Tajla Džej Vlajnić[1][2] (Serbian Cyrillic: Таjла Џеj Влаjнић;[3][4] born 6 November 1990) is a footballer who currently plays for Melbourne City in the A-League Women. Born and raised in Australia to Serbian parents, she caps for the Serbia women's national team.[5] She has previously played for Melbourne City and Western United in the A-League Women, Calder United in the Women's National Premier League, Bulleen Lions in the National Premier Leagues Victoria Women, Seattle Sounders in the American Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL), and for Spartak Subotica in the Serbian Women's Super League.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth name | Tyla-Jay Vlajnic | ||
| Date of birth | 6 November 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Australia | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Melbourne City | ||
| Number | 27 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2022 | Melbourne City | 55 | (1) |
| 2016 | → Calder United (loan) | 23 | (2) |
| 2017 | → Bulleen Lions (loan) | 30 | (4) |
| 2017 | → Seattle Sounders (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2022 | Bulleen Lions | 17 | (7) |
| 2022 | Spartak Subotica | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Western United | 35 | (3) |
| 2024– | Melbourne City | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2020– | Serbia | 9 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 October 2023 | |||
Playing career
editMelbourne City
editDuring the 2015–16 W-League season, Vlajnić made one appearance during the team's 2–1 win over Melbourne Victory on 25 October 2015.[6] During the match, she made a goal line save to prevent the Victory from scoring.[7][8] Melbourne City finished in first place during the regular season with an undefeated 12–0–0 record.[9][6] They won the 2016 W-League Grand Final after defeating Sydney FC 4–1.[10]
After re-signing with the club for the 2016–17 W-League season, Vlajnić made nine appearances and helped the club finish the regular season in fourth place with a 6–4–2 record and advanced to the playoffs.[6] The team won back-to-back Grand Finals after defeating Perth Glory in the 2017 W-League Grand Final.[11]
Vlajnić re-signed with Melbourne City for the 2017–18 W-League season in September 2017.[12][13]
In September 2022, it was announced that Vlajnić had departed Melbourne City after making 55 appearances in which the club won two premierships and four championships.[14]
Loan to Seattle Sounders
editDuring the summer of 2017, Vlajnić played for the Seattle Sounders in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) in the United States. She made seven appearances[15] and helped the club finish in first place in the Northwest Conference[16] with a 5–3–0 record.[17]
Bulleen Lions
editIn March 2022, Vlajnić returned to Bulleen Lions.[18] She left before the club's National Premier Leagues Victoria Women Final against Calder United,[19] which they lost 2–0.[20]
Spartak Subotica
editIn August 2022, Vlajnić signed with Serbian club Spartak Subotica.[21] She debuted for the club as a substitute for the second half of their 2022–23 Champions League qualifying match against Brann which they lost 3–1.[22]
Western United
editIn September 2022, Vlajnić joined new A-League Women expansion club Western United, looking forward to the challenge of an inaugural season.[23] In September 2024, she left the club at the conclusion of her contract.[24]
Return to Melbourne City
editIn September 2024, after two seasons away, Vlajnic returned to A-League Women club Melbourne City, signing a one-year contract.[25]
International goals
edit| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 4 June 2024 | Anton Malatinský Stadium, Trnava, Slovakia |  Slovakia |
2–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying |
Honours
edit- with Melbourne City
References
edit- ^ "ŽENSKA A SELEKCIJA | PREDRAG GROZDANOVIĆ OBJAVIO SPISAK ZA DUELE PROTIV KAZAHSTANA I BUGARSKE". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian).
- ^ "ŽENSKA A REPREZENTACIJA | SELEKTOR DRAGIŠA ZEČEVIĆ POZVAO 23 IGRAČICE ZA DVE PROVERE U ANTALIJI PROTIV BiH I SLOVAČKE". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian).
- ^ "ЖЕНСКА A СЕЛЕКЦИЈА | ПРЕДРАГ ГРОЗДАНОВИЋ ОБЈАВИО СПИСАК ЗА ДУЕЛЕ ПРОТИВ КАЗАХСТАНА И БУГАРСКЕ". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)).
- ^ "ЖЕНСКА А РЕПРЕЗЕНТАЦИЈА | СЕЛЕКТОР ДРАГИША ЗЕЧЕВИЋ ПОЗВАО 23 ИГРАЧИЦЕ ЗА ДВЕ ПРОВЕРЕ У АНТАЛИЈИ ПРОТИВ БиХ И СЛОВАЧКЕ". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)).
- ^ "'Do it because you love it,' Melbourne City defender Tyla-Jay Vlajnic tells young Tassie players during Female Football Week". The Mercury. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ a b c d "T. Vlajnic". us.women.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Vlajnic proof of Victoria's depth of talent". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "First W-League Melbourne derby falls in City's favour". The World Game. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Will Melbourne City dominate the W-League again?". ABC News. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Melbourne City complete dominant W-League season with grand final win over Sydney FC". ABC News. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "W-League grand final, Perth Glory v Melbourne City, stream, highlights, live coverage". Fox Sports. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Melbourne City FC re-signs Amy Jackson and Tyla-Jay Vlajnic". Melbourne City. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Tyla-Jay Vlajnic looking to push her limits in second season". The Women's Game. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Thank you, TJ: Experienced defender departs City". Melbourne City. 15 September 2022.
- ^ "2017 WPSL Stats". www.wpsl.info. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Sounders Women headed to WPSL West Region Tournament". www.sounderswomen.com. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "2017 WPSL Standings". www.wpsl.info. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ Bulleen Lions [@FCBulleenLions] (30 March 2022). "We're thrilled to confirm the re-signings of Serbian international TJ Vlajnic and Young Matilda Alana Jancevski" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "NPLW Final Preview: Calder United v Bulleen Lions". Football Victoria. 9 September 2022.
Bulleen will take the field on Sunday without the services of players such as captain Kayla Morrison, New Zealand international Rebekah Stott, and Serbian international Tyla-Jay Vlajnic.
- ^ "Calder United crowned 2022 Senol NPLW Champion". Football Victoria. 15 September 2022.
- ^ Spartak Subotica [@zfkspartak] (19 August 2022). "Vlajnic Tyla-Jay je novo veliko pojačanje šampiona Srbije. Vlajnic Tyla-Jay je nova fudbalerka Spartaka. Reč je o iskusnoj tridesetjednogodišnjoj fudbalerki iz Australije, standardnoj reprezentativki Srbije" [Vlajnic Tyla-Jay is the new big promotion of the Serbian championship. Vlajnic Tyla-Jay is a new football player of Spartak. We are talking about an experienced thirty-one-year-old soccer player from Australia, a standard member of the Serbian national team] (Tweet) (in Serbian) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Spartak Subotica-Brann". UEFA. 21 August 2022.
- ^ Hughes, Nick (16 September 2022). "A-League Women Champion Tyla-Jay Vlajnic joins Western United". Western United.
- ^ "Western United bids farewell to A-League Women contingent". Western United. 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Four-time Champion returns to City". Melbourne City. 11 September 2024.
- ^ "FFV ambitious for grassroots women's game". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 25 October 2017.