Perica "Peri" Marošević (born May 5, 1989) is an American former
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
player.
Early life
Marošević was born to a
Croat
The Croats (; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other neighboring countries in Central Europe, Central and Southeastern Europe who share a common Croatian Cultural heritage, ancest ...
father and a
Serb
The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian ancestry, culture, history, and language. They primarily live in Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia ...
mother in
Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...
in
Yugoslavia
, common_name = Yugoslavia
, life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation
, p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia
, flag_p ...
prior to the
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War ( / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. Following several earlier violent incid ...
, and initially moved to
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...
, Germany with his parents as a young child to escape the conflict, before eventually settling in
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, Winnebago and Ogle County, Illinois, Ogle counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located in far northern Illinois on the banks of the Rock River (Mississippi River tributary), Rock River, Rockfor ...
.
Career
Youth and college
Marošević attended
Guilford High School in Rockford, IL and Edison High School in Bradenton, FL, played club soccer with the
Rockford Raptors
The Rockford Raptors were an American soccer team based in Rockford, Illinois. The team began in the USISL and moved to the USL Second Division, USISL Pro League in 1995. In 1999, the team was relegated to the Premier Development League.
The ...
and
Chicago Sockers, and played
college soccer at the
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
, 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 team's 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
USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league will featu ...
.
Professional
Marošević was drafted in the first round (fifth overall) by
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The franchise be ...
in the
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 MLS SuperDraft, SuperDraft. The first selection was owned by the expansion Seattle Sounders FC. Unlike previous years, ...
, and signed to a
Generation Adidas
Generation Adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young professional soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by Adidas, offers professional-ready players in the U.S ...
contract. He made his professional debut on March 29, 2009, in a Dallas's game against
Chivas USA
Chivas USA (pronounced ''CHEE-vahs'') was an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The club competed in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conf ...
. In April 2009, Peri appeared alongside 14 other
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanc ...
Players on Cosmogirl.com's "Hottest Soccer Guys".
In June 2010, having found it increasingly difficult to break into the
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The franchise be ...
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
Miami FC is an American professional association football, soccer team based in Miami, Florida that competes in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid.
The club began play in the North American Soccer League (201 ...
. 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
Toronto Football Club is a Canadian professional Association football, soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matc ...
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
The Portland Timbers are an American professional Association football, soccer club based in Portland, Oregon. The Timbers compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The Timbers have p ...
, 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
Club Universidad Nacional, A.C., simply known as Pumas UNAM, is a professional football club based in Mexico City. The club competes in Liga MX, the top division of Mexican football. Founded in 1954 as Club Deportivo Universidad, and they play ...
in the
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions Cup, formerly known as CONCACAF Champions League (2008–2023), is an international association football competition organized by CONCACAF as its top continental tournament for clubs from North America, Central America, ...
group stage, the game ended in a 1–1 home draw to the Mexican side.
Marošević declined a contract offer by
Toronto FC
Toronto Football Club is a Canadian professional Association football, soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matc ...
in January 2012. In October 2012, he signed with
NK Junak Sinj of the Croatian second division.
On February 21, 2013, Marošević signed on to play for
New York Cosmos New York Cosmos may refer to
* New York Cosmos (1970–1985), a team in the North American Soccer League (then the top-tier soccer league in the United States and Canada)
* New York Cosmos (2010), a team playing since 2020 in the National Indepen ...
in the team's inaugural year in the NASL.
In July, 2014, the New York Cosmos cut ties with Marošević.
International
Marošević has been a member of the U.S. U-17, U-18, and U-20 national teams. He was a member of the squad for the United States in the 2009 U-20 FIFA World Cup, coming on as a substitute at halftime in a 3–0 loss to Korea.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marosevic, Peri
1989 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Brčko District
Bosnia and Herzegovina emigrants to the United States
Soccer players from Rockford, Illinois
American people of Croatian descent
American people of Serbian descent
Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Men's association football forwards
Bosnia and Herzegovina men's footballers
21st-century Bosnia and Herzegovina sportsmen
American men's soccer players
United States men's under-20 international soccer players
United States men's youth international soccer players
Footballers at the 2007 Pan American Games
Pan American Games footballers for the United States
Michigan Wolverines men's soccer players
Chicago Fire U-23 players
Chicago Sockers players
FC Dallas draft picks
FC Dallas players
Austin Aztex FC players
Toronto FC players
NK Junak Sinj players
New York Cosmos (2010) players
Flint City Bucks players
Major League Soccer players
First Football League (Croatia) players
North American Soccer League (2011–2017) players
USL League Two players
USSF Division 2 Professional League players
American expatriate men's soccer players
Expatriate men's footballers in Croatia
American expatriate sportspeople in Croatia
Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
American expatriate sportspeople in Canada