Miloš Kočić
Encyclopedia
Miloš Kocić (born June 4, 1985 in Leskovac
) is a Serbia
n footballer who plays for Toronto FC
in Major League Soccer
.
. He began playing soccer in the Serbian League East
, and was part of the youth system of his home town team Dubočica Leskovac
before coming to the United States in 2004.
He played college soccer
at St. John's University and at Loyola College in Maryland
. Kocic red-shirted during his first year in the US at St. John's before transferring to Loyola. At Loyola, he struggled at first - in 2006, he was the second goalkeeper and only found time in two matches the entire season. However, he made great strides the next two years and in 2008 (his final season at Loyola) he was named First Team All-MAAC as well as being named to the All-North Atlantic Regional Team and the All-American second team.
by D.C. United
, but did not sign with the team immediately; after several offers with clubs in his native Serbia, including Red Star Belgrade
, he eventually decided to sign a developmental contract with Major League Soccer
.
Kocić made his professional debut for DC on April 22, 2009, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
against FC Dallas
. He made his MLS debut the following week, on May 2, 2009, also against FC Dallas
.
Following the 2009 season, Kocić was released by United and was initially without a team after a failed trial with Toronto FC
until a second trial period, after which the club ended up signing him for the 2010 season. He made his debut for Toronto in the Canadian Championship
against the Vancouver Whitecaps June 2, 2010.
In 2010, he played for the Serbian White Eagles
on a loan transfer, wearing the number 1, where he was voted the 2010 CSL
goalkeeper of the year.
Kocić made his CONCACAF Champions League
debut with Toronto FC on August 24, 2010 against Club Deportivo Árabe Unido of Panama. More than a month later he made his debut in the league for Toronto on October 16, 2010 versus Columbus Crew
in a 2-2 home draw after teammate Jon Conway
was shown a red card in the 72nd minute. A week later Kocić made his first start in the league for Toronto in the last game of the year versus his old club DC United on October 23, 2010.
Kocić made his 2011 season debut on July 27 in a 2-1 home victory over Real Esteli F.C. during Champions League play. A few weeks later on August 13 Miloš played in his first league match of the season with Stefan Frei
sustaining a minor injury in practice that week, the game against Real Salt Lake
ended in a 1-0 home victory. During that game Kocić made an impressive save in the 90th minute of play from a Will Johnson volley that later earned Miloš MLS Save of the Week Honours.
Leskovac
Leskovac is a city and municipality in southern Serbia. It is the administrative center of the Jablanica District of Serbia...
) is a Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n footballer who 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...
.
Youth and College
Kocić was born in Yugoslavia prior to that country's breakup in the aftermath of the Yugoslav WarsYugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
. He began playing soccer in the Serbian League East
Serbian League East
Serbian League East is one of four sections of the Serbian League, the third national tier. The other three sections are Serbian League Belgrade, Serbian League Vojvodina and Serbian League West. It is also the highest regional league for the eastern part of Serbia.-Past seasons:-2011–12...
, and was part of the youth system of his home town team Dubočica Leskovac
FK Dubocica
FK Dubočica is a football club based in Leskovac, Serbia.-Notable players:*Aleksandar Kocić*Predrag Stanković*Bratislav Živković*Bojan Mihajlović*Radivoje Manić*Ibrahim Salim Saad*Miloš Kočić*Zvonimir Stanković...
before coming to the United States in 2004.
He played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at St. John's University and at Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
. Kocic red-shirted during his first year in the US at St. John's before transferring to Loyola. At Loyola, he struggled at first - in 2006, he was the second goalkeeper and only found time in two matches the entire season. However, he made great strides the next two years and in 2008 (his final season at Loyola) he was named First Team All-MAAC as well as being named to the All-North Atlantic Regional Team and the All-American second team.
Professional
Kocić was drafted in the second round (21st overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft2009 MLS SuperDraft
The 2009 MLS SuperDraft took place on January 15, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the tenth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection was owned by the expansion Seattle Sounders FC...
by D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
, but did not sign with the team immediately; after several offers with clubs in his native Serbia, including Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
, he eventually decided to sign a developmental contract with 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...
.
Kocić made his professional debut for DC on April 22, 2009, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
against FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. He made his MLS debut the following week, on May 2, 2009, also against FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
.
Following the 2009 season, Kocić was released by United and was initially without a team after a failed trial 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....
until a second trial period, after which the club ended up signing him for the 2010 season. He made his debut for Toronto 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...
against the Vancouver Whitecaps June 2, 2010.
In 2010, he played for the Serbian White Eagles
Serbian White Eagles
Serbian White Eagles Football Club is a Canadian soccer team. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League....
on a loan transfer, wearing the number 1, where he was voted the 2010 CSL
2010 Canadian Soccer League season
The 2010 Canadian Soccer League season began on Saturday May 8, 2010 and ended on October 31. Brantford Galaxy SC won their first championship in their inaugural season with a 3-0 win over Hamilton Croatia in the 2010 CSL Championship Final at the Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke on October...
goalkeeper of the year.
Kocić made his CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
debut with Toronto FC on August 24, 2010 against Club Deportivo Árabe Unido of Panama. More than a month later he made his debut in the league for Toronto on October 16, 2010 versus Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in a 2-2 home draw after teammate Jon Conway
Jon Conway
Jon Conway is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
was shown a red card in the 72nd minute. A week later Kocić made his first start in the league for Toronto in the last game of the year versus his old club DC United on October 23, 2010.
Kocić made his 2011 season debut on July 27 in a 2-1 home victory over Real Esteli F.C. during Champions League play. A few weeks later on August 13 Miloš played in his first league match of the season with Stefan Frei
Stefan Frei
Stefan Frei is a Swiss footballer who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
sustaining a minor injury in practice that week, the game against Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
ended in a 1-0 home victory. During that game Kocić made an impressive save in the 90th minute of play from a Will Johnson volley that later earned Miloš MLS Save of the Week Honours.
Personal
Kocić graduated from Loyola University Maryland with a degree in International Business. His surname is often misspelled as Kočić.Toronto FC
- Canadian ChampionshipCanadian ChampionshipThe Canadian Championship—known as the Nutrilite Canadian Championship for sponsorship reasons—is an annual soccer tournament contested by premier Canadian professional teams...
(2): 20102010 Canadian ChampionshipThe 2010 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association that took place in the cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2010...
, 20112011 Canadian ChampionshipThe 2011 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association that took place in the cities of Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2011. As in previous tournaments, participating teams included the Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver...
Individual
- Canadian Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year: 20102010 Canadian Soccer League seasonThe 2010 Canadian Soccer League season began on Saturday May 8, 2010 and ended on October 31. Brantford Galaxy SC won their first championship in their inaugural season with a 3-0 win over Hamilton Croatia in the 2010 CSL Championship Final at the Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke on October...
(member of Serbian White Eagles FC)