Luka Gavran

Luka Robert Gavran (born May 5, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as an goalkeeper for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

Luka Gavran
Personal information
Full name Luka Robert Gavran
Date of birth (2000-05-09) May 9, 2000
Place of birth Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Toronto FC
Number 90
Youth career
Hamilton Croatia SC
Dinamo Zagreb
GPS Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 St. John's Red Storm 48 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Manhattan SC 0 (0)
2022–2023 Toronto FC II 36 (0)
2023 → Toronto FC (loan) 0 (0)
2023– Toronto FC 4 (0)
2023– → Toronto FC II (loan) 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 7, 2023

Early life

Born in Hamilton, Ontario,[1] Gavran started playing youth soccer at age six with Hamilton Croatia SC, initially playing as a striker, switching to goalkeeper when he was 13.[2][3] He also spent some time in the Dinamo Zagreb youth development system.[4] Afterwards, he joined GPS Academy.[5] With GPS he won a Vase Cup title in Northern Ireland in 2017 and was the Ontario Academy Soccer League Goalie of the Year.[6][7]

College career

In 2018, he received a scholarship to St. John's University to play for the men's soccer team.[5] He redshirted his first year in 2018.[3] He made his debut on August 30, 2019 against the Appalachian State Mountaineers.[8] After splitting time in net during his first two seasons, he became the full-time starter during his junior year in 2021, leading the country in shutouts and save percentage.[9] In September 2021, he earned back-to-back Big East Goalkeeper of the Week honours.[10][11] In 2021, he was named Big East Goalkeeper of the Year,[12] a College Soccer News Second Team All-American,[13] and a United Soccer Coaches Third-team All-American.[14]

Club career

In 2021, he was on the roster for Manhattan SC in USL League Two, but did not appear in any matches.[15]

In 2022, he was selected in the 2nd round (31st overall) in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC.[16][17] After attending pre-season with Toronto FC,[18] in March 2022, he signed a professional contract with the second team, Toronto FC II, in MLS Next Pro.[19] He made his debut on April 3 against FC Cincinnati 2.[20] He was named MLS Next Pro Goalkeeper of the Month for July 2022.[21][22] In August 2022, he was named as a competitor for the MLS All-Stars Skills Challenge ahead of the 2022 MLS All-Star Game.[23] On June 21, 2023, he signed a short-term loan with the Toronto FC first team.[24][25] He signed a second short term loan a few days later on June 24.[26][27]

In August 2023, he signed a contract with the Toronto FC first team for the remainder of the 2023 season, with club options for 2024 and 2025.[28][29] He later re-joined the second team on loan for some matches.[30] He made his Major League Soccer debut for the first team on September 24, 2023 in a loss against New York City FC, where he saved a penalty kick during the match.[31]

References
  1. Makarnaci, Mete (March 27, 2022). "TFC draft pick points to development as the key to Canadian soccer success - Goalkeeper Gavran a product of that system". Toronto Observer.
  2. Moko, Larry (April 2, 2018). "Brebeuf's Luka Gavran receives NCAA soccer scholarship". Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board.
  3. Davidson, Neil (January 9, 2022). "Red Storm have a bit of everything available in Tuesday's MLS SuperDraft". Toronto Star.
  4. "Gavran Drafted by Toronto FC". Hamilton Croatia. January 11, 2022.
  5. Moko, Larry (April 2, 2018). "Luka Gavran of St. Jean de Brebeuf nets soccer scholarship to NCAA school". Hamilton Mountain News.
  6. "Luka Gavran St. John's profile". St. John's Red Storm.
  7. Jacques, John (January 9, 2022). "Who Are The Canadians In The MLS SuperDraft?". Northern Tribune.
  8. O'Connell, Andrew (August 30, 2019). "St. John's Blanks Appalachian State, 2-0, in Season Opener". St. John's Red Storm.
  9. "A Real Super Draft: 3 St. John's players selected in MLS draft". Front Row Soccer. January 11, 2022.
  10. "Goalkeeper of the Week: Big East honors St. John's Gavran". Front Row Soccer. September 20, 2021.
  11. "Repeat Performance: St. John's Gavran named Big East goalkeeper of the week again". Front Row Soccer. September 27, 2021.
  12. "Cool Hand Luka: St. John's Gavran named third team All-American". Front Row Soccer. November 8, 2021.
  13. Taylor, Paul (January 12, 2022). "Toronto FC: 7 things to know about 2022 MLS SuperDraft picks". Tip of the Tower.
  14. "Cool Hand Luka: St. John's Gavran named third team All-American". Front Row Soccer. December 9, 2021.
  15. "Luka Gavran 2021 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
  16. "Toronto FC select Luka Gavran and Reshaun Walkes in 2022 MLS SuperDraft". Toronto FC. January 11, 2022.
  17. Kvartuč, Ante (March 6, 2022). "Exclusive: 2022 MLS Draft 31st Overall Pick Luka Gavran Sits Down With CroatianSports". Croatian Sports.
  18. "Toronto FC announce roster, schedule for Austin preseason camp". Toronto FC. February 7, 2022.
  19. "Toronto FC II add two MLS SuperDraft picks to roster". Toronto FC. March 24, 2022.
  20. Varcoe, Jacob (March 26, 2022). "'Keeper Gavran poised to make impact for Toronto FC II". Toronto Observer.
  21. Schneider, Jacob (August 4, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: July". MLS Next Pro.
  22. "Former Johnnie Luka Gavran Signs with Toronto FC". St. John's Red Storm. June 21, 2023.
  23. "TFC II goalkeeper Luka Gavran attending 2022 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge". MLS Next Pro. August 5, 2022.
  24. "Toronto FC sign goalkeeper Luka Gavran to short-term agreement". Toronto FC. June 21, 2023.
  25. Molinaro, John (June 23, 2023). "MLS rules explained: How was Toronto FC able to call up Luka Gavran from TFC 2?". TFC Republic.
  26. "Toronto FC sign goalkeeper Luka Gavran to short-term agreement". Toronto FC. June 24, 2023.
  27. "Toronto FC signs G Gavran to short-term agreement". TSN. June 24, 2023.
  28. "Toronto FC sign goalkeeper Luka Gavran". Toronto FC. August 20, 2023.
  29. "Toronto FC sign TFC II goalkeeper Luka Gavran on Extreme Hardship deal after Sean Johnson's injury". Waking the Red. August 20, 2023.
  30. "Toronto FC loan four players to Toronto FC II". Toronto FC. September 8, 2023.
  31. "'We don't see the good things we do because of the poor things we do more often': Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Gavran". Waking the Red. September 25, 2023.
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