PROFILE
A versatile defender, Serban joined the Whitecaps FC Residency program in February 2014 after playing for his hometown Calgary Chinooks. He signed with Whitecaps FC 2 in February 2015.
UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE
2017: After missing the first month of the season due to injury, Serban made 11 starts in 16 appearances in 2017. He scored one goal, coming in just his second start of the season against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on May 14. 2016: Serban started three of his seven regular season appearances while battling injuries in his second USL season. 2015: Serban recorded a goal (versus Oklahoma City Energy FC on May 17) and an assist (versus Real Monarchs SLC on May 24) on back-to-back weeks, and finished the season with 13 starts in 16 appearances for Whitecaps FC 2 before being sidelined with injury.
UNIVERSITY
2015: Serban recorded one goal and two assists in 10 regular season appearances as a sophomore at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He scored an extra time match-winner in the 2-1 UBC win over Victoria in the Canada West gold medal game. Serban also helped the Thunderbirds to a bronze-medal finish in the 2015 CIS Championships. 2014: As a freshman, Serban started 11 of UBC’s regular season games, and was on the field for all but 16 minutes in those contests. Serban was an integral part of the UBC backline which gave up seven goals in 12 matches, the fewest in Canada West, helping the Thunderbirds to a 9W-2L-1D record and a berth in the Canada West Final Four. He was also able to join the attack, assisting on two occasions. Serban was named Lou Bilek Award recipient for the CIS Rookie of the Year.
UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
2014: Appearing nine times over the course of the regular season for the ‘Caps and twice more in the playoffs, Serban constantly played 90 minutes, only being substituted three times. When Serban was included in the lineup, Whitecaps FC finished with a 5W-3L-3D record, including one win in the playoffs.
UNITED STATES SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
2013-14: Serban started all 15 matches he appeared in for Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency helping the team to a 8W-3L-4D record, and a strong finish to their campaign that saw the team come second in the Northwest Division. Playing in his first match on February 22, 2014, Serban played the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 win against Portland Timbers. Serban, scored his lone goal of the season on the final match day on June 26, 2014 against Bethesda-Olney.
INTERNATIONAL
U-23: Serban was called up to the Canadian U-23 men’s national team camp and Caribbean tour in May 2016, starting in their 5-1 win over Guyana. U-20: Named to the U-20 national team that took part in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championships in Jamaica, the right back played every minute in all five of Canada's matches. Serban was invited to Canada’s U-20 men’s tour of Europe in November 2014. Appearing in all three matches, he was first introduced as substitute against England in a 2-2 draw. Serban then started in both of Canada’s other two games, a 2-1 over Russia, and a 1-0 win against the US.
YOUTH/AMATEUR
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound defender previously played for Calgary Chinooks.
PERSONAL
The defender's parents are Daniela and Florin Serban and he carries both a Canadian and Romanian citizenship. He graduated from Bishop O’Byrne high school in his hometown of Calgary.
INTERESTING FACTS
Serban was teammates with Whitecaps FC players Sam Adekugbe and Marco Bustos, as well as former WFC player Kianz Froese, and former WFC Residency keeper Nolan Wirth, on the Canadian U-20 national team.