Marcel Zajac

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Marcel Zajac

|fullname = Marcel Dominik Zajac

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|4|29|mf=y}}

|birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada

|height = 1.80 m

|position = Forward

|currentclub =

|clubnumber =

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 = Erin Mills SC

|youthyears2 =

|youthclubs2 = Sigma FC

|collegeyears1 = 2016–2018

|college1 = Akron Zips

|collegecaps1 = 54

|collegegoals1 = 18

|years1 = 2015–2018

|clubs1 = Sigma FC

|caps1 = 27+

|goals1 = 15+

|years2 = 2019–2020

|clubs2 = Forge FC

|caps2 = 25

|goals2 = 1

|years3 = 2021

|clubs3 = Watra Białka Tatrzańska

|caps3 = 11

|goals3 = 8

|years4 = 2021

|clubs4 = Olimpia Elbląg

|caps4 = 2

|goals4 = 0

|years5 = 2022

|clubs5 = Guelph United

|caps5 = 15

|goals5 = 6

|years6 = 2023

|clubs6 = Vaughan Azzurri

|caps6 = 6

|goals6 = 3

|nationalteam1 =

|nationalyears1 =

|nationalcaps1 =

|nationalgoals1 =

|medaltemplates =

|club-update = July 22, 2023

|ntupdate =

}}

Marcel Dominik Zajac (born April 29, 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward.

Early life

Zajac was born in Toronto to Polish parents, and later moved to Mississauga at age three.{{Canada Soccer player|id=4164}} He began playing soccer at age six with local club Erin Mills SC. Afterwards, he joined the Sigma FC academy.{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/video/forges-zajac-reflects-on-choice-to-go-pro-early-in-cpl-i-definitely-dont-regret-it|title=Forge’s Zajac reflects on choice to go pro early in CPL: ‘I definitely don’t regret it’|date=July 14, 2020|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke}}

College career

In 2016, Zajac began attending the University of Akron, where he played for the men's soccer team on a scholarship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mississauga.com/news-story/6326935-mount-carmel-soccer-players-off-to-the-ncaa/|title=Mount Carmel soccer players off to the NCAA|first=Iain|last=Colpitts|work=Mississauga News|date=February 21, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://gozips.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/marcel-zajac/5799|title=Marcel Zajac Akron Zips profile|work=Akron Zips}} He scored his first collegiate goal on October 7, 2017 against the Buffalo Bulls.{{Cite web|url=https://gozips.com/news/2016/10/7/10_7_2016_5260|title=Akron Makes Statement with 4-0 Win Over Buffalo in MAC Opener|date=October 7, 2016|work=Akron Zips}} In 2018, he helped Akron win the Mid-American Conference title and was named MAC tournament MVP,{{cite web|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/soccer/2018/11/11/zips-win-mac-title-ncaa/8398054007/|title=Zips win MAC title, NCAA bid|date=November 11, 2018|first=Brad|last=Bournival|work=Akron Beacon Journal}} as well as finishing as runner-ups for the NCAA National Tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/canadian-forward-marcel-zajac-leaves-akron-early-sign-forge-fc/|title=Canadian forward Marcel Zajac leaves Akron early to sign with Forge FC|date=January 8, 2019|work=Sportsnet}} He was named a Second Team All-MAC All-Star in 2018. He then spent some time training with Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew.{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/video/sandor-forge-fcs-zajac-takes-control-of-future-with-canadian-premier-league-move|title=Zajac ‘takes control of future’ with Forge|date=January 15, 2019|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Steven|last=Sandor}} After the season, he departed Akron to turn professional, rather than to return for his senior season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/2019/01/09/zips-soccer-player-turns-pro/6349745007/|title=Zips soccer player turns pro|date=January 8, 2019|work=Akron Beacon Journal}}

Club career

While attending the University of Akron, Zajac continued to play with his youth club Sigma FC in the summer in League1 Ontario, beginning in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.ontariosoccer.net/news_article/show/924327|title=Zajac And Kovacevic Continue To Burn Up Scoring Charts|date=June 5, 2018|work=Ontario Soccer Association}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/598801|title=2015 Review: Men's Junior Talent Pool|date=October 23, 2015|work=League1 Ontario}} In 2016, he made 13 league appearances for Sigma, scoring five goals.{{cite web |title=Marcel Zajac 2016 L1O Stats |url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/12238329 |publisher=League1 Ontario}} The following year, Zajac made six appearances and added three goals.{{cite web |title=Marcel Zajac 2017 L1O Stats |url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/18003980?subseason=389480 |publisher=League1 Ontario}} In 2018, he scored a career-high seven goals in eight appearances.{{cite web |title=Marcel Zajac 2018 L1O Stats|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/24798556 |publisher=League1 Ontario}} He scored back-to-back hat-tricks on May 12, 2018 against Windsor TFC and May 19, 2018 against Ottawa South United.{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/917457|title=Sigma Rides Zajac Hattrick To First Win Of Season|date=May 13, 2018|work=League1 Ontario|first=Robert|last=Cerjanec}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/919580|title=Pair Of Hat-Tricks Lead Sigma To 8-0 Win Over Ottawa South|date=May 19, 2018|first=Allie|last=Pike|work=League1 Ontario}}

On January 8, 2019, Zajac signed his first professional contract with Canadian Premier League side Forge FC, joining former Sigma FC coach Bobby Smyrniotis.{{cite web |title=‘Standout attacker’ Marcel Zajac leaves University of Akron to join Forge FC |url=https://canpl.ca/article/forge-fc-signs-forward-marcel-zajac-to-multi-year-contract |publisher=Canadian Premier League |accessdate=28 April 2019 |date=8 January 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thespec.com/sports/hamilton-region/2019/01/08/forge-fc-building-from-offence.html|title=Forge FC building from offence|first=Steve|last=Milton|work=The Hamilton Spectator|date=January 8, 2019}} He made his professional debut as a substitute in the inaugural CPL match against York9.{{cite web|url=https://themastermindsite.com/2019/04/27/forge-fc-1-1-york-9-match-recap-analysis/|title=CanPL Inaugural Match – Forge FC 1-1 York 9 – Match Recap & Analysis|date=April 27, 2019|first=Rhys|last=Desmond|work=The Mastermind Site}}

In March 2021, it was reported that Zajac signed with Watra Białka Tatrzańska of the Polish fifth division.{{cite web|url=https://podhaleregion.pl/index.php/sport/rozgrywki-ligowe/31715-pierwszy-sprawdzian-watry|title=Pierwszy sprawdzian Watry|date=March 13, 2021|last=Zubek|first=Maciej|trans-title=Watra's first test|language=pl|work=Podhale Nasz Dom}}{{cite web |title=Marcel Zając |url=https://www.laczynaspilka.pl/rozgrywki/zawodnik/9fe7dbee-1103-421c-b265-714fa8970a2c?season=2020%2F2021&leagueId=1bbf167f-ec17-4d1f-91f2-6ef0e4b8fc18&tab=tab-matches |website=laczynaspilka.pl |access-date=28 April 2024 |language=pl}} In June 2021, he trialled with Polish club OKS Stomil Olsztyn.{{Cite web|url=https://stomil.olsztyn.pl/Marcel-Zajac-na-testach-w-Stomilu,e13057.html|title=Marcel Zajac na testach w Stomilu|date=June 28, 2021|work=OKS Stomil Olsztyn|language=pl|trans-title=Marcel Zajac on tests in Stomil}}

In July 2021, Zajac signed with II liga side Olimpia Elbląg.{{cite web|url=https://zksolimpia.pl/zajac-kolejna-nowa-twarza/|title=Zając kolejną nową twarzą|trans-title=Zajac Another New Face|language=pl|date=July 9, 2021|work=Olimpia Elbląg}} He left the club by mutual consent on November 30, 2021.{{cite web |title=Zając i El-Bouh opuszczają Olimpię Elbląg|trans-title=Zajac and El-Bouh leave Olimpia Elbląg|url=https://zksolimpia.pl/zajac-elbouh/ |publisher=Olimpia Elbląg |language=pl |date=6 December 2021}}

In 2022, he played with Guelph United F.C. in League1 Ontario.{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/54277877|title=Marcel Zajac 2022 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}}