Nick Markanich

Nick Markanich

Personal information
Full name	Nicholas Markanich
Date of birth	(1999-12-26) December 26, 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth	Bourbonnais, Illinois, United States
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Charleston Battery
Number	13
Youth career
	Chicago Fire
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2021	Northern Illinois Huskies	69	(39)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2021	Green Bay Voyageurs	15	(5)
2022	FC Cincinnati	9	(0)
2022	FC Cincinnati 2	15	(4)
2023–	Charleston Battery	40	(21)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:56, 18 May 2024 (UTC)

Nicholas Markanich is a Filipino-American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for USL Championship club Charleston Battery.

Early life

Markanich was born on December 26, 1999. He grew up in Bourbonnais, Illinois and attended Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School. ^[1] He played as part of the Chicago Fire for a period. ^{[1] [2]}

In 2018, he matriculated to Northern Illinois University, where he played for the Huskies soccer team. Over his four years at NIU, he started in 68 of his 69 appearances and scored 39 goals. ^[1]

While at college, Markanich played with USL League Two side Green Bay Voyageurs between 2019 and 2021, without the 2020 season been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made a total of 15 appearances, scoring five goals and tallying three assists. ^{[3] [4]}

Career

FC Cincinnati

Markanich was selected by FC Cincinnati in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He was chosen as the 2nd pick in the 2nd round of the draft, or the 30th overall pick. He was signed to a contract for the 2022 season (with options through the 2025 season) on February 21, 2022. ^[5] He started in FC Cincinnati's first match of the season on February 26. ^[6] Markanich was released by Cincinnati following their 2022 season. ^[7]

Charleston Battery

On February 16, 2023, Markanich signed with USL Championship side Charleston Battery following a successful trial. ^[8]

Markanich was among the USL Championship’s top attackers in 2023. He was a five-time Team of the Week selection, the Week 15 Player of the Week and a Player of the Month nominee in June. Nick tallied 13 goals and four assists in 36 matches across all competitions, finding the back of the net in the regular season, playoffs and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Among Nick’s most memorable goals included match-winners in the Open Cup Third Round against Charlotte Independence and in the regular season finale against Birmingham Legion FC, and his first-time strike in the USL Championship Final. He additionally scored braces on the road against Hartford Athletic and at home against Loudoun United. ^[9] Markanich scored twice during the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs, including in the league final.

Markanich got off to a fast start and was the Championship's top scorer after the first months of play, scoring 11 goals in nine matches. This included a four-game performance on April 27 against Las Vegas Lights FC, in which he scored a hat trick in the first half, the first of his professional career. His four goals and one assist performance was only the second on record in the USL Championship era, and the first Battery player with a four-goal game in Championship. ^[10]

At the end of April, he was the top goalscorer of all the American domestic leagues, two goals ahead of Lionel Messi's nine with Inter Miami CF. ^[11] Markanich was a four-time Team of the Week selection and two-time Player of the Week (Week 6 and 8) winner through the end of April.

International career

Philippines

In 2024, Markanich was reportedly among the diaspora players being recruited by head coach Tom Saintfiet and team manager Freddy Gonzalez to play for the Philippines. ^[12]

Personal life

Markanich has a twin brother, Anthony Markanich, who also plays soccer. Anthony was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. ^[5] He currently plays for St. Louis City SC

Honors

Charleston Battery

• Eastern Conference Champion (Playoffs): 2023

References

1. "Nick Markanich – Men's Soccer". NIU Athletics. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
2. chicagofirefc. "Chicago Fire Soccer Club Announces Rosters For 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Season | Chicago Fire FC". chicagofirefc. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
3. "Green Bay Voyageurs - 2019 Regular Season - Roster - #22 - Nick Markanich - F". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
4. "Green Bay Voyageurs | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
5. "FC Cincinnati sign defender Ian Murphy and forward Nick Markanich". FCCincinnati.com. February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
6. FC Cincinnati [@fccincinnati] (February 26, 2022). "The first #FCCincy Starting XI of 2022! #ATXvCIN | #AllForCincy" (Tweet). Retrieved February 26, 2022– via Twitter.
7. "FC Cincinnati announce roster decisions ahead of 2023 season | FC Cincinnati". fccincinnati.
8. "Battery sign Nick Markanich after impressive preseason".
9. "Nick Markanich".
10. https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1308432
11. https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1308493
12. del Rosario, Paolo (April 19, 2024). "FIELD GOALS : Looking for the next Philippine striker". OneSports PH. Retrieved May 7, 2024.

External links

• Nicholas Markanich at FC Cincinnati
• Nick Markanich at NIU Huskies