Anthony Markanich Bio
Anthony Charles Markanich Jr. (born December 26, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United. A left back developed through the Chicago Fire youth system and Northern Illinois University, he entered MLS through the 2022 MLS SuperDraft and has since played for the Colorado Rapids, St. Louis City SC, and Minnesota United. Standing at 185 cm, Markanich is regarded as a steady defender who contributes offensively through overlapping runs and accurate crosses.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Charles Markanich Jr. was born on December 26, 1999, in Bourbonnais, Illinois, in the United States. He grew up in a community with a strong athletic tradition, and soccer became his primary sport from an early age. He attended Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, where he developed into one of Illinois’ top high school prospects.
As a senior in 2017, Markanich scored 40 goals and added 14 assists, leading the Boilermakers to a third-place finish in the Illinois 3A State Tournament. His performance that season earned him all-state honors and drew attention from both collegiate and professional scouts. Beyond high school soccer, he also sharpened his skills in club competition, balancing academics with a demanding travel schedule.
Path to Soccer
Markanich’s development accelerated through the Chicago Fire youth setup, where he played from 2015 to 2016, making 24 appearances for the club’s academy sides. The experience exposed him to a higher level of tactical training and professional coaching. He later joined Olympiacos Chicago, a strong Midwest club program that captured the US Club Soccer 2018 U19 Super Group National Championship, an experience that helped prepare him for the college ranks.
Following high school, Markanich enrolled at Northern Illinois University, where he played four seasons of college soccer for the Huskies. Across his career in DeKalb, he made 67 appearances, scored 17 goals, and recorded 24 assists, becoming a three-time first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection and a four-time All-MAC honoree. His 24 career assists are tied for second all-time in NIU program history, while his 58 total points rank ninth. During his college years, he also played for USL League Two side Green Bay Voyageurs between 2019 and 2021, with the 2020 season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, registering 12 appearances, three goals, and three assists.
Anthony Markanich Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Markanich’s organized senior-level experience began with the Green Bay Voyageurs in USL League Two, a developmental competition that has historically served as a bridge between college and professional soccer. He joined the Voyageurs in 2019, the same year he started at Northern Illinois, and quickly earned minutes on the left flank. His ability to combine defensive responsibility with offensive production made him a regular contributor for the Wisconsin-based side.
After the canceled 2020 campaign, Markanich returned to the Voyageurs for 2021, finishing his amateur career with a combined total of 12 appearances, three goals, and three assists across his League Two seasons. These performances, combined with his decorated college career at Northern Illinois, positioned him as a top prospect heading into the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.
MLS SuperDraft and Colorado Rapids (2022–2023)
On January 11, 2022, Anthony Markanich was selected 26th overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids. He signed a one-year deal with the club on March 3, 2022, and quickly integrated into the first-team environment. His professional debut came on May 22, 2022, when he started in a 1–0 win over Seattle Sounders FC, an early signal of the coaching staff’s confidence in his readiness.
Markanich spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons developing within the Rapids organization, splitting time between the senior squad and Colorado Rapids 2, the club’s MLS NEXT Pro affiliate. On August 1, 2023, he was traded to expansion side St. Louis City SC in exchange for $75,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money, St. Louis’ 2024 first-round MLS SuperDraft pick, and an additional $75,000 in 2024 if certain conditional incentives were met. The move gave him a fresh opportunity with a young Western Conference side.
St. Louis City SC (2023–2024)
Markanich joined St. Louis City SC in the middle of the 2023 season and quickly adapted to a high-press system that demanded athletic fullbacks. He featured regularly as a left back, providing width in attack and contributing to a back line that helped St. Louis reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in its inaugural 2023 campaign. His steady performances earned him a place in the team’s competitive rotation heading into 2024.
In 2024, he was also assigned to St. Louis City 2, the club’s developmental team, allowing him to continue building match fitness. In March 2024, it was reported that Markanich was among the players being recruited by head coach Tom Saintfiet and team manager Freddy Gonzalez to represent the Philippines internationally, though any final decision on his national-team future remained private.
Minnesota United (2024–Present)
On August 15, 2024, Markanich was traded to Minnesota United in exchange for $50,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money, with an additional $100,000 in General Allocation Money available if certain performance-related requirements were met. The move brought him to a Loons side searching for depth and attacking threat on the left flank. He finished the 2024 season integrating into the Minnesota system, working closely with the coaching staff to learn the team’s tactical structure.
In 2025, Markanich made an immediate impact in front of goal. He scored his first Minnesota United goal on May 4, 2025, away at Austin FC in a 3–0 victory for the Loons, and followed that up six days later with another goal at home against Inter Miami in a 4–1 win on May 10. Those performances marked a clear offensive breakthrough and underscored his value as an overlapping fullback in Minnesota’s system.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 185 cm, Markanich combines the physical profile of a modern fullback with the technical comfort of a former winger. He is most effective on the left side, where his overlapping runs, accurate crossing, and willingness to get forward create numerical advantages in attack. Defensively, he is positionally disciplined and works well in coordination with the central defenders and his wingers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Markanich’s young career include his 26th overall selection in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, his first-team debut on May 22, 2022, against Seattle Sounders FC, and his first two Minnesota United goals, scored in May 2025. His trade to Minnesota United in August 2024 also stands out as a pivotal moment that helped revitalize his offensive output.
Anthony Markanich Career Wins
While Markanich’s primary achievements have come at the team and developmental level rather than through individual trophies, his career features a series of notable team and personal milestones. He is a US Club Soccer 2018 U19 Super Group National Championship winner with Olympiacos Chicago, a three-time first-team All-MAC selection at Northern Illinois University, and a veteran of multiple MLS and USL League Two seasons.
MLS and College Highlights
In MLS, Markanich has notched early signature performances, including his first Minnesota United goal on May 4, 2025, and his second goal against Inter Miami on May 10, 2025. At Northern Illinois, he helped the Huskies to consistent Mid-American Conference contention, finishing his career tied for second in program history with 24 assists and ninth with 58 total points.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond MLS, Markanich contributed to the Green Bay Voyageurs’ USL League Two campaigns from 2019 to 2021 and helped Olympiacos Chicago win the US Club Soccer 2018 U19 Super Group National Championship. He was also recognized as an Illinois high school all-state selection after his 40-goal senior season at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School.
Anthony Markanich Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Soccer runs in the Markanich family. Anthony has a twin brother, Nick Markanich, who is also a professional soccer player. Nick has played for clubs across the American and European soccer landscapes, most recently featuring for Spanish Segunda División side CD Castellón. The brothers’ shared path reflects a competitive family environment that helped fuel their development.
Personal Life
Markanich was born and raised in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and continues to identify strongly with his hometown. He maintains a public presence on Instagram, where fans can follow his career updates. Beyond his relationship with his twin brother Nick, broader details about his personal life remain private.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 MLS season has marked a clear step forward for Anthony Markanich at Minnesota United. After joining the club mid-2024, he used the early months of the new campaign to lock down a regular role on the left side of the Loons’ back line. His growing understanding of Minnesota’s tactical demands has translated into more consistent attacking output from his position.
The defining stretch came in early May 2025, when he scored his first goal for the club on May 4 at Austin FC in a 3–0 road win, and followed it with another goal in a 4–1 home victory over Inter Miami on May 10. Those performances highlighted his ability to contribute decisive moments in high-profile fixtures and offered a glimpse of his ceiling as an attacking fullback.
Looking ahead, Markanich’s role within the team will be shaped by continued coordination with the coaching staff and his defensive partners. With his combination of size, technical quality, and goal-scoring instinct, he is well-positioned to remain a regular contributor as Minnesota United pushes for a strong finish and an MLS Cup Playoffs return.