept to tournaments such as the English FA Cup, the Coppa Italia, and the US Open Cup. The competition was held starting with the CSL's first season in 1998 until 2007....
finals for the first time in franchise history. Their opponents were Ottawa St. Anthony Italia
Ottawa St. Anthony Italia
The Ottawa St. Anthony Italia is a top amateur soccer club based in Ottawa, Ontario. The club was founded in 1952 as the St. Anthony men's soccer team and played in a local league. In 1959, the team consolidated with another local team known as "Italia" to form Ottawa St. Anthony Italia. In...
, but unfortunately the Lynx were defeated by a score of 2-0. Throughout the regular season assisted the club by setting a record for a 10 game undefeated streak at home. After the 2006 season the Lynx franchise dropped two divisions down to the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, thus releasing Bedenikovic from his Toronto contract. Following his release he was given a trial with Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, but failed to receive a contract.
On June 24, 2007 he returned to Toronto Croatia
Toronto Croatia
C.N.S.C. Toronto Croatia is a Canadian soccer team, founded in 1956. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the highest level soccer league in Canada, and play in the International Division....
for a brief stint, and scored the winning goal against Gradiscanski Hrvat in a 1-0 victory in the Croatian World Club Championship
Croatian World Club Championship
The Croatian World Club Championship is a football competition organized by the Croatian Football Federation in cooperation with the Croatian Heritage Foundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Croatia that matches clubs from the Croatian diaspora against each other in a group tournament...
. During the tournament he scored a single goal in a 9-0 thrashing of Croatia Esseen, and helped Toronto Croatia claim the Championship by scoring a goal in the final against Canberra Croatia in a 3-1 victory. After training in his ancestral home in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, he returned to North America to sign with the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (current)
Baltimore Blast is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1992, the team plays in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of the MISL
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
in September 2007, where he recorded 9 points in his rookie season. Was a major part of the power play, and sixth attacker for the Blast. The Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (current)
Baltimore Blast is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1992, the team plays in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
were crowned 2007/2008 MISL Champions for their 4th Championship in 6 years.
In 2009, he traveled to aboard to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to sign with Hungarian side Integrál-DAC
Integrál-DAC
DAC 1912 FC is a Hungarian football club based in Győr.-Current Team:As of May 17, 2009.-The Termination and bankruptcy:...
, where he appeared in 14 matches and scored a single goal. The club ceased operations in later 2009, which resulted in the termination of his contract. Bedenikovic returned to Canada in 2010 to sign with Portugal FC
Portugal FC
SC Toronto is a Canadian soccer team, founded in 2001. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the third tier of the Canadian soccer pyramid and the largest domestic professional soccer league in Canada...
, where he made his debut for the club on May 8, 2010 in a match against TFC Academy
TFC Academy
TFC Academy are the youth academy of Canadian MLS club Toronto FC which was founded in 2008. The academy competes in the Canadian Soccer League, the highest professional soccer league operating entirely within Canada...
.
Toronto Croatia
- CPSL ChampionshipRogers Cup (soccer)The Canadian Soccer League championship final is the final play-off game of the Canadian Soccer League and its predecessor the Canadian Professional Soccer League...
(1): 2004 - Croatian World Club ChampionshipCroatian World Club ChampionshipThe Croatian World Club Championship is a football competition organized by the Croatian Football Federation in cooperation with the Croatian Heritage Foundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Croatia that matches clubs from the Croatian diaspora against each other in a group tournament...
(1): 2007
Oakville Blue Devils
- CPSL ChampionshipRogers Cup (soccer)The Canadian Soccer League championship final is the final play-off game of the Canadian Soccer League and its predecessor the Canadian Professional Soccer League...
(1): 2005