Strahinja Tanasijević Bio
Strahinja Tanasijević is a Serbian professional footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club New York City. A versatile defender, he is primarily used as a centre-back but is also capable of operating as a right full-back. Born on 12 June 1997 in Mladenovac, FR Yugoslavia, he developed through the youth ranks in his home country before going on to play professionally in Serbia, Italy, France, and the United States. He signed with New York City in 2024 and continues to feature for the club.
Early Life and Background
Strahinja Tanasijević was born on 12 June 1997 in Mladenovac, a municipality in the greater Belgrade area of what was then the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He grew up in the same community where he first kicked a football, and his early playing years were spent with the local club, also known as Mladenovac. The footballing culture of the region gave him an early grounding in the sport and helped shape his ambition to pursue it professionally.
At the age of 11, Tanasijević moved to the youth academy of FK Rad, a respected Serbian club based in Belgrade. He progressed through every age category within the Rad system, where coaches identified him as a promising central defender with the athleticism to play across the back line. In 2013, he signed his first scholarship contract with the club and extended that agreement for two more years in 2015.
Path to Soccer
During the 2015–16 season, Tanasijević appeared for Rad in the UEFA Youth League, gaining valuable experience against top European opposition. He was also registered for the Serbian SuperLiga senior squad but did not feature in a top-flight match that year. The following summer, in 2016, he was sent on loan to satellite club Žarkovo of the Serbian League Belgrade, where he made eight appearances and continued his development as a senior player.
After returning from Žarkovo, Tanasijević signed his first professional contract with Rad in the summer of 2017. He spent the pre-season under coach Gordan Petrić and briefly went on loan to Šumadija Aranđelovac of the Serbian League West, but after missing early matches the deal was cancelled and he returned to Rad. From October 2017 onward, under head coach Slađan Nikolić, he became a full member of the first team and began his senior career in earnest.
Strahinja Tanasijević Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Tanasijević made his professional debut for Rad in October 2017, appearing in a 3–0 away defeat to Voždovac in the Serbian SuperLiga. Just a few weeks later, on 4 November 2017, he featured prominently in a 1–0 home victory over Napredak Kruševec, and his performance was rewarded with a place in the Serbian SuperLiga team of the week. Those early outings established him as one of Rad’s most reliable home-grown defenders.
In January 2018, on the final day of the European transfer window, Tanasijević moved on a six-month loan to Serie A side Chievo Verona, with the Italian club holding an option to purchase. Although he remained an unused substitute for most of the second half of the 2017–18 Serie A season, he gained insight into top-level Italian training methods and tactical discipline.
Chievo and European Loans (2018–2021)
On 14 June 2018, Chievo exercised their option and signed Tanasijević to a permanent contract running until June 2021. For the 2018–19 Serie A campaign, he converted his squad number and wore the number 3 jersey, signalling the club’s intention to develop him further within their first-team group. Although opportunities in Italy remained limited, the move gave him the platform of a top-flight environment.
On 19 July 2019, Tanasijević was loaned to French Ligue 2 side Paris FC for one year, broadening his experience across a second major European league. He returned to Serbia in subsequent windows, including a loan back to Rad in 2020, before his Chievo contract concluded in 2021.
Return to Serbian Football (2021–2023)
On 8 February 2021, Tanasijević signed with Čukarički, a top-flight Serbian club based in Belgrade, where he featured regularly as a central defender. The following season, in 2022, he moved to Mladost GAT in Novi Sad, where he spent the 2022–23 campaign. In 2023, he joined Spartak Subotica, continuing to build his reputation as a dependable Serbian top-flight operator.
New York City Era (2024–Present)
In 2024, Tanasijević made the move across the Atlantic to sign with New York City of Major League Soccer. The transfer marked a major step in his career, bringing him to one of North America’s most high-profile clubs. Listed at 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in), he fits the physical profile of an MLS centre-back and provides tactical flexibility on the right flank. He has continued to represent the club as a steady presence in the back line.
Playing Style and Strengths
Tanasijević is regarded as a composed, positionally aware centre-back whose strengths include reading of the game, aerial ability, and clean distribution out of the back. His comfort on the right side allows coaches to deploy him either as a traditional central defender or as a right full-back when tactical adjustments are required. He is valued for his professionalism and his willingness to adapt to different defensive systems across multiple leagues.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the early highlights of his career, Tanasijević’s selection to the Serbian SuperLiga team of the week following Rad’s 1–0 win over Napredak Kruševec on 4 November 2017 stands as a milestone moment in his development. He also represented Serbia at under-19 level in late 2015 under coach Branislav Nikolić, training with the squad without making an official appearance. His signing with New York City in 2024 represents his most high-profile move to date.
Strahinja Tanasijević Career Highlights
Across his time with FK Rad, Chievo, Paris FC, Čukarički, Mladost GAT, Spartak Subotica, and New York City, Tanasijević has built a steady professional profile in European and North American football. His senior appearances span the Serbian SuperLiga, Serbian lower divisions, Italy’s Serie A, France’s Ligue 2, and Major League Soccer.
Rad Highlights
Tanasijević’s most memorable Rad moments came during the 2017–18 Serbian SuperLiga campaign, when he made his senior debut and earned team-of-the-week honours. He also appeared in the UEFA Youth League during the 2015–16 season, showcasing his potential on a European stage.
Other Performances
He gained senior experience on loan at Žarkovo in the Serbian League Belgrade during 2016–17, registering eight appearances, and had brief stints with Šumadija Aranđelovac and a loan back to Rad in 2020. His time at Paris FC in Ligue 2 and at Chievo in Serie A provided valuable exposure to elite-level European football.
Strahinja Tanasijević Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Detailed public information about Tanasijević’s family and personal relationships is limited. He was born and raised in Mladenovac, FR Yugoslavia, and his early footballing upbringing was shaped by the local club in his hometown. Beyond these basics, further verified personal details are not publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
Tanasijević enters the 2025 campaign as a defensive option for New York City FC in Major League Soccer. After a full first MLS season in 2024, he will be expected to push for a regular starting role at centre-back while remaining a capable alternative at right back.
The 2025 outlook for New York City includes competing in the Eastern Conference, with Tanasijević’s versatility across the back line giving the coaching staff additional tactical flexibility. His prior experience in the Serbian SuperLiga, Serie A, and Ligue 2 provides a strong foundation for handling the demands of an MLS schedule that spans league play, cups, and interleague fixtures.
Should he maintain his fitness and form, Tanasijević has the opportunity to cement himself as a regular starter in New York City’s defensive group and play a key role in any playoff push during the 2025 Major League Soccer season.