CANADA goalkeeper Milan Borjan has been a constant in the national side for over a decade now.
With the Canadians only playing at one World Cup in their history, the 2022 tournament marks the second occasion that they participate in the competition.
Englishman John Herdman led his side to qualification after joining in 2018 after a successful seven years with the Canada women’s team.
And Herdman will look to his experienced goalkeeper to lead Canada as they face Belgium, Croatia and Morocco in Group F.
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Who is Milan Borjan and is he from Croatia?
Matchday two of the tournament will hold significant relevance to Borjan as Canada take on Croatia to battle for a place in the round of 16 in Qatar.
The 34-year-old made his debut for Canada back in 2011, initially receiving a call-up to the national team in 2010 and being a staple of Canucks ever since.
However, Borjan was in fact born in Croatia, Canada’s Group F opponents.
Born in Knin, the goalkeeper began playing with Dinara Knin’s youth side before his family fled to Belgrade in Serbia. From here, Borjan’s talents were spotted as he played for FK Radnicki Beograd.
Once again, his family relocated as they emigrated to Canada in 2000, with the goalkeeper just 13-years-old.
Living in Canada, Borjan played for East Hamilton SC before moving to Mount Hamilton SC as a youngster and searching for his break in professional football.
After being rejected by Boca Juniors after a trial in Argentina in 2005, Borjan joined Club Nacional in Uruguay, playing for their youth team a year later.
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His first professional contract came with another South American side, Quilmes in Argentina, but he was only at the club for a matter of months before returning to Serbia to join FK Rad, where he first earned a national call-up for Canada rather than his country of birth, Croatia.
The goalkeeper enjoyed a spell at Turkish side Sivasspor, as well as Ludogrets, and currently ply’s his trade in Serbia at Red Star Belgrade where he has played in the UEFA Champions League.
The World Cup will be the highest level that the shot-stopper has played at, with the Canada international looking to make history in what could be his first and only tournament.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
