Toronto FC's Lazar Stefanovic puts tough times behind him
In a 1-on-1 interview, Stefanovic discusses coming back from a serious foot injury, life as an MLS rookie, and much more.
A 6-1 win over CF Montreal at Stade Saputo last month was a historic result for Toronto FC.
It was also an important occasion for centre back Lazar Stefanovic who went the full 90 minutes in his first career MLS start. Stefanovic previously played for the Reds in the Leagues Cup and Canadian Championship, and came off the bench to earn his first MLS appearance in 2023 while on loan from TFC 2.
The Montreal win was a special day for Stefanovic, an 18-year-old from Oakville, Ont., who missed most of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season with the Young Reds after breaking his foot while on duty with Canada’s under-20 team.
A product of TFC’s youth academy, Stefanovic eventually worked his way back to full fitness and joined the first team for pre-season training camp in Spain this winter. He impressed coach Robin Fraser enough that he stayed with Toronto FC rather than go back down to TFC 2, and has featured in seven league games (three starts).
Stefanovic was recently moved to the team’s supplemental roster after previously being designated as an off-roster homegrown player, and is bound to earn more playing time during the second half of the 2025 MLS season
In this one-on-one interview with TFC Republic, Stefanovic discusses coming back from the injury, making the jump to the first team from MLS NEXT Pro, life as an MLS rookie, and much more.
