Perica Marošević
Encyclopedia
Perica "Peri" Marošević is a Bosnian-born American
soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC
in Major League Soccer
.
in Yugoslavia
prior to the Bosnian War
, and initially moved to Frankfurt, Germany with his parents as a young child to escape the conflict, before eventually settling in Rockford, Illinois
. His father is of Croatian ethnicity while his mother is of Bosnian ethnicity.
and Chicago Sockers
, and played college soccer
at the University of Michigan
, where he was named to the CoSida Academic All-District First Team in 2007, was a two-time All-Big Ten Second Team nominee and a one-time All-Big Ten First Team nominee, scoring 24 goals and registering seven assists becoming the teams leading scorer 2 out of his 3 seasons. During his college years he also played with Chicago Fire Premier
in the USL Premier Development League
.
in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft
, and signed to a Generation Adidas
contract. He made his professional debut on March 29, 2009 in a Dallas's game against Chivas USA. In April 2009, Peri appeared alongside 14 other Major League Soccer
Players on Cosmogirl.com's "Hottest Soccer Guys".
In June 2010, having found it increasingly difficult to break into the FC Dallas
first team, Marošević was loaned to USSF-D2
side Austin Aztex. He made his debut for the Aztex on June 19, coming on as a substitute against Miami FC
. Marošević scored a hat-trick for the Aztex in a second round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
game against Arizona Sahuaros
on June 22, 2010. The young striker ended his month long loan deal tallying four goals in four games.
Marošević was signed by Toronto FC
on July 28, 2011, after asking to be released from FC Dallas. Two days later Marošević made his debut for Toronto as a second half sub for Nick Soolsma
against Portland Timbers
, with Toronto down 2-0. Marosevic ignited a comeback by scoring on his debut in the 63rd minute followed by a Danny Koevermans
strike, earning a well-fought 2-2 away draw for Toronto FC. In Toronto's next league match against DC United, Peri again came in the game as a second half substitute earning his second league goal in only two league appearances for Toronto FC. The game ended in a 3-3 draw. Marošević made his mark on the Reds season once again scoring against UNAM Pumas in the CONCACAF Champions League
group stage, the game ended in a 1-1 home draw to the Mexican side.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently plays for 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....
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Early life
Marošević was born in BosniaSocialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina , known until 1963 under the name of People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
in Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
prior to the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
, and initially moved to Frankfurt, Germany with his parents as a young child to escape the conflict, before eventually settling in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
. His father is of Croatian ethnicity while his mother is of Bosnian ethnicity.
Youth and college
Marošević attended Guilford High School in Rockford and Edison High School in Bradenton, FL, played club soccer with the Rockford RaptorsRockford Raptors
The Rockford Raptors were an American soccer team based in Rockford, Illinois. The team began in the USISL and moved to the USISL Pro League in 1995. In 1999, the team was relegated to the Premier Development League....
and Chicago Sockers
Chicago Sockers
Professional TeamChicago Sockers were an American soccer team, founded in 1995. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues, played at a professional level in the USISL Pro League, USISL Select League and USISL D-3 Pro League as the Chicago Stingers until 1999, when they chose to relegate...
, and played college soccer
College 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...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he was named to the CoSida Academic All-District First Team in 2007, was a two-time All-Big Ten Second Team nominee and a one-time All-Big Ten First Team nominee, scoring 24 goals and registering seven assists becoming the teams leading scorer 2 out of his 3 seasons. During his college years he also played with Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, 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.The team plays its home games at...
in 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...
.
Professional
Marošević was drafted in the first round (5th overall) by FC DallasFC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft
2009 MLS SuperDraft
The 2009 MLS SuperDraft took place on January 15, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the tenth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection was owned by the expansion Seattle Sounders FC...
, and signed to a Generation Adidas
Generation adidas
Generation adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by adidas, encourages early entry of American players into MLS...
contract. He made his professional debut on March 29, 2009 in a Dallas's game against Chivas USA. In April 2009, Peri appeared alongside 14 other Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Players on Cosmogirl.com's "Hottest Soccer Guys".
In June 2010, having found it increasingly difficult to break into the FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
first team, Marošević was loaned to USSF-D2
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
side Austin Aztex. He made his debut for the Aztex on June 19, coming on as a substitute against Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. Marošević scored a hat-trick for the Aztex in a second round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
game against Arizona Sahuaros
Arizona Sahuaros
Arizona Sahuaros is an American soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1989, the team is member of the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
on June 22, 2010. The young striker ended his month long loan deal tallying four goals in four games.
Marošević was signed by 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....
on July 28, 2011, after asking to be released from FC Dallas. Two days later Marošević made his debut for Toronto as a second half sub for Nick Soolsma
Nick Soolsma
Nick Soolsma is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Netherlands:Soolsma began his career in the youth ranks of Dutch side FC Volendam. During the 2007 season he played for FC Volendam's Under-19 side...
against Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers may refer to any of four distinct professional soccer teams:*Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer expansion team that began playing in 2011....
, with Toronto down 2-0. Marosevic ignited a comeback by scoring on his debut in the 63rd minute followed by a Danny Koevermans
Danny Koevermans
Danny Koevermans is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a centre forward for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Early career:...
strike, earning a well-fought 2-2 away draw for Toronto FC. In Toronto's next league match against DC United, Peri again came in the game as a second half substitute earning his second league goal in only two league appearances for Toronto FC. The game ended in a 3-3 draw. Marošević made his mark on the Reds season once again scoring against UNAM Pumas in the CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
group stage, the game ended in a 1-1 home draw to the Mexican side.