Rowdies Ink Defender Antonijevic

The Tampa Bay Rowdies strengthened their defense on Tuesday with the addition of towering center back Stefan Antonijevic ahead of the 2015 season. Per club and league policy, contract details were not disclosed.

Antonijevic played the last two seasons, his first two professional seasons, with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. In two years with the Strikers Antonijevic started 38 of the 39 matches he played in, recording 3,385 minutes in North American Soccer League action.

Standing at 6-foot-6, the 25-year old defender cuts an imposing figure on the back line.

"Stefan is a proven NASL defender," commented Rowdies head coach Thomas Rongen. "He is a left-footed center back which is a luxury to be able to find. At 6’6", we expect him to dominate set pieces. And he brings toughness to our revamped defense."

Antonijevic began his collegiate career in 2007 at Marquette University in Milwaukee before playing for Valparaiso University in Indiana from 2009-2011. Sporting Kansas City selected Antonijevic in the 2012 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft but Antonijevic did not sign with the club.

Of Serbian descent but born in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Antonijevic was capped twice by the Serbian U-19 national team in 2008. In his two years with the Strikers, Antonijevic contributed to nine clean sheets.