Last Updated on October 2, 2026 by Siara Costa
Nicholas “Nick” Markanich comes from a close sporting family whose support helped him progress from youth soccer in Illinois to professional football in Major League Soccer, the USL Championship and Spain. Born in Bourbonnais, Illinois, Markanich grew up alongside his identical twin brother, Anthony, with the two sharing virtually every major stage of their early soccer development.
Nick has since built a family of his own with his wife, Abigail McHugh, whom he met during their time at Northern Illinois University. Abigail was also a college soccer player, making football an important part of both sides of their relationship. Information about Nick’s parents is more private, although his Filipino heritage through his mother and the sacrifices his parents made for the twins have been publicly documented.
Who Is Nicholas Markanich’s Wife?
Nicholas Markanich’s wife is Abigail McHugh.
Abigail and Nick share a connection to Northern Illinois University. While Nick starred for the NIU men’s soccer team, Abigail was a member of the university’s women’s soccer program.
Northern Illinois University has publicly identified Abigail as Nick’s wife and described her as an important source of stability during the unpredictable stages of his professional career.
The couple have had to adapt to several major moves since Nick became a professional player, including periods in Ohio, South Carolina, Spain and Texas.
Professional soccer can involve transfers, short contracts and sudden relocations, and Nick has spoken about the importance of keeping his family close while dealing with that uncertainty.
Who Is Abigail McHugh?
Abigail McHugh is a former Northern Illinois University women’s soccer player and the wife of Nicholas Markanich.
Because both Nick and Abigail competed in college soccer at NIU, they share an understanding of the commitment required to play the sport at a high level.
Abigail has generally maintained a more private public profile than her husband and has not become heavily involved in football media coverage.
Nevertheless, her relationship with Nick has been acknowledged by NIU and Houston Dynamo, with Houston specifically welcoming Markanich and his wife when the forward joined the club in January 2026.
Does Nicholas Markanich Have Children?
There is currently no reliable public confirmation that Nicholas Markanich has children.
Recent profiles discussing Nick and Abigail identify them as husband and wife but do not mention any sons or daughters.
Houston Dynamo also referred to Nick and his wife when announcing his arrival without identifying children as part of the household.
Until Markanich or another reliable source publicly confirms otherwise, it is more accurate to say that he has no publicly known children.
Who Are Nicholas Markanich’s Parents?
Nicholas Markanich’s parents played a major role in helping both Nick and Anthony develop into professional soccer players.
Their names, however, have not been clearly published by Northern Illinois University, Houston Dynamo FC, FC Cincinnati, Charleston Battery or other authoritative football sources.
Nick has been much more open about what his parents did for him than about their individual identities.
He has recalled that they regularly worked throughout the day before driving the twins long distances to soccer training.
Some practices required approximately an hour of travel in each direction, creating a significant commitment for the family.
Nick has also acknowledged that elite youth soccer created financial challenges for his parents, but they continued finding ways to give both brothers opportunities to develop.
Nicholas Markanich’s Mother
Nicholas Markanich’s mother has Filipino roots.
Official Philippine government records concerning the Markanich twins confirm that their maternal heritage comes from the Philippines.
Legislation filed in the Philippine Senate concerning Anthony Markanich states that their mother was born and raised in Cavite, Philippines. Because Nicholas and Anthony are twins, the same maternal background naturally applies to Nick.
Separate Philippine citizenship legislation was introduced specifically for Nicholas in January 2026, highlighting his Filipino ancestry and the possibility of representing the Philippines internationally.
Despite the increasing public attention around Nick’s Filipino roots, his mother’s full name has not been prominently disclosed by authoritative football or government sources.
Nicholas Markanich’s Father
The name of Nicholas Markanich’s father has also remained largely private.
Nick has spoken collectively about both of his parents and emphasized the sacrifices they made during his childhood.
His father was part of the family routine that involved balancing work with lengthy drives to soccer practices and the financial expenses associated with competitive youth football.
No reliable major source reviewed provides enough information to accurately describe his father’s occupation or personal background.
Nicholas Markanich’s Filipino Family Heritage
Nick Markanich was born and raised in Illinois, but his family also has a strong connection to the Philippines through his mother.
His maternal heritage has attracted increasing attention as Philippine football officials have searched for overseas players eligible to strengthen the national team.
In January 2026, Philippine Senator Pia Cayetano introduced legislation seeking to grant Philippine citizenship to Nicholas Bungal Markanich.
A separate bill was introduced for his twin brother Anthony.
The legislation reflects the twins’ Filipino ancestry and could potentially allow them to represent the Philippines internationally if all eligibility requirements are met.
Nick’s complete name is commonly listed as Nicholas Bungal Markanich, with Bungal also appearing in the official Philippine legislative documents.
Does Nicholas Markanich Have Siblings?
Yes. Nicholas Markanich has a famous sibling: his identical twin brother, Anthony Markanich.
Anthony is also a professional soccer player and has spent his career primarily as a defender.
No other brothers or sisters are consistently identified in the strongest public sports sources, making Anthony the only publicly documented sibling of Nick Markanich.
Nicholas Markanich’s Twin Brother: Anthony Markanich
Anthony Markanich was born on the same day as Nick, December 26, 1999, in Illinois.
The brothers developed side by side throughout childhood and eventually became one of the more unusual twin stories in American professional soccer.
Although Nick developed primarily as an attacking player and goalscorer, Anthony became a defender and wing-back.
The twins were competitive from childhood but have also been among each other’s biggest supporters.
Nick has described Anthony as the person closest to him during his soccer development, with their shared journey beginning long before professional contracts became realistic.
Nick and Anthony Markanich Played Soccer Together as Children
Soccer was a shared experience for the Markanich twins throughout childhood.
They grew up in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and both developed within competitive youth soccer environments.
The brothers also played for Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School during their junior and senior years.
Nick later described those seasons as some of his favorite experiences because the brothers were able to play together in front of their local community.
Their performances eventually created opportunities to continue playing at the college level.
Nick and Anthony Chose Northern Illinois University Together
The twins wanted to remain together when selecting a college.
After visiting Northern Illinois University, both Nick and Anthony decided that the school provided the environment they wanted.
The decision allowed them to continue sharing a team while developing in different positions.
Nick became one of the most prolific attacking players in NIU history, while Anthony established himself as one of the team’s leading defenders.
The brothers spent four college seasons together and helped Northern Illinois achieve significant success.
The Markanich Twins Won a Championship Together
One of the most memorable moments of their college careers occurred during the 2021 season.
Northern Illinois needed a victory against Akron to secure the Mid-American Conference regular-season championship.
The decisive moment became a perfect family story: Anthony provided the assist and Nick scored the winning goal.
The result secured the conference title for NIU and provided the twins with one of the defining moments of their time together in college soccer.
Both Markanich Brothers Were Drafted Into MLS in 2022
The family’s professional soccer story reached another level during the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.
Both brothers were selected by Major League Soccer clubs in the same draft.
Anthony was selected in the first round by the Colorado Rapids, while FC Cincinnati selected Nick with the 30th overall pick.
For their parents, the achievement represented the culmination of years spent driving both sons to practices, paying youth soccer expenses and supporting their ambitions.
Although the twins were finally joining different clubs, both had reached professional soccer at almost exactly the same time.
How Nicholas Markanich’s Parents Supported the Twins
Nick has made clear that neither his career nor Anthony’s would have been possible without their parents.
In a Northern Illinois University alumni interview, he recalled that his mother and father worked during the day and then immediately helped the brothers attend soccer practices.
The drives could take around an hour each way.
Competitive youth soccer also created financial expenses that were not always easy for the household to manage.
Nick said his parents did not complain and continued making the necessary sacrifices.
He has expressed considerable gratitude toward them and has said that he owes much of his success to the opportunities they provided.
Nicholas Markanich’s Career After Leaving His Family Home
Nick’s professional career eventually required him to move far beyond Illinois.
FC Cincinnati selected him in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, beginning his first professional season in Ohio.
After Cincinnati declined his contract option, Markanich faced considerable uncertainty about his future.
He received another opportunity with Charleston Battery in the USL Championship and joined the club ahead of the 2023 season.
The move ultimately transformed his career.
Nicholas Markanich’s Breakthrough With Charleston Battery
Markanich developed into one of the most prolific goalscorers in American professional soccer during his two years in Charleston.
He scored 13 goals across all competitions during his first season and helped Charleston reach the 2023 USL Championship Final.
His 2024 campaign was extraordinary.
Nick scored a league-record 28 regular-season goals and finished with 30 across all competitions.
He won the USL Championship Golden Boot and was voted the league’s Player of the Year.
The season opened another major opportunity for Nick and Abigail as the couple prepared to move overseas.
Nicholas Markanich and Abigail Move to Spain
CD Castellón agreed to acquire Markanich from Charleston, with the transfer officially taking effect in January 2025.
The move took Nick’s professional career outside the United States for the first time.
Abigail accompanied him during the European chapter, providing important family support as they adapted to life in Spain.
Playing abroad represented a major change after Nick had spent his entire life and career in the United States.
Nicholas Markanich Returns to the United States With Houston Dynamo
Markanich returned to Major League Soccer in January 2026 when Houston Dynamo FC signed him on loan from CD Castellón.
Houston president of soccer Pat Onstad specifically welcomed Nick and his wife to the club, providing official confirmation that Markanich was married by the time he arrived in Texas.
The loan runs through the end of the 2026 MLS season.
The transfer also brought Nick into the same league as his twin brother Anthony, creating the possibility of the brothers facing each other as professionals.
Nicholas and Anthony Markanich in MLS
By 2026, both twins had established themselves in Major League Soccer, although their careers followed very different paths.
Nick returned to MLS with Houston after becoming a record-setting USL Championship goalscorer and spending time in Spain.
Anthony developed into an important defender with Minnesota United FC.
Their presence at different MLS clubs turned matches between Houston and Minnesota into particularly meaningful occasions for the Markanich family.
The brothers remain competitive but have continued supporting one another throughout their professional careers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nicholas Markanich’s Family
Who is Nicholas Markanich’s wife?
Nicholas Markanich’s wife is Abigail McHugh, a former Northern Illinois University women’s soccer player.
Is Nicholas Markanich married?
Yes. Northern Illinois University identifies Abigail McHugh as Nick Markanich’s wife, and Houston Dynamo FC also confirmed that he was married when welcoming him and his wife to Houston in January 2026.
Does Nicholas Markanich have children?
There is currently no reliable public confirmation that Nicholas Markanich and Abigail McHugh have children.
Who are Nicholas Markanich’s parents?
The names of Nick Markanich’s parents have not been prominently disclosed by reliable primary sports sources. However, Nick has repeatedly credited both parents with making major financial and personal sacrifices to support his soccer career.
Who is Nicholas Markanich’s mother?
Nick Markanich’s mother is of Filipino background and was born and raised in Cavite, Philippines. Her full name has not been reliably published in major public sources.
Who is Nicholas Markanich’s father?
Nick’s father has remained outside the public spotlight, and his name and personal background have not been reliably documented by the strongest available sources.
Is Nicholas Markanich Filipino?
Nick Markanich has Filipino ancestry through his mother. Philippine lawmakers introduced citizenship legislation for him in 2026 because of those family roots.
Does Nicholas Markanich have a brother?
Yes. His identical twin brother is Anthony Markanich, a professional soccer defender.
Are Nicholas and Anthony Markanich twins?
Yes. Nicholas and Anthony Markanich are identical twins born on December 26, 1999.
Did Nicholas and Anthony Markanich play together?
Yes. They played together in youth and high-school soccer and then spent four seasons together at Northern Illinois University.
Where is Nicholas Markanich’s family from?
Nick was raised in Bourbonnais, Illinois. His family also has roots in the Philippines through his mother, who was born and raised in Cavite.
Where does Nicholas Markanich play now?
Nicholas Markanich currently plays for Houston Dynamo FC on loan from Spanish club CD Castellón through the end of the 2026 season.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
