Players

After being announced as the first newcomer to Indy Eleven during the 2015/16 offseason, midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic was also part of the initial crop of players announced to return to Indiana's Team for its 2017 season.

Ubiparipovic brought his playmaking skills and vision on the ball to the Boys in Blue early on in 2016, but an early-season formation switch and a knee injury led to the Bosnia & Herzegovina native seeing the sideline for months at a time during the middle of the campaign. But head coach Tim Hankinson used "Ubi" to provide a late season jolt to the team's offense, and he delivered with a trio of assists down the stretch drive and perhaps the biggest goal in Indy Eleven's brief history - a booming, 20-yard wonderstrike against FC Edmonton on Nov. 5 that liftied the squad to a 1-0 win in The Championship Semifinal.

2016 Statistics
NASL Regular Season:  14 GP/12 GS  |  837 MIN  |  0G / 3A
The Championship:  2 GP/2 GS  |  176 MIN  |  1G / 0A
US Open Cup: 1 GP/0 GS  |  23 MIN  |  0G / 1A
TOTAL:  17 GP/14 GS  |  1,036 MIN  |  1G / 4A

The transfer of Ubiparipovic from Ottawa Fury FC on Dec. 15, 2015, was the first new signing of Indy Eleven’s 2015-16 offseason, starting off the team’s roster overhaul under the direction of new head coach Tim Hankinson.

Ubiparipovic came to Indiana after two seasons with Ottawa Fury FC, where he played a pivotal role in helping Ottawa to the 2015 NASL Fall Season title and a spot in The Championship Final opposite the New York Cosmos. Ubiparipović finished the most productive year of his career tied for third in the NASL (including postseason play) with eight assists and added five goals in 26 games played overall (23 starts). Four of his five NASL Team of the Week appearances (Fall Weeks 5, 12, 13, 14 & 17) came across the league’s final seven rounds of action, and he was also named the NASL Player of the Week for Fall Week 12.

During his previous nine professional seasons across the NASL and Major League Soccer from 2007-2015, Ubiparipović has collected more than 150 first team appearances in regular season, domestic and international cup and postseason action, notching 14 goals and 20 assists.  After back-to-back NSCAA All-American Team nods in 2005 & 2006 at budding national powerhouse the University of Akron, Ubiparipović began his pro career with MLS’ New York Red Bulls from 2007-2010 before stints with the Montreal Impact (NASL in 2011, MLS in 2012-13), Minnesota United FC (2013) and Ottawa.

Ubiparipović upon his signing with Indy Eleven: “Our goal is to build a successful team that our fans and the city will be proud of. Every game I played in Indy the supporters always stood out with the tremendous atmosphere they created. I am expecting the fans to continue with their support and push us to succeed in the league.”

Former Indy Eleven GM Peter Wilt (Jan. '16): “When looking around the league at the type of players we wanted to target for our roster in 2016, Sinisa was a key player on our list. With his experience, creativity and willingness to work on both sides of the ball, he will be an important component to build around and a player our supporters will fully embrace.”

Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson: “A team’s attack is only successful if it’s based on the ability to break down a defense and create chances for strikers. Those are exactly the skills Siniša brings with him to club.