Ante Jazic

Overview
Jazic joined Chivas USA in a trade with the LA Galaxy during the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and is entering his fifth season in the league. Capable of playing both as a left back and in the middle, the 32-year old Canadian international has earned 23 caps for his country and made 44 appearances (41 starts) in three seasons with the Galaxy. After missing the first half of the 2009 MLS season with a concussion, Jazic played in 13 games (all starts) for Chivas USA in the 2009 regular season.

MLS Experience

2012: Jazic, a consistent figure on the Goats’ back line all 2012 season, as well as a veteran of Canada’s National Team, was also named as one of the best three defenders in the league in 2012 and competed for the Xbox Individual Fair Play Award. Jazic, in his fourth season with the Rojiblancos, made 27 starts and displayed a level of consistency that continues to demonstrate his veteran savvy. Throughout the years Jazic has been an integral part of Canada’s National Team, with 35 career appearances for international duty.

2011: Jazic had a stellar year with the Red-and-White, appearing in 28 games (all starts). The Canadian defender broke his career record, adding seven assists in the whole season, two of which were game-winning assists. Jazic also had two assists in the Red-and-White’s match vs. Houston Dynamo on July 23, when the team won 3-0 at The Home Depot Center.

2010: Jazic made his debut with Chivas USA starting in the 1-0 loss to Colorado Rapids in the season home opener. He would then miss nine games due to a mild right knee strain, would return in June and start in all season remaining games.

2009: Jazic missed the first half of the 2009 MLS regular season due to a concussion, but returned to start all 13 games he played in, contributing one assist.

2008: Recovered from offseason ankle surgury midseason, starting his first match on June 7 and played a total of 15 matches (14 starts) during the season, notching three assists, the only assists of his MLS career.

2007: Appeared in 18 games for the Galaxy, making 16 starts as both a left back and central defender, missing some time due to National Team duty and also because of an ankle injury. Had played every minute in every regular season game before departing for the Gold Cup in late June.

2006: Jazic was signed by the Galaxy midway through the season from Russian club Kuban Kraznodar, and played in 11 of the 12 remaining regular season games. Jazic played all 90 minutes in each of the 11 matches in which he appeared.

1999-2006: Played for Kuban Kraznodar in Russia from 2004-2006 after four years in the Austrian First Division with Rapid Vienna. From 1999-2001 he won two Croatian First Division titles with Hajduk Split, lifting the trophy in 1999 and 2000, and made his professional debut in Croatia with First Division side Hrvatski Dragovoljac, playing with them for his first two years as a pro.

International
Jazic has earned 23 caps with the Canadian National Team since making his debut in May 1998 in Macedonia. Earned his second cap against Guatemala in 1999 but then was out of the National Team scene for nearly four years before he was brought back in 2003. He appeared in six of Canada’s World Cup Qualifiers in 2005 and played in every game for Canada at the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup as Canada reached the semifinals. Scored his first goal for the Canadian National Team in a 2-2 draw against Panama on June 4, 2008. Recently, Jazic was called into the Canadian National Team’s international friendly against Jamaica, in Kingston on Jan. 31, 2010.

College
Jazic played one year of college soccer at Dalhousie University in Halifax, helping the school to their first ever National Championship, before signing his first professional contract in Croatia.

Personal
A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Jazic’s parents, Mario and Sanja, have lived in Canada for more than 30 years. He speaks four languages fluently (Croatian, English, German and Russian) and enjoys playing golf.v

Honors
Croatian First Division champion (1999, 2000)

Acquired
Trade with the LA Galaxy, Jan. 15, 2009, in exchange for Chivas USA’s second-round 2009 SuperDraft pick. (Chivas USA also received the Galaxy’s third- and fourth-round picks in the draft.)