Aljaz Ivacic Bio
Aljaž Ivačič (born 29 December 1993) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. Standing 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) tall, he has spent the bulk of his senior career in European football before transitioning to Major League Soccer in 2019. Ivačič came to wider attention in the United States with the Portland Timbers, and he later played for the New England Revolution. He is recognized for sharp reflexes, a strong command of his penalty area, and the ability to deliver calm performances on big nights. Ivačič has represented Slovenia at youth level and was called up to the senior squad in 2023.
Born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Ivačič developed through the youth system at Domžale before turning professional with Olimpija Ljubljana in 2012. After several loan moves and a short spell with Pafos in Cyprus, he joined the Portland Timbers in January 2019, where he became a reliable presence between the posts. In April 2024, he was signed by the New England Revolution, and he has continued to compete at a high level in MLS.
Early Life and Background
Aljaž Ivačič was born on 29 December 1993 in Ljubljana, the capital and largest city of Slovenia. He grew up in a country where football has long sat alongside winter sports and handball in the national sporting culture, and the Slovenian top flight offered an established route for young goalkeepers to develop. Ivačič joined the youth academy at Domžale at the age of nine in 2003, beginning a long formative period in one of the country’s better-regarded development systems.
During his time at Domžale, Ivačič trained as a goalkeeper and worked his way up through the age-group sides. The academy’s reputation for producing disciplined professionals gave him a strong tactical foundation. By 2012, he had completed his youth development and made the move to Olimpija Ljubljana, a traditional power in Slovenian football, to begin his senior career.
Path to Soccer
Ivačič’s path to professional football began with his switch to Olimpija Ljubljana in 2012, the same year he turned 18. He was immediately sent out on loan to Rudar Trbovlje to gather first-team experience in the Slovenian top flight, and a separate loan to Bela Krajina followed. These moves gave him regular senior minutes and helped him adjust to the physical and mental demands of professional goalkeeping.
After returning to Olimpija, Ivačič was loaned to Radomlje for the 2015–2016 season. He impressed enough to make the move permanent in 2016, spending a full campaign as Radomlje’s first-choice keeper. A brief stint with Cypriot side Pafos in 2017 broadened his experience abroad, and he then returned to Olimpija Ljubljana, where he cemented his reputation as a dependable Slovenian league goalkeeper. That consistency paved the way for his January 2019 transfer to the Portland Timbers.
Aljaz Ivacic Career
Early Career (2012–2018)
Aljaž Ivačič began his senior career at Olimpija Ljubljana in 2012, where he was immediately loaned to Rudar Trbovlje and then Bela Krajina. These early loans provided regular senior football and allowed him to refine the basic craft of shot-stopping, distribution, and cross claiming. He was recalled to Olimpija and then loaned to Radomlje, where he became a regular starter and earned a permanent move in 2016.
In 2017, Ivačič tried his hand abroad with a short spell at Cypriot club Pafos before returning to Olimpija Ljubljana. Across these formative seasons, he built a reputation as a calm, technically sound keeper with strong shot-stopping instincts. His form at Olimpija from 2017 to 2018 caught the attention of scouts abroad, leading to a Major League Soccer opportunity in January 2019.
Portland Timbers Breakthrough (2019–2024)
Aljaž Ivačič was signed by the Portland Timbers on 18 January 2019 and was initially listed with Portland Timbers 2, the club’s reserve side. He made his first-team debut on 19 September 2020 in a 6–1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes, recording three saves and conceding one goal in a confident first appearance. He went on to establish himself as a reliable starting option for the Timbers across multiple MLS campaigns.
His time in Portland also brought off-field headlines. On 25 September 2023, Ivačič filed a complaint with the MLS Players Association alleging abusive conduct and tampering, and Major League Soccer subsequently suspended him for three matches and fined him for using threatening language toward team staff. Despite the controversy, Ivačič remained a key part of the squad until his contract was waived in March 2024, ending a five-year association with the Timbers.
New England Revolution Era (2024–2025)
On 23 April 2024, the New England Revolution announced the signing of Aljaž Ivačič through the 2025 season. He wasted little time justifying the move, producing a strong performance in a 1–0 victory over the New York Red Bulls that featured five saves. He was named MLS Player of the Matchday for week 19 of the 2024 season, becoming the first goalkeeper to earn the honor since Dayne St. Clair in 2022, and the second Revolution keeper to win the award after Matt Turner in 2021.
During the 2025 New England Revolution season, Ivačič was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for matchday 8 and matchday 10, posting clean sheets against Atlanta United FC and Charlotte FC. Despite his strong individual form, his time with the club came to an end on 11 September 2025, when he was waived by the Revolution.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ivačič is a tall, athletic goalkeeper whose game is built around sharp reflexes and confident handling in the air. He is comfortable organizing his back line, claiming crosses, and using his frame to narrow angles in one-on-one situations. His distribution from the back is a notable strength, allowing his teams to launch quick transitions and play out from defensive zones under pressure.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most notable milestones, Ivačič became the first goalkeeper to win MLS Player of the Matchday since Dayne St. Clair in 2022, a recognition that highlighted his five-save shutout of the New York Red Bulls. He also earned multiple MLS Team of the Matchday selections during the 2025 season, reflecting his consistency at the New England Revolution. His transition from Slovenian football to Major League Soccer, and his back-to-back Player of the Matchday-level performances, mark him as one of the more recognized Slovenian keepers in recent MLS history.
Aljaz Ivacic Career Wins
Aljaž Ivačič’s career is defined more by standout individual performances than by trophy-winning campaigns, with a clean-sheet record and key saves serving as his primary statistical currency. Across his time at Olimpija Ljubljana, Radomlje, Pafos, Portland Timbers, and the New England Revolution, he has been valued for his reliability between the posts. His MLS Player of the Matchday honor and his multiple Team of the Matchday selections stand as the most celebrated individual markers of his career to date.
Portland Timbers Highlights
During his five-year spell with the Portland Timbers, Ivačič established himself as a dependable starter and made his MLS debut with a 6–1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in September 2020, recording three saves. He featured regularly across multiple seasons in the Pacific Northwest and developed into one of the club’s more recognizable goalkeepers. His final campaign in Portland was overshadowed by off-field disputes, but his on-field contributions remained a steady presence for the Timbers.
New England Revolution Highlights
Ivačič’s stint with the New England Revolution was short but high-impact. He opened his account with a five-save clean sheet against the New York Red Bulls that earned him MLS Player of the Matchday honors for week 19 of 2024. In 2025, he added back-to-back Team of the Matchday nods and shutouts against Atlanta United FC and Charlotte FC, before being waived in September 2025.
Aljaz Ivacic Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Public information about Aljaž Ivačič’s immediate family is limited. He was born and raised in Ljubljana, the cultural and sporting capital of Slovenia, where access to competitive youth football helped launch his career at Domžale’s academy. Beyond his Slovenian roots and youth development in Domžale, no further family background has been widely documented.
Personal Life
Ivačič has kept his personal life largely out of the public eye, and detailed information about his marital status, spouse, or children has not been publicly confirmed. He has spent the majority of his professional career outside his home country, adapting to life in both Cyprus and the United States while continuing to represent Slovenia at various age levels. His off-field profile remains centered on his work as a professional goalkeeper rather than on private life details.
2025 Season Performance
Aljaž Ivačič’s 2025 season with the New England Revolution began on a strong note, with the goalkeeper earning MLS Team of the Matchday recognition in matchday 8 for a clean sheet against Atlanta United FC. He followed that with another Team of the Matchday selection in matchday 10 after a shutout of Charlotte FC, reinforcing his reputation as one of the league’s form keepers early in the year. These performances made him a central figure in the Revolution’s defensive plans through the early months of the campaign.
Despite his strong individual form, Ivačič’s 2025 season with the Revolution came to an end on 11 September 2025, when the club waived him. The decision reflected a mix of squad planning and on-field considerations, ending his stint in New England after roughly a year and a half. His MLS career, built on consistent shot-stopping and high-profile weekly honors, leaves him well positioned to continue at a competitive level in subsequent seasons.