Nikola Mitrović

Nikola Mitrović

Mitrović playing for Újpest in 2010
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-01-02) 2 January 1987
Place of birth Kruševac, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Shanghai Shenxin
Youth career
1997–2004 Napredak
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2004–2007 Napredak 101 (8)
2007–2009 Partizan 15 (0)
2008–2009 → Napredak (loan) 16 (2)
2009 Volga Nizhny Novgorod 21 (2)
2010 Napredak 14 (2)
2010–2011 Újpest 29 (1)
2011–2013 Videoton 55 (7)
2013–2016 Maccabi Tel Aviv 80 (4)
2016– Shanghai Shenxin 0 (0)
National team
2010 Serbia 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 September 2015.

† Appearances (goals)

Nikola Mitrović (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Митровић; born 2 January 1987) is a Serbian footballer who plays for Shanghai Shenxin. as a defensive midfielder.

Career

Mitrović joined his hometown club FK Napredak when he was 10 years old. He played for the junior teams and eventually became a regular and important player for the senior team. In July 2007, it was announced that Mitrović signed a three-year contract with FK Partizan.

On 4 August 2013 Mitrović signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv on a free transfer, signing a one-year deal with an option for another one.[1]

F.C. Maccabi Tel Aviv

He reunited with his former coach at Videoton, Paulo Sousa, who wanted to added more depth to Maccabi's midfield. Mitrovic soon became an important fixture at Maccabi using his ability to link defense and attack, cutting through defenses with through balls and his high work rate to press up the field. Mostly rememberd that season are his great performances against Eintracht Frankfurt and Maccabi Haifa. Mitrovic ended the season having played in 41 games(starting in 29) scoring twice and adding the same number of assists. Despite his good season at Maccabi many of the fans felt the team needed to replace him with a better player, and this feeling was shared by the new head coach Oscar Garcia. Alongside director of football Jordi Cruyff, the two decided to sign Nigerian international midfielder, Nosa Igiebor and removed Mitrovic from first team training. During the summer it was rumored that several Israeli premier league clubs, including Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi's championship rivals Hapoel Beer Sheva, were interested in Mitrovic. Mitrovic agreed terms with Beer Sheva and was about to sign for the team from the south before his wife convinced him otherwise: " I had already agreed a deal with Beer Sheva. I had passed the medical check and received the contract to sign. While driving back to Tel-Aviv I called my wife to tell her and she started to cry. She heard Beer Sheva was close to Gaza and that rockets were being shot there, I told her that we are accustomed to this from our homeland Serbia, but because of our new baby she wouldn't hear it". This wouldn't be the last time the fight in Gaza would affect his fate. On August 26, Maccabi head coach Oscar Garcia officially resigned. He and his family had difficulties acclimating to the conditions in Israel during operation Protective Edge. Pako Ayestarán was immediately appointed to replace him as head coach. His first decision was to give a fresh start to every player in the squad including, Mitrovic. Nikola impressed in training and was given the first team shirt for the next game and succeeded in making a strong impression on the new coach. Mitrovic once again became a prominent figure in the rotation and helped guide Maccabi to a treble win(championship, Israeli cup and Israeli toto cup). Unlike the year before the 2014/2015 season was rich in praise for Nikola by media and football professionals in Israel. He was awarded with the player of the month in January, and most memorable were his performances against Maccabi Haifa, and the Israeli cup semi final against Ahi Nazareth in which he scored a goal and added two assists. Head coach of the Israeli national team, Eli Gutman said: "I wish I had a midfielder like him. He has a lot of style, great qualities, good on defense and attack, he never stops moving. Smart, with great tactical discipline and self confidence". Mitrovic finished the season with 42 appearances (starting 38) 4 goals and 10 assists.

Club statistics

Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Partizan 2007–08 150000000150
Total 150000000150
Napredak 2008–09 162000000162
2009–10 142000000142
Total 304000000304
Volga 2009 212100000222
Total 212100000222
Újpest 2010–11 291520000343
Total 291520000343
Videoton 2011–12 281609120452
2012–13 2665063110499
Total 5571101541309411
Maccabi Tel Aviv 2013–14 322000080402
Total 322000080402
Career totals 1821617215421023522

Honours

Partizan
Maccabi Tel Aviv

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Mitrovic joins Maccabi, on Maccabi Tel Aviv website, 4 August 2013

External links

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