Position: Right-back
Age: 20
Key Stat: 42 accurate long balls in 2024
Mitja Ilenič found himself battling for the right-back position with Bronx native Tayvon Gray this past year. Although the MLS playoffs opened with Ilenič on the bench, he started in the final two games of the First Round best-of-three playoff series against FC Cincinnati and produced an assist and the deciding penalty in the series’ deciding game. That earned Ilenič a spot in the Starting XI for the final match of the season against New York Red Bulls.
Despite New York City failing to beat Red Bulls in Queens, the 2024 campaign ended on a high note for the Slovenian international. That calmly-hit penalty – and cooler-than-ice "shush" celebration at TQL Stadium – brought him much popularity from NYCFC supporters. But will that be enough to secure the starting job when Pascal Jansen and the City Boys travel to Miami to face Lionel Messi & Co in the 2025 season opener on February 22nd?
This was cold from Mitja Ilenic to end the PK shootout. 🥶@newyorkcityfc // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/wphCpZisY8
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 9, 2024
