Filip's Football Journey
How It Started
Filip was born in Serbia and moved to Canada with his family at the age of two. At five years old, while accompanying his mother to a local Serbian grocery store, he noticed a poster of players from the local Serbian soccer academy, Tigers FC. Intrigued, he pleaded with his mother to let him try soccer. Although his parents came from a nation where football is the main sport, they had never played and had no experience with it. This marked the beginning of Filip’s personal journey into the beautiful game.
From the moment he started playing, Filip knew football was his passion. He soon asked his mother to find another team so he could play every day, sometimes training two or even three times daily. Football quickly became his life.
Early Development
Filip’s first local club was South Burnaby Metro Club, where he immediately stood out. His talent caught the attention of parents and coaches across Vancouver. Concurrently, he continued training with Tigers FC Academy. Filip credits his foundational success to his Tigers FC coaches, Miša and Siniša Nesković. Their coaching and mentorship were crucial, especially since Filip was the first in his family to play football. Under their guidance, Tigers FC became a top academy, winning numerous tournaments and often competing against older teams. Filip excelled in this environment, earning multiple MVP awards and contributing to team victories.
He later moved to Killarney FC to play with a close friend whose father was the coach. The team enjoyed significant success, with Filip being a key player, scoring goals and providing assists. Despite concerns from family friends about the time commitment, Filip’s parents wholeheartedly supported his passion, sacrificing their free time to nurture his love for the game.
Advanced Training and Recognition
As Filip’s skills developed, he was referred to other local academies, including Accelerated Soccer Academy under Coach Ekrem Maglajlija and European Football School with Saibo Talić—both highly qualified coaches. They were impressed by Filip’s talent and dedication, helping him further refine his abilities.
Around age 11, football became more competitive locally, with the introduction of the BC High-Performance League (HPL) and selections for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC beginning at U12. Filip joined ICSF for his U11 season, where his performance drew the attention of HPL coaches. He was invited to tryouts for Mountain FC and Fusion FC and was selected by both. Additionally, he was invited to trial for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Pre-Residency program.
Competing against top local players, Filip impressed the Whitecaps staff and was selected for their U12 team—the highest level of competition in Western Canada—giving him his first taste of a professional football environment.
International Experience
In 2012, Filip was selected to represent Canada at the Danone Nations Cup in Poland. Initially part of the Western team, he was one of two players chosen to join the Eastern team after standout performances. Competing against the best players globally at his age, Filip gained invaluable experience and motivation.
He also represented Zone 4 in the 2012 BC Summer Games. This was the highest level tournament and competition in all of British Columbia for his age. Ultimately winning a gold medal—a highlight of his early career.
Continued Success and Challenges
At U14, Coach Srdjan Djekanovic invited Filip to join Fusion FC. Under Srdjan’s mentorship—a coach with a notable soccer career—Filip continued to develop, earning the MVP award for the 2014 season.
Filip was also selected for the BC Provincial team, participating in tournaments in Portland and friendly matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy.
In 2015, he attended the U15 Canada Soccer Identification Camp, where he scored in inter-squad games and was named captain for an exhibition match against the Whitecaps U15 team.
For his U17/18 seasons, Filip transferred to Coastal FC HPL, becoming a crucial player and finishing his youth career with a Provincial Championship. He scored the opening goal in the decisive win against Mountain FC and was awarded the MVP of the finals.
Overcoming Adversity
From 2019 to 2021, Filip was without a club—a challenging period in his career. With limited local opportunities and not pursuing university pathways, his professional aspirations seemed to wane. During this time, he lost motivation and questioned his love for the game. Faced with a pivotal decision—to give up or give it his all—Filip chose the latter.
He began training alone in early 2021, pushing himself daily. Despite reaching out to coaches and agents, opportunities were scarce due to an outdated CV and lack of recent footage. Many advised him to move on from his dream, but Filip remained determined, fueled by the mentorship and time invested by his past coaches.
Finally An opportunity arose, Filip was invited for an official trial with Vancouver Whitecaps FC U23’s. He stood out from day one at the trial, scoring and assisting. Despite his great performances unfortunately administrative delays due to coaching changes would see his trial extended for five months.Filip continued on being persistent and being a top performer daily.
In early 2022, with the announcement of the new MLS NEXT Pro league and the appointment of Canadian Hall of Famer Nick Dasović as the Whitecaps FC 2 coach, Filip’s prospects improved. Impressed by his performance during trials, the club offered him his first professional contract in February 2022.
Professional Debut and Future Aspirations
Signing with Whitecaps FC 2 was a pivotal moment in Filip’s career. The season was filled with both highs and lows, offering invaluable football experience. From scoring his first professional goal to the disappointment of the team missing the playoffs, every moment contributed to his growth. Filip gained tremendous learning opportunities by training with the first team, competing at the highest level of football in North America (MLS), facing off against American MLS teams, and traveling to various cities and stadiums. These experiences provided Filip with critical insights, which he now shares with the next generation of players.
