Just over one month ago, Jovan Lukic took a flight from Serbia to Philadelphia to take on a new opportunity in Major League Soccer.
Since then, he’s earned his Union debut, first three starts, and most recently opened his Major League Soccer account with a stunning goal in the team’s 2-0 win against New England Revolution.
From the moment he put pen to paper and signed with the Union on February 5th, Lukic's had storybook welcome to Philadelphia both on and off the pitch. Despite moving almost 5000 miles away from his country, he already feels right at home.
“I'm happy. This is a dream for me,” Lukic said after Saturday's match.
“I came to this club, and I'm so happy with the people inside. This is all for them and because of them. That’s all I want to say, because I fell in love. I’ve only been here for a month and I fell in love already with the fans, with the staff, with the players. We have a relationship like I've been here for two years. I hope they have the same feeling, and I'm really happy.”
It’s no surprise the 23-year-old midfielder has had such a positive start. When the club was in talks to sign him from FK Spartak Subotica, Carnell spoke with him virtually, and the new head coach said that it was one of the best introductory calls he’d ever had.
“I've had a couple of hundred meetings, probably, setting up an expansion team [in St. Louis], talking to prospective players, and this was probably my best Zoom meeting that I've had. He had a very open growth mindset, team-first mentality, and commitment to what we're trying to do as a club,” Carnell said.
“I think you can just see he's come in, bought in. The players have welcomed him with open arms, and he's a good character to be around. He has this infectious friendliness around him. But when he's on the field of play, he means business, and it's great to see him gelled in so good with the team so quickly.”
His 269 minutes have spoken for themself, and so have his celebratory moments with his teammates on the pitch.
Whether it’s a sprint toward the corner to amp up the energy at Subaru Park, a postgame team huddle that evolved into an impromptu jump for joy, or a pre-planned snake celebration with long-time team veteran Alejandro Bedoya to 'honor the badge', Lukic’s relationship with his teammates and love for the club is hard to miss.
“I said already to the guys, this is the first time in my life I feel honestly, genuinely part of a team. We are a team. Everybody loves each other – it's a love inside, trust me,” Lukic said.
“I think we are a really good team. We have a great relationships. We cover each other, even the strikers defend. That's the most important, we fight for each other, that's for sure. Every training, every game, we play 100% and that's the way we want to go. I hope it will continue like this all season.”
Lukic's been a key part of the team's best start to a season in club history, and he and his team will look to extend their win streak to four on Sunday afternoon against Nashville SC. To watch the Boys in Blue in action -- click here for tickets!
