Mikael Yourassowsky
Encyclopedia
Mikael-David Youri Yourassowsky (born 26 February 1983 in Ixelles) is a Belgian
footballer who currently plays for Toronto FC
in Major League Soccer
.
. In 2001 he went on trial for four months with top Spanish side FC Barcelona
. He returned to Anderlecht
and in 2003 joined Genk. After impressing in Belgium, Yourassowsky joined top Argentinian side Boca Juniors
. He was promoted to the first team by Carlos Bianchi
and made his first division debut in June 2004 in a starting role in a 0-0 draw versus Colón de Santa Fe
. As a result of injuries and a managerial change his opportunities with Boca diminished.
In August 2005 he would return to Europe and join Pontevedra
in Spain. The following season Yourassowsky moved to Greece joining AO Kerkyra and the left back was assigned the number 3 shirt. With Kerkyra he scored his first professional goal. The following season he joined Greek side Ethnikos Asteras
and appeared in 6 league matches scoring 1 goal. He joined Skoda Xanthi in mid-season and remained there thru the 2009 season.
After a few years in Greece, his globe trotting career would take him to Mexico's Primera División A as he joined Atlético Mexiquense
in 2009. In his one year in Mexico Yourassowsky made 11 league appearances with his club. The following season Yourassowsky returned to Europe by signing with Croatian side NK Rijeka
.
While with NK Rijeka
he appeared in 14 league matches.
He signed with Toronto FC
on March 18, 2011 following a successful trial. Yourassowsky made his debut for the team as a second half sub on March 19, 2011 against Vancouver Whitecaps. One week later Yourassowsky made his first start for the team against Portland Timbers
in which he received two yellow cards resulting in a red card in the 84th minute, the game ended as a 2-0 home victory for Toronto with both goals coming from Javier Martina
. Yourassowsky scored his first goal for Toronto on July 2 in a 2-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Canadian Championship
, leading the team to its third consecutive Canadian title.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
footballer who currently plays for Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Club career
Yourassowsky began his career in the youth ranks of top Belgian club AnderlechtR.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
. In 2001 he went on trial for four months with top Spanish side FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. He returned to Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
and in 2003 joined Genk. After impressing in Belgium, Yourassowsky joined top Argentinian side Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
. He was promoted to the first team by Carlos Bianchi
Carlos Bianchi
Carlos Arcecio Bianchi , popularly known as El Virrey , is a prolific Argentine football forward turned manager...
and made his first division debut in June 2004 in a starting role in a 0-0 draw versus Colón de Santa Fe
Colón de Santa Fe
Club Atlético Colón, commonly referred to as Colón de Santa Fe, is a football team from Santa Fe, Argentina. As of Primera División Argentina 1946 the football squad plays in the highest division of Argentine football, and has done so continuously since 1995-96...
. As a result of injuries and a managerial change his opportunities with Boca diminished.
In August 2005 he would return to Europe and join Pontevedra
Pontevedra CF
Pontevedra Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Pontevedra, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It was founded in 1941, and currently plays in Tercera División - Group 1, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Pasarón, with a capacity of 12,000 seats.Having enjoyed...
in Spain. The following season Yourassowsky moved to Greece joining AO Kerkyra and the left back was assigned the number 3 shirt. With Kerkyra he scored his first professional goal. The following season he joined Greek side Ethnikos Asteras
Ethnikos Asteras F.C.
Ethnikos Asteras F.C. , the National Star, is a professional football club based in Kaisariani, Athens, Greece, currently competing in Beta Ethniki, the Greek second division....
and appeared in 6 league matches scoring 1 goal. He joined Skoda Xanthi in mid-season and remained there thru the 2009 season.
After a few years in Greece, his globe trotting career would take him to Mexico's Primera División A as he joined Atlético Mexiquense
Atlético Mexiquense
Atlético Mexiquense is a professional soccer team in México, serving as a farm team for Deportivo Toluca F.C. and playing in the Primera División A. For a long time they played in Toluca, but eventually they changed ground to Ixtapan de la Sal looking forward to getting more fans...
in 2009. In his one year in Mexico Yourassowsky made 11 league appearances with his club. The following season Yourassowsky returned to Europe by signing with Croatian side NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
.
While with NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
he appeared in 14 league matches.
He signed with Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
on March 18, 2011 following a successful trial. Yourassowsky made his debut for the team as a second half sub on March 19, 2011 against Vancouver Whitecaps. One week later Yourassowsky made his first start for the team against Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers may refer to any of four distinct professional soccer teams:*Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer expansion team that began playing in 2011....
in which he received two yellow cards resulting in a red card in the 84th minute, the game ended as a 2-0 home victory for Toronto with both goals coming from Javier Martina
Javier Martina
Javier Sylvester Martina is a Curaçaoan-Dutch footballer who last played for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. He also plays for the Curaçao national soccer team.-Netherlands:...
. Yourassowsky scored his first goal for Toronto on July 2 in a 2-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Canadian Championship
Canadian Championship
The Canadian Championship—known as the Nutrilite Canadian Championship for sponsorship reasons—is an annual soccer tournament contested by premier Canadian professional teams...
, leading the team to its third consecutive Canadian title.