Ranko Veselinović

Ranko Veselinović (Serbian Cyrillic: Ранко Веселиновић; born 24 March 1999) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps.

Ranko Veselinović

Personal information
Date of birth	(1999-03-24) 24 March 1999 (age 26)[1]
Place of birth	Novi Sad, FR Yugoslavia[2]
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Position(s)	Centre-back[4]
Team information
Current team	Vancouver Whitecaps
Number	4
Youth career
2011–2017	Vojvodina
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2020	Vojvodina	59	(1)
2020	→ Vancouver Whitecaps (loan)	19	(0)
2021–	Vancouver Whitecaps	151	(6)
International career‡
2014–2015	Serbia U16	14	(1)
2015–2016	Serbia U17	15	(2)
2016–2017	Serbia U18	7	(0)
2017–2018	Serbia U19	10	(0)
2017–2019	Serbia U21	3	(0)
2021–	Serbia	2	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14 January 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 26 January 2023

Club career

Vojvodina

Born in Novi Sad,^[2] Veselinović came through the Vojvodina youth academy, as a captain of the generation.^[5] In summer 2016, Veselinović signed a three-year scholarship contract.^[6] He joined the first team during the 2016–17 Serbian SuperLiga campaign at the age of 17 but missed to make any official appearance until the end of season.^[7] At the beginning of new season, Veselinović converted his squad number taking 33 jersey and continued playing with youth team respective.^[8][9] He made his senior debut as a centre-back in 3–1 victory over Napredak Kruševac on 16 September 2017.^[10][11] On 27 October 2017, Ranko signed his first professional contract, penning a deal that would keep him in Vojvodina until June 2021.^[12]

Vancouver Whitecaps

On 9 February 2020, it was announced that Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer had acquired Veselinović on a season-long loan, with an option to purchase,^[13] which they exercised on 18 October 2020.^[14]

International career

Veselinović appeared as a member of Serbia national under-16 football team between 2014 and 2015, scoring a goal in 3–1 away victory over Russia on 23 August 2014.^[15] Later he also played for Serbian under-17 and under-18 selection until 2017.^[16][17] In August 2017, Veselinović was called into the Serbia U19 squad, when he made a debut at the memorial tournament "Stevan Vilotić - Ćele".^[18] In December 2017, Veselinović got his first call in Serbian under-21 team by coach Goran Đorović, instead of injured Srđan Babić.^[19] He made his debut for the team in away friendly against Qatar on 17 December 2017.^[20]

Career statistics

Club

As of 14 January 2025^[21]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Vojvodina	2016–17[22]	Serbian SuperLiga	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2017–18[23]		21	0	2	0	0	0	—		23	0
	2018–19[24]		19	0	2	0	—		—		21	0
	2019–20[25]		19	1	1	0	—		—		20	1
	Total		59	1	5	0	0	0	—		64	1
Vancouver Whitecaps (loan)	2020	Major League Soccer	19	0	0	0	—		—		19	0
Vancouver Whitecaps	2021	Major League Soccer	27	1	1	0	—		—		28	1
	2022		31	1	3	0	—		—		34	1
	2023		34	2	2	0	3[a]	0	3[b]	0	42	2
	2024		36	2	5	0	2[a]	0	2[b]	1	45	3
	Total		147	6	11	0	5	0	5	1	168	7
Total			206	7	16	0	5	0	5	1	232	8

1. Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
2. Appearances in Leagues Cup

International

As of 25 January 2023

Serbia
Year	Apps	Goals
2021	1	0
2022	0	0
2023	1	0
Total	2	0

Honours

Vancouver Whitecaps

• Canadian Championship: 2022,^[26] 2023,^[27] 2024^[28]