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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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 December 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Slovenia | ||
| 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 | 14 | (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 11 October 2024 | |||
Early career
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]
New York City FC
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
| 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 | ||
- Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
International
- As of match played 20 January 2024[15]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovenia | 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
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