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 Kirovski with LA Galaxy at the MLS SuperDraft in 2017 | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jovan Kirovski[1] | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1976-03-18)March 18, 1976 (age 49)[1] | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Escondido, California, United States | |||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | |||||||||||||
| Position | Forward | |||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||
| 1991 | San Diego Nomads | |||||||||||||
| 1992 | Manchester United | |||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 1993–1996 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||
| 1996–2000 | Borussia Dortmund | 20 | (1) | |||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | →Fortuna Köln (loan) | 23 | (2) | |||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Sporting CP | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Crystal Palace | 36 | (5) | |||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Birmingham City | 23 | (2) | |||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 48 | (12) | |||||||||||
| 2005–2008 | Colorado Rapids | 61 | (12) | |||||||||||
| 2008 | San Jose Earthquakes | 9 | (0) | |||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 56 | (6) | |||||||||||
| Total | 281 | (40) | ||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||
| 1996 | United States U23 | 3 | (1) | |||||||||||
| 1994–2004 | United States | 62 | (9) | |||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Los Angeles Galaxy (assistant) | |||||||||||||
| 2013 | Los Angeles Galaxy (Technical Director) | |||||||||||||
| 2024 | AC Milan (Director of Sports Development) | |||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||
Jovan Kirovski (Macedonian:Јован Кировски; born March 18, 1976) is an American formersoccer player who is the former technical director for theLos Angeles Galaxy inMajor League Soccer. Kirovski is the first American to win theUEFA Champions League (withBorussia Dortmund although he did not play in the final) and the first to score in a Champions League match. He has won anMLS Cup championship as a player, assistant coach, and technical director.
Born inEscondido, California, Kirovski, is the son ofMacedonian immigrants.[3][4] In the 1990's at age of 14 Kirovski visitedYugoslavia for a trial with Croatian clubHajduk Split, but due to the uncertain political situation at that time his parents decided to return back to the United States.[5] In 1991-92 season as a sophomore he ledSan Pasqual High Golden Eagles to the San Diego County title.[6] He was also a member of theSan Diego Nomads from 1991.[7]
While on a tour in 1992 with the U.S. Western Region Olympic Development Squad in United Kingdom, Kirovski impressedManchester United youth coach Steve Kelly. Kelly arranged for Kirovski to be a guest player forGlasgow Rangers in the upcomingMilk Cup, an international football youth tournament held annually inNorthern Ireland. Kirovski excelled in the tournament, scoring seven goals in seven games, including the match-winner in the semifinals, and helping the team win the tournament. He joinedManchester United's youth team in 1992, becoming the first American-born player to sign with the club. He led the reserve team in scoring in 1996, but was not able to break into the first team because of work permit regulations. After that season, he signed withBorussia Dortmund in the GermanBundesliga. Kirovski spent the next four seasons in Germany. He played in Dortmund's1996–97 UEFA Champions League campaign, becoming the first American to win the competition.[8] He earned significant playing time during the 1998–99 season, when Borussia loaned him out to second division clubFortuna Köln.
In 2000, Kirovski signed with Portuguese clubSporting CP. After a season there, he went back to England, signing withFootball League First Division clubCrystal Palace. In 2002, Kirovski signed withBirmingham City, but after one and a half seasons, he signed with theLos Angeles Galaxy.
In his first season in MLS, Kirovski scored eight goals. In 2005, the Galaxy traded him to the Colorado Rapids for a first round pick in the2007 MLS SuperDraft. After spending the 2008 season with theSan Jose Earthquakes, he rejoined the Galaxy in a November 2008 trade. Kirovski enjoyed a successful stint with the Galaxy, winning anMLS Cup in 2011 with the club. On January 23, 2012, Kirovski retired from soccer but remained on the coaching staff for the LA Galaxy as an assistant coach. A member ofBruce Arena's coaching staff, Kirovski helped the team repeat as MLS Cup champions in 2012.
Kirovski was appointed by the LA Galaxy as the club's technical director on January 10, 2013.[9] As Technical Director, Kirovski was instrumental in the creation of the club's USL affiliateLA Galaxy II,[10] which was established in January 2014. Kirovski served as the point man in the Galaxy's pursuit and eventual signing of Mexican forwardGiovani dos Santos in August 2015.[11] He also aided the Galaxy in their signing ofJelle Van Damme a year later.[12] Kirovski served as the lead in the Galaxy's signing of 2017 team Most Valuable PlayerRomain Alessandrini,[13] as well as the addition of Mexican internationalJonathan dos Santos in the same year. Kiroski led the team's pursuit of Swedish soccer legendZlatan Ibrahimović, who joined the club officially in March 2018. Kirovski's rich global network from his time as a player helped to complete the deal.[14]
Kirovski made his debut for theUnited States national team at the age of 18 on October 19, 1994, againstSaudi Arabia, and played at the1996 Olympics and the 1999 and 2003 editions of theFIFA Confederations Cup. Kirovski earned 62 caps in total with the US.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 22, 1994 | National Stadium,Kingston, Jamaica |  Jamaica | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | December 11, 1994 | Titan Stadium,Fullerton, United States |  Honduras | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | January 21, 1996 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States |  Guatemala | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 4 | June 17, 1997 | Alltel Stadium,Jacksonville, United States |  Israel | 2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | February 6, 1999 | Alltel Stadium,Jacksonville, United States |  Germany | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | July 24, 1999 | Estadio Jalisco,Guadalajara,Jalisco, Mexico |  New Zealand | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 7 | February 12, 2000 | Orange Bowl,Miami, United States |  Haiti | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 8 | March 29, 2003 | Seattle Seahawks Stadium,Seattle, United States |  Venezuela | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 9 | June 8, 2003 | University of Richmond Stadium,Richmond, United States | New Zealand | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
Kirovski joinedLos Angeles Galaxy as assistant coach immediately upon his retirement in January 2012.[15] In January 2013, the Galaxy appointed him as the club's technical director.[9] In June 2024, Kirovski joinedAC Milan as Director of Sports Development[16] to be in charge of Milan’s Academy, includingMilan Futuro, the Rossoneri’s second team.
Borussia Dortmund
Sporting
Los Angeles Galaxy
United States squads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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