The 40-year-old shot stopper, who has featured for clubs in England, Greece, Switzerland and Russia, has found an unlikely home in the United States
Eldin Jakupovic was done. At least, that's what he told himself. The goalkeeper, who had enjoyed stints at Everton, Olympiacos, and LAFC, hung up his gloves at the end of 2023. And that was it – football career over. Retirement was suiting him well. Life in Chattanooga, Tenn was comfortable. A couple of kids to look after, seven-a-side on weekends, with some academy coaching sprinkled in to keep his competitive itch alive.
Then, one conversation changed everything. Local MLS Next Pro side Chattanooga FC needed a goalkeeper for the 2025 season. Would Jakupovic, a 40-year-old, who hadn't kicked a ball professionally in 15 months be interested in putting the gloves back on?
"I didn't have to think twice," Jakupovic told GOAL.
And so his return to the game began. After a 20-year career that included a cap for Switzerland, and six Champions League appearances, Jakupovic is back, this time playing in a relatively new division of American soccer. It's a far cry from his Bosnian and Swiss upbringing and European nights against Real Madrid. But for the veteran goalkeeper, it's a perfect way to continue to play.
"I want to do it for myself and prove as well the younger generation that doesn't matter how old you are, you can still try to be on the highest level," Jakupovic said. "I'm here to win."
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGettyA footballer who has done it all
There really isn't anywhere else for Jakupovic to go. Look at his career and you will see a European journeyman who played at every possible level – transitioning seamlessly from country-to-counry. He started at the wonderfully named Grasshoppers in Switzerland, before playing in Russia, Greece, England and, finally, the United States. He played in three different divisions in England, and made 12 saves in an FA Cup fifth round tie against Arsenal at the Emirates in 2016 with Hull City. He kept a clean sheet for the same club at Anfield in 2014.
And then, the United States beckoned. It had always sort of called his name. Jakupovic trained in the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic and made connections within the American game. LAFC secured his services in 2023, and he was a solid backup there, earning brief-but-viral fame for scoring and saving in a U.S. Open Cup penalty shootout win.
But by the end of 2023, his race was run. He was still in touch with his agent, and open to offers. But there was an acceptance that his career had come to a natural end.
And Jakupovic was fine with it.
"I decided 'I'm not going to look.' And I didn't. I had some calls, but it was not for me," Jakupovic said.
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In the meantime, he took up coaching. He had two young children, and, when he wasn't parenting, decided to help out with the academy teams at Chattanooga FC. For a while, it was basically something to keep him busy – perhaps the early introductions to a coaching career that might some day come into fruition.
"It was a chance to get into the next step of my career. It was fun," Jakupovic said.
But connections – as they had served him to get the LAFC stint two years before – helped revive his career. He and head coach Chris Nugent worked in the CFC system together for some time. And when Nugent was promoted from assistant to head coach at the end of 2024, the opportunity came in full. And it just made sense – especially for someone who wanted to be around the game. It beat the alternative.
"It's 20 minutes from my house. It's not like you are alone, and you get bored, and watch Netflix 20 hours a day," Jakupovic joked.
Jakupovic came into this all staying relatively sharp. Coaching had helped, but he was also regularly playing small-sided games – 7v7 or 8v8 – outside of his day job. That might not have been at the professional intensity required, but he felt good enough with the gloves to at least compete.
Chattanooga FCPlaying the role
Jakupovic is the starter here. That has been clear since Day 1. This is not the story of a 40-year-old brought in to be an agreeable backup for a young generation. Instead, he is the man between the sticks every week on matchday. But his role is more significant than that. CFC's goalkeeper room is almost half his age. JP Philpot, the primary reserve option, is 22. Michael Barrueta is the same age.
"He comes with as long as a career as I've been alive," Philpot said.
And that's the appeal. Both have potential – Philpot has already played in USL and was briefly in the Rayo Vallecano setup. But Jakupovic is an undisputed leader.
"He's played a mentorship role. It's great that he's with the club because it gives you a different level of experience and professionalism that you don't necessarily have everywhere else at this level," Philpot said.
This is a concept that goes beyond the players – and stretches into the coaching staff. Chris Barocas was a hasty addition to the staff in Chattanooga. He was with family in Miami when Jakupovic was brought into the fold. Of course, he did his research during the interview process but admitted that it still might be odd to coach someone his age.
"Some of my other goalkeeper coach friends were like 'How are you going to work with someone who's the same age as you? Are you going to get a pint afterward," Barocas joked.
MLSEmbedding with the team
Still, for all of the differences among the group, there are some constants. The "goalkeeper union" in Chattanooga is strong, the trio getting on well, learning from each other, and improving day by day, Jakupovic said. He offers little nuggets of advice to the youngsters, mostly critiques on positioning and anticipation. But, at the end of the day, they're still teammates.
"There are good lads here, good boys. They want to learn, want to listen. I like that," Jakupovic said.
He still gets nervous before games. He felt that familiar unease in his stomach before the season opener against Inter Miami II, the competitive fire burning away. These games may not be backed with 40,000 people in the stands, but they still feel as significant as any Premier League, Champions League, or national team fixture he has played in over the years. And there will be yet another strangely significant one Wednesday night when CFC take on USL side Chattanooga Red Wolves. It will be the first time the teams have played, a local derby played out on a college football field in Tennessee. It's one of those things that can only happen in American soccer.
But for a 40-year-old, whose career really should be over by now, it's the perfect forum to continue to perform.
"I don't want to be the father or the babysitter. There are days that I'm more mature, like 40 years old. But on other days, I'm 20, 22," Jakupovic said. "It's a good time."