Amer Didić Explained

Amer Didić should not be confused with Amar Dedić.

Amer Didić
Fullname:Amer Didić
Birth Date:28 December 1994
Birth Place:Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height:1.93 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Atlético Ottawa
Clubnumber:55
Youthclubs1:Sherwood Park SA
Youthclubs2:FC Edmonton
Collegeyears1:2012–2015
College1:Baker Wildcats
Collegecaps1:80
Collegegoals1:28
Years1:2016–2017
Clubs1:Swope Park Rangers
Caps1:34
Goals1:1
Years2:2016
Clubs2:Sporting Kansas City (loan)
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:Sporting Kansas City
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2017–2018
Clubs4:Swope Park Rangers (loan)
Caps4:40
Goals4:2
Years5:2019
Clubs5:San Antonio FC
Caps5:2
Goals5:0
Years6:2019–2021
Clubs6:FC Edmonton
Caps6:46
Goals6:3
Years7:2022–2023
Clubs7:Pacific FC
Caps7:50
Goals7:6
Years8:2024–
Clubs8:Atlético Ottawa
Caps8:11
Goals8:3
Club-Update:June 28, 2024
Nationalyears1:2015
Nationalteam1:Canada Universiade
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017
Nationalteam2:Canada U23
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2020–
Nationalteam3:Canada
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalteam-Update:January 15, 2020

Amer Didić (born December 28, 1994) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for Canadian Premier League club Atlético Ottawa. Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he represents the Canada national team.

Club career

Early career

Born in Zenica, Bosnia and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Didić began playing soccer with Sherwood Park District SA and later spent time in the FC Edmonton Academy system before playing four years of college soccer at Baker University, where he was a two-time NAIA All-American.[1] As a senior in 2015, he was named a NSCAA and NAIA All-American, as well as being named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player.[2]

Swope Park Rangers

Didić was signed by United Soccer League side Swope Park Rangers on March 2, 2016.[3] In August 2016, Sporting Kansas City announced that they had signed Didić on a short-term loan, to play in the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League against Central FC. Didić made his first team debut on August 16, 2016 in the competition.[4] After receiving rave reviews in his first season with Swope Park Rangers, Didić was named to the 2016 USL All-League First Team.[5]

Sporting Kansas City

In May 2017, after six games with Swope Park in 2017, Didić was signed by Sporting Kansas City for the remainder of the 2017 season, with options for 2018, 2019 and 2020.[6] This made him the first Baker Wildcats soccer player to sign with an MLS club. He remained on loan with Swope Park for the remainder of the season.[7] Upon conclusion of the 2017 season, Sporting KC announced they would exercise Didic's option for the 2018 season.[8] Didić made his first appearance for Sporting KC since the 2016 season when he started in a 2–0 victory over Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on June 6, 2018. After three seasons with Sporting KC, Didić was released at the end of the 2018 season.[9]

San Antonio FC

In December 2018, Didić signed with United Soccer League club San Antonio FC for the 2019 season.[10] After starting the first two matches of the season on March 9 and 16, Didić was relegated to the bench for the following two games before being left out of the matchday 18 in April.[11] On April 15, 2019, Didić and San Antonio agreed to mutually terminate his contract so that he could pursue other opportunities.[12]

FC Edmonton

Right after his departure from San Antonio, Didić signed with his hometown club, Canadian Premier League side FC Edmonton.[13] That season, he made nineteen league appearances and one appearance in the Canadian Championship. While out of contract during the off-season, Didić went on a preseason trial with Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[14] On February 24, 2020, he concluded his trial with Vancouver and returned home. On March 2, 2020, Didić officially re-signed with Edmonton for the 2020 season.[15]

Pacific FC

On February 9, 2022, Didić signed with CPL reigning champions Pacific FC on a free transfer.[16] He left the club at the end of the 2023 season,[17] [18] having made a total amount of 63 appearances in all competitions for them.

Atlético Ottawa

On April 4, 2024, Atlético Ottawa announced the signing of the Canadian international, ahead of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season. Didić joined on a free transfer and signed a one-year contract with an option to extend for another season.[19] On April 13, 2024, he made his debut in the season opener against York United FC.[20]

International career

Didić represented the Canadian Interuniversity Sport team at the Universiade in South Korea in 2015.[21]

In March 2017, Didić received his first Canadian youth national team call-up for an under-23 tournament in Qatar.[22] In September of that year, he also received his first senior team call-up for a friendly against Jamaica, but did not appear in the match.

He was recalled to the national team in October 2019 for a CONCACAF Nations League match against the United States.[23]

On January 10, 2020, he made his debut and scored his first goal against Barbados.[24]

Personal life

When he was a toddler, Didić and his family emigrated to Canada in the wake of the Bosnian War, eventually settling in Edmonton, Alberta.[25]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Swope Park Rangers2016USL28140321
201721141252
201825120271
Total7431010000844
Sporting Kansas City2016Major League Soccer0000003030
201700000000
201800001010
Total0000103040
San Antonio FC2019USL Championship200020
FC Edmonton2019Canadian Premier League19010200
20203030
202124310253
Total463002000483
Pacific FC2022Canadian Premier League262201240334
20232443030304
Total506504040638
Atlético Ottawa2024Canadian Premier League1130030143
Career total183151511027021518

International

[22]

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Didić goal.

Honours

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baker Alum Amer Didic Signs with Sporting KC . . 16 April 2019 . 31 May 2017.
  2. Web site: Amer Didić . Baker University Athletics . May 8, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160603082157/http://www.bakeru.edu/sports/mens-soccer/roster/amer-didic . June 3, 2016 .
  3. Web site: Swope Park Rangers sign Amer Didic and Tyler Pasher. Sporting Kansas City. March 2, 2016. May 14, 2020.
  4. Web site: Sporting KC adds Amer Didic and Tyler Pasher from Swope Park Rangers ahead of Champions League opener. Sam. Kozvan. Sporting Kansas City. Aug 14, 2016.
  5. Web site: Amer Didic named to the 2016 USL All-League First Team. Sporting Kansas City. Patrik. Bergabo. October 18, 2016.
  6. Web site: Sporting KC signs 22-year-old defender Amer Didic to an MLS contract from the Swope Park Rangers. Sporting Kansas City. Sam. Kozvan. May 31, 2017.
  7. Web site: Sporting KC defender Amer Didic named to Canada Men's National Team for first time ahead of Jamaica friendly. August 19, 2017. Sam. Kovzan. Sporting Kansas City.
  8. Web site: Sporting KC exercises options on 11 players ahead of 2018 MLS season. Sporting Kansas City. Sam. Kozvan. November 27, 2017.
  9. Web site: Sporting KC Announces Roster Moves For 2019. Sporting Kansas City. November 30, 2018.
  10. Web site: San Antonio FC signs defender Amer Didic. San Antonio FC. December 18, 2018. December 19, 2018. January 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200111211834/https://www.sanantoniofc.com/news_article/show/978420. dead.
  11. Web site: Amer Didic . Soccerway . 16 April 2019.
  12. Web site: San Antonio FC and Defender Amer Didic Mutually Agree to Part Ways . . 16 April 2019 . 15 April 2019 . 15 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415210547/https://www.sanantoniofc.com/news_article/show/1013066 . dead .
  13. Web site: FC Edmonton Announces Signing of Amer Didic. April 15, 2019. April 16, 2019. April 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416013432/https://fcedmonton.canpl.ca/article/fc-edmonton-announces-signing-of-amer-didic. dead.
  14. Web site: Amer Didic returning home after Whitecaps trial ends . . 2 March 2020 . 24 February 2020.
  15. Web site: Kassim. Khimji . Canadian International Amer Didic Returns to FC Edmonton for 2020 Season . . 2 March 2020 . 2 March 2020.
  16. Web site: Amer Didic joins Pacific FC for 2022! . . 9 February 2022 . 9 February 2022.
  17. Web site: January 17, 2024 . Thank you Didic . January 18, 2024 . Pacific FC.
  18. Web site: Jacques . John . January 18, 2024 . Key Pacific Defender Amer Didic Leaves The Isle . January 18, 2024 . Northern Tribune.
  19. Web site: 2024-04-04 . Atlético Ottawa signs colossal Canadian defender Amer Didić . 2024-04-04 . Atlético Ottawa . en-CA.
  20. Web site: Recap: Atlético Ottawa 2-1 York United — CPL Match #1. April 13, 2024. Canadian Premier League. Charlie. O'Connor-Clarke.
  21. Web site: Baker's Amer Didic to Play for Canadian National Team . bakeru.edu . Baker University Athletics . May 8, 2015 . May 8, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160603075253/http://www.bakeru.edu/sports/mens-soccer/news-archive/item/11196-baker-s-amer-didic-to-play-for-canadian-national-team . June 3, 2016 .
  22. Web site: Amer Didic . Canadian Soccer Association. 16 April 2019.
  23. Web site: FC Edmonton's Amer Didic named to Canadian national team roster. October 1, 2019. John. Molinaro.
  24. Web site: Canadian men's soccer comfortably dispatches Barbados in friendly rematch . . 10 January 2020.
  25. Web site: Sporting KC and Canadian National Team Defender Amer Didic Shares His Urban Picks . Urban Pitch . 16 April 2019 . 15 August 2018.