Ilija Stolica

Ilija Stolica
Personal information
Full nameIlija Stolica
Date of birthJuly 7, 1978
Place of birthZemun, SFR Yugoslavia
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionForward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
19971998FK Zemun24(6)
19982000UE Lleida28(2)
20002001Partizan Belgrade25(7)
20012003FK Zemun58(40)
20032005Metalurh Donetsk20(10)
2005OFK Beograd (loan)12(8)
20052007Sint-Truidense44(11)
20072009RAEC Mons42(12)
2009OFI Crete10(1)
2010Budućnost Podgorica10(7)
20102011New England Revolution16(4)
2011F.C. New York (loan)1(0)
National team
19971999FR Yugoslavia U-2125(14)
20002001FR Yugoslavia Olympic team11(2)
2002FR Yugoslavia2(0)
Teams managed
2014Serbia U16 (assistant)
2015-Partizan (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of June 19, 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of July 30, 2010

Ilija Stolica (Serbian Cyrillic: Илиja Cтoлицa) (born July 7, 1978 in Zemun) is a Serbian footballer.

Career

Club

Stolica began his career with Serbian club FK Zemun. In his first year with the club he appeared in 24 matches and scored 6 goals. His play with Zemun attracted the interest of Spanish Second Division side UE Lleida who signed him in 1998. He remained in Spain for two years appearing in 28 matches for Lleida and scoring two goals. In 2000 he joined top Serbian club Partizan Belgrade and scored 7 goals in 25 league matches. After a short stay with Partizan, Stolica rejoined FK Zemun and was a top scorer in the 2001-02 Yugoslav First League scoring 25 goals in 35 matches and earning a full international call-up as a result. He remained at Zemun thru 2003 appearing in 58 matches and scoring 40 goals.

As a result of his play with Zemun he began to draw interest from various European clubs including Portuguese side SC Farense and Spain's Rayo Vallecano. In January 2003 he was sold to Ukrainian top club FC Metalurh Donetsk. While with Donetsk, Stolica made 20 league appearances and scored 5 goals.[1] During the 2005 season he returned to the Serbia being loaned to OFK Beograd where he made 12 appearances and scored 8 goals.

In 2005 Stolica embarked on a career in Belgium joining Sint-Truidense. He remained with Sint-Truidense for two seasons scoring 11 goals in 44 matches. In 2007 he joined RAEC Mons and remained at the club for two seasons scoring 12 goals in 42 matches. In 2009 he joined OFI Crete in Greece, remaining there briefly before returning to the Balkans with Budućnost Podgorica.

On July 30, 2010, Stolica was signed to a contract by the New England Revolution.[2] Stolica made his first appearance on August 8, 2010 against DC United and scored in his first start for the club, a 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo on August 14, 2010.[3]

Stolica, along with team mate Tim Murray was loaned to USL Pro club F.C. New York on April 29, 2011.

Stolica was released by New England on July 1, 2011.[4]

International

Stolica played for the old FR Yugoslavia U-21 national team, and played for the FR Yugoslavia Olympic team in qualification for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, before making his debut for the new Serbia and Montenegro national team which was formed following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. He has two caps for his country, but has not played internationally since 2002.

References

External links