Ilija Mitić

Ilija Mitić
Personal information
Full name Ilija Mitić
Date of birth (1940-07-19) 19 July 1940
Place of birth Belgrade, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1963 FK Partizan 58 (14)
1963–1965 FK Bor
1965–1967 OFK Beograd
1967–1968 Oakland Clippers 47 (31)
1969 Dallas Tornado 19 (12)
1969–1970 Olympique de Marseille 6 (1)
1970–1971 Holland Sport
1971–1973 FC Den Bosch 45 (9)
1973–1975 Dallas Tornado 41 (24)
1975–1978 San Jose Earthquakes 67 (36)
National team
Yugoslavia U-23 2 (0)
1973 USA 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Ilija Mitic (born July 19, 1940 in Belgrade, Kingdom of Yugoslavia) is a former Serbian American professional soccer player. He was a star of the North American Soccer League, its 7th all-time leading scorer with 239 points in 166 games, including 101 goals.

Mitic played with Partizan Belgrade[1] as they won the Yugoslav championship in 1960-61. Earning 2 U-23 caps and 8 youth caps, he later joined OFK Belgrade.

Mitic signed with the Oakland Clippers of the newly formed National Professional Soccer League in 1967, won the league title, and was named to the NPSL's Best XI team. In the off-season the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association to form the NASL. With the Clippers he was the NASL's 3rd leading scorer in 1968 and again a Best XI selection. Mitic joined the Dallas Tornado as the Clippers folded and was named a Best XI for the third consecutive year in 1969. Converting from forward to midfielder, Mitic was also chosen as an NASL Best XI in 1973 and 1974. He played indoor soccer for the Tornado as well, and was named to the All-Tournament team in 1975.

Traded after playing 3 games in 1975, he finished his NASL career with the San Jose Earthquakes and is the league's sixth all-time leading goal scorer. He played one 'A' international for the United States national soccer team, on October 10, 1973 at Candlestick Park, as the U.S. lost to Poland 0-1 in a friendly.

References

  1. ↑ Partizan players stats at Partizan official site.

Sources

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