BRADENTON, Fla. – Growing up in Slovenia, Aljaž Ivačič dreamt of being a professional soccer player. Playing soccer in the streets and running around with his friends until the sun went down, Ivačič made sure his success was not simply happenstance, but something he worked hard to earn.
“In Europe, soccer is the number one sport. All my friends would play in the streets, and we all wanted to be professional soccer players,” he said. “I wanted to become a professional soccer player and to make a living from it, and I succeeded. I’m very grateful for that, but I put a lot of work into it, so it’s not a coincidence.”
When he first started playing the game, Ivačič was a midfielder, but it was around the age of 12 he started saving goals rather than scoring them. He takes after his dad, who was also a goalkeeper and always encouraged him to play sports.
Even after accomplishing his dream of going pro, Ivačič’s goals have not stopped there. With a total of 79 games played in MLS (including 78 starts), Ivačič has more than 300 saves in the league. The veteran 'keeper is determined to win an MLS Cup with the Revolution and be named the league's Goalkeeper of the Year.
The 31-year-old, who spent the early years of his career with Slovenian side NK Olimpia Ljubljana before starting his MLS stint with the Portland Timbers, spends a lot of his time off the pitch still focused on his training.
“I want to play as long as possible. So, I basically train the whole day, or if I’m not, I am resting and recovering as much as possible to be ready for the next day. I like to train by myself, too,” he explained. “I invest in my body a lot.”
Ivačič is entirely dedicated to his wellness. “I do cold tubs every day. I do red light therapy in the morning before training and cryotherapy, too. I stretch a lot. I do yoga at home, stuff like that.”
But his wellness routine doesn’t just stop at keeping his body in shape – Ivačič is determined to keep his mind sharp, as well.
“I’m not the guy who could stay in and just lay there and look at my phone,” he said. “I like to read books and I play chess every day.”
His favorite book? The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, a psychology book teaching readers to manifest through acts of gratitude, visualization, and mastering control of thoughts and feelings. For Ivačič, he is focused on controlling what he can control and appreciating the journey.
“I told myself before I came to the United States that I am not leaving before I win MLS Cup and become Goalkeeper of the Year," he said. "I have been saying it for years now and I will achieve it, 100 percent.”
Ivačič is currently in his first preseason with the New England Revolution after joining the club in April of last year, and he wants to set the tone for the rest of his season.
“This year, it's totally different. I'm here to begin the season with the team and now we don't have excuses. We need to do better than last year,” he said.
Although not a fan of dwelling on the past, Ivačič knows last season did not go as hoped for the Revolution. Looking forward, he’s using 2024 as motivation to do better.
“We need to do better for us first, and then for the fans, because they deserve better than last year,” he explained. “But it only makes us hungrier. We have something to prove this year, and we are very motivated. I want that ring so bad, and I will do everything to make that happen.”
