CHESTER, Pa.— “Malik knows where the goal is,” Union II head coach Ryan Richter told me several times in 2025 as the young striker went on a tear with Union II in his first season with that squad, scoring eight goals in 418 regular season minutes as he mostly came off the bench. It was a succinct, but true statement. Now, in just May, he has surpassed those minutes as a regular starter and has three goals in six appearances with Union II, and has three appearances for the Union in MLS play.
Signing in April 2026 with the first team as the Union’s 30th homegrown, the 6’3″ forward from Sterling Heights, Michigan, who holds dual United States/Bosnian citizenship, has also represented at the youth national team level with the United States. He has made quite the splash, including scoring eight goals in the Concacaf Qualifiers in February as the US Men’s Youth National Team prepares for the U-17 World Cup in November.
Photo by Jillian Almoney
I caught up with Malik at training as the Union were preparing to set off for Foxborough, Massachusetts for their match with New England Revolution. It was on that very field at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex that I had the first of several interviews with him throughout the 2025 and 2026 seasons, after he had made his debut with Union II last June. I have been impressed with the growth in him since then—not in terms of height, which he has plenty of—but in maturity, in confidence, and just being a professional. It is something I have noticed that the Union’s pathway has done well to support with other players as well.
In the following interview, we discuss Malik’s background, choosing the Union, being a student athlete, playing for the Union, Union II, and the US Youth National Team, and more.
Jillian Almoney: It’s been quite a year for you. I remember we spoke last summer, right after you made your Union II debut and scored those goals, and here you are on the first team, a few matches under your belt. But let’s start the beginning a little bit. When did you start playing soccer, and did you play in other sports when you were younger?
Malik Jakupovic: I started playing soccer when I was five years old, then fell in love with it. Then I’d say, I think it was seventh grade year, played like a year of basketball. That was about it for other sports. But yeah, I mean, I’ve like hobbies—basketball. I always try to play like every other day, you know, after training. I head up to the basketball courts over there and try to get a couple shots.
Jillian: And then what led you to coming here to Philly from Michigan, you know, obviously a big step from being away from your
family?
Malik: I had, like, a lot of other offers from different clubs. I feel like the Union, it was the best fit for me. You know, having a residency house, having schooling and everything’s really here. It’s like a full package. And, yeah, it was just far better than any other Academy I really went to. And yeah, it worked out.
Jillian: Talking about the residency house a little bit, you know, I’ve talked to Eddy Davis and Sal Olivas about that a little bit, their experiences. Just how beneficial has that been to you and supporting you?
Malik: It’s made me mature a lot. You know, living at the house with 11 boys, it’s really fun, and everybody else is living far away from their parents as well, so we’re all maturing together. And you know, it’s fun to have, like, a little break when, like, to not try to think of soccer when you come home and just hang out with the boys. And yeah, it’s really helped me. Everybody’s pushing each other in the house to get better. And yeah, it’s my favorite thing.
Jillian: And then who’ve been some influential people into your life at
this point to help you get where you are?
Malik: I would say my dad, for sure. He really pushes me and supports me throughout my time in the Union and before. But I would say the Union II staff. The Union II staff have held me, and I feel like they’ve carved me into the player I am today. You know, a lot of IDP work with Henry [Apaloo] and [Ryan] Richter and Fred, a lot of film work on and off the field, and they’ve really helped me a lot since being here.
Jillian: Do you find it difficult being a student and balancing that life and then being a pro soccer player at the same time?
Malik: I would say a year ago, it was kind of hard, you know, like with Union II. But now with the first team, I feel like when I’m done with training, school is already pretty much over, and I feel like school’s gotten a lot easier. You know, YSC have made it easier for me, you know, cutting some of the assignments off, or cutting some classes out, just to do some other work. But it’s helped me a lot, you know, I’m not doing much school work, so that’s the best part about it.
Jillian: As a teacher, I appreciate hearing that side of it, for sure. And then can you talk about what it meant to you and your family to sign that first team contract recently?
Malik: It meant a lot. It was just so fast because, I mean, I was supposed to sign it on July 1st, and then everything started, you know, getting handed out to me, you know, playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and then signing, and then making my debut, and then all those things happened. It was really great. Just a year ago today, I was playing with the 18s and 16s, and seeing me grow to the first team just meant a lot for me and my family.
Jillian: And then you make your MLS debut against Chicago— just talk about what it was like stepping on the field at Subaru Park that night. You know, you’ve been there plenty with Union II and with Concacaf Champions Cup, but just how was that moment for you?
Malik: It was spectacular. Like the second I came in, I could feel the energy from the stadium. And it was, it was like the best feeling I ever had. And, yeah, it’s like something I crave for every single time I step on the pitch, and just to prove myself when I when I do come in for the first team, to know that I do belong there, and I can keep on striving for that.
Jillian: Then looking at Union II a little bit… just a tough loss against Red Bull II recently, but Ryan Richter was really proud of how you all played and talked about the growth. What do you think the squad is doing well, and where can you all improve?
Malik: I feel like the Union II squad has developed a lot. I feel like first thing is keeping the ball and knowing when to, you know, play forward and go to the goal. But it feels really well, like playing with them, like every weekend. And, you know, of course, getting minutes, 90 minutes, it’s really helpful for me to just to keep fit and to keep on going. But yeah, again, like Richter and Henry, they’ve helped me a lot with, you know, catching up with some of the video when coming in because, you know, I am with first team most of the time. You know, when I come back to the Union II games, it’s kind of difficult, kind of fitting into the game. But they’ve really helped me a lot coming in.
Jillian: And then with that back and forth, who would you say has been the most helpful with getting you acclimated to the first team?
Malik: I would say Vince [Musso], our coach… he’s like an IDP coach for me. And also, like in the gym, he does a lot for me, you know, trying to get bigger and put on some muscle, and also we do a lot of IDP work together, you know, focusing on, like, the attacking components, you know, scoring and all that. But he’s helped me tremendously ever since coming into the first team.
Jillian: Let’s talk about the youth national team a little bit… you just had a lot of success there. Eight goals in the Concacaf qualifiers, five in the one game. What was that experience like for you?
Malik: It was really good, to be honest. Wasn’t the best opponents, but those type of games where you score a lot, it’s really fun. And I really like playing with the US. It’s really fun. The coaching staff is tremendous, and the players are even better. But yeah, I’m really looking forward to the World Cup and upcoming games with them we have this year.
Photo courtesy of US Soccer.
Jillian: I’m sure you’re aware there’s a lot of chatter about your dual citizenship, the possibility of you playing for Bosnia as well. Do you feel one way or the other, which country you might want to represent given the opportunity, especially at the senior level, when you get to the point? Or is it just something you’re kind of figuring out as you go?
Malik: I feel like, right now, I’m not fully sure, but I feel like this year will fully like, decide. I feel like I’ll have my… I’ll know what nationality by the end of this year. But right now I’m not really sure which one, but I’ll see how this year goes for me. If it goes really well, then hopefully I’ll stay with the US, but I’m fine with both.
Jillian: Yeah, I’m sure you have a lot of pride for both. Then looking back at the first team a little bit, just coming off that scoreless draw against a team like Nashville, you know, you guys got points in the last four out of five. But do you feel the squad is turning the corner? If so, how?
Malik: Yeah, I could really feel that. I feel like the first couple of games, it was a lot of us were angry or sad, but I feel like now we’re turning things over. And you can see during the games like Nashville, they’re first in the whole entire Eastern Conference. And we proved that we could handle them, and we could strive for bigger teams and, like, hopefully score more and win more.
Jillian: Then looking at tomorrow’s match against New England—they’ve been playing well as of late—just anything that sticks out to you about their style of play or recent form?
Malik: Their style of play is pretty weird, because we will have the ball for a majority of the time, and they kind of sit back a lot, and wait for times to counter attack. I feel like if we’re decisive with our passes going forward and getting into those goal-scoring chances, we will for sure, I think, we’ll get the dub.
Jillian: And then finally, what are your personal goals for the season?
Malik: I would say, as of the club, getting more getting more minutes with the first team and also with the second team. I feel like this year I want to get a couple starts with first team and also with the national team. I feel like I really want to win the U-17 World Cup, and that’s that’s something I’ve been hoping for this whole entire year.
Tune in to AppleTV on Saturday, May 9 at 7:30 PM to see if Malik features, and if the Union can get back to winning ways as they take on New England. He will certainly be one to watch as the season progresses, and to see if he achieves those goals.
Main article photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union.
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