Stefan Mitrović (footballer, born August 2002)
{{Short description|Serbian footballer}}
{{about|the Serbian footballer|other people named Stefan Mitrović|Stefan Mitrović (disambiguation)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Stefan Mitrović
| image = {{CSS image crop|Image=FC Zenit Saint Petersburg vs. Red Star Belgrade, 4 July 2023 (48).jpg|bSize=2000|cWidth=180|cHeight=300|oTop=230|oLeft=1000|Location=center}}
| caption = Mitrović in 2023
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|8|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Kruševac, FR Yugoslavia
| position = Winger
| currentclub = OH Leuven (on loan from Hellas Verona)
| clubnumber = 23
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Hamilton Serbians
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Givova Academy
| youthyears3 =
| youthclubs3 = Hamilton United
| youthyears4 =
| youthclubs4 = Empire Niagara Academy
| youthyears5 =
| youthclubs5 = Toronto FC
| years1 = 2018–2019
| clubs1 = Hamilton City 1
| caps1 = 12
| goals1 = 7
| years2 = 2019–2022
| clubs2 = Radnički Niš
| caps2 = 57
| goals2 = 13
| years3 = 2022–2024
| clubs3 = Red Star Belgrade
| caps3 = 41
| goals3 = 6
| years4 = 2024–
| clubs4 = Hellas Verona
| caps4 = 10
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2024–
| clubs5 = → OH Leuven (loan)
| caps5 = 25
| goals5 = 2
| club-update = 5 April 2025
| nationalyears1 = 2021
| nationalteam1 = Serbia U20
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2021–
| nationalteam2 = Serbia U21
| nationalcaps2 = 16
| nationalgoals2 = 5
| nationalyears3 = 2022–
| nationalteam3 = Serbia
| nationalcaps3 = 6
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| ntupdate = 1 May 2025
}}
Stefan Mitrović ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Стефан Митровић}}; born 15 August 2002) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a winger for OH Leuven in the Belgian Pro League, on loan from {{Italian football updater|HellasVerona}} club Hellas Verona. He also plays for the Serbia national team.
Early life
Mitrović was born in Kruševac, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia – and moved to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, when he was six months old.{{cite web|url=http://zurnal.rs/fudbal/super-liga/98350/i-kanadjani-culi-za-nis|script-title=sr:И Канађани чули за Ниш|trans-title=Canadians also heard about Niš|date=13 June 2020|newspaper=Sportski žurnal|language=sr}} Mitrović played for numerous youth academies in Ontario, including Hamilton Serbians, Serbian White Eagles,{{cite web |url=https://serbianwhiteeagles.ca/en/2022/11/serbian-white-eagles-academy-in-the-spotlight-with-belgrades-giants/ |last=Vujcić|first=Djuradj|title=Serbian White Eagles Academy in the Spotlight With Belgrade's Giants|website=Serbian White Eagles|date=4 November 2022|access-date=16 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811113515/https://serbianwhiteeagles.ca/en/2022/11/serbian-white-eagles-academy-in-the-spotlight-with-belgrades-giants/ |archive-date=11 August 2023 |url-status=dead}} Givova Academy, Hamilton United, Empire Niagara Academy, and Toronto FC.{{cite web|title=After Borjan, Canada targeted another member of the Serbian Super League|url=https://new.fox-24.com/news/19909.html|date=4 December 2021|website=NewFox 24}}{{Cite web|title=Canucks Abroad Interview Series: Stefan Mitrović|date=24 January 2020|url=https://nsxinetwork.com/canucks-abroad-interview-series-episode-4-with-stefan-mitrovic/|access-date=14 June 2020|website=Northern Starting XI|first=Thomas|last=Nef}}
Club career
In November 2018, Mitrović took part in the Canadian Premier League open tryouts, but was not approached by any club.{{Cite web|title=Hamilton Open Trials players to watch|work=Canadian Premier League |date=1 October 2018|url= https://canpl.ca/video/players-to-watch-heading-into-day-2-of-the-gotgame-open-trials-in-hamilton|publisher=Canadian Premier League|access-date=14 June 2020}} In 2018 and 2019, he played with Hamilton City 1 in the Canadian Soccer League{{Cite web|url=https://canadiansoccerleague.ca/matias-hat-trick-lifts-scarborough-to-victory/|title=Matias Hat Trick Lifts Scarborough to Victory|publisher=Canadian Soccer League|date=9 June 2019}}{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.hamiltoncity1sc.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226142033/https://www.hamiltoncity1sc.com/ |archive-date=26 December 2021 |access-date=6 November 2022|website=Hamilton City SC}} under head coach Saša Vuković.
Mitrović made his professional debut on 23 November 2019, with Radnički Niš, replacing Nikola Čumić in the 88th minute in a 2–0 defeat to Red Star Belgrade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.danas.rs/sport/na-meti-crvene-zvezde-najveci-talenat-radnickog-iz-nisa/|title=Na meti Crvene zvezde najveći talenat Radničkog iz Niša|language=sr|trans-title=The biggest talent of Radnički from Niš is the target of the Red Star|date=22 December 2021|newspaper=Danas}} Mitrović earned his first professional start on 30 May 2020, in a 1–1 draw against Napredak Kruševac, and scored his first goal on June 8 in a 4–3 victory over Radnik Surdulica.{{Cite web|url= https://sport.interia.pl/serbia/newsamp-liga-serbska-28-kolejka-super-ligi-fk-radnicki-nis-rad-belgr,nId,4543125|date=9 June 2020|title=Liga serbska {{!}} 28. Kolejka Super Ligi: FK Radnički Niš–Rad Belgrad 4–3 (2–2)|trans-title=Serbian SuperLiga matchday 28: FK Radnički Niš - Rad Belgrade 4-3 (2-2)|website=Interia|language=pl}} In March 2022, Radnički Niš announced Mitrović had signed a two-year contract extension.{{cite web|url=https://fkradnickinis.rs/novosti/%d0%a1%d1%82%d0%b5%d1%84%d0%b0%d0%bd-%d0%9c%d0%b8%d1%82%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%b8%d1%9b-%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b4%d1%83%d0%b6%d0%b8%d0%be-%d1%83%d0%b3%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%be%d1%80/|date=11 March 2022|script-title=sr:Стефан Митровић продужио уговор|trans-title=Stefan Mitrovic extended his contract|language=sr|website=FK Radnički Niš |author1=Mladen }}
On 1 February 2024, Mitrović signed with Serie A club Hellas Verona.{{cite web|publisher=Hellas Verona|url=https://www.hellasverona.it/en/news/stefan-mitrovic-is-a-new-yellow-blue-striker|title=Stefan Mitrovic is a new Yellow-Blue striker!|date=2 February 2024|access-date=2 February 2024}} On 6 September, Mitrović moved to OH Leuven in Belgian Pro League on loan with an option to buy.{{cite web|publisher=Oud-Heverlee Leuven|url=https://ohleuven.com/news/stefan-mitrovic-tekent-bij-oh-leuven/|title=Stefan Mitrović tekent bij OH Leuven|trans-title=Stefan Mitrović signs with OH Leuven|date=6 September 2024|access-date=6 September 2024|language=nl}}
International career
Mitrović was eligible to play for Canada and Serbia. In June 2020, he was revealed to be in contact with the Canadian U20 team and in the process of obtaining a Serbian passport. In August 2021, Mitrović was called up to the Serbia U-20 team for a friendly against Italy.{{cite web|url=https://fss.rs/u20-selekcija-koju-vodi-selektor-aleksandar-rogic-ima-proveru-u-italiji/|script-title=sr:U20 {{!}} Селекција Коју Води Селектор Александар Рогић Има Проверу У Италији|trans-title=U20 {{!}} Selection led by Selector Aleksandar Rogić is Checked in Italy|language=sr|date=23 August 2021|publisher=Football Association of Serbia}} He made an appearance in the match on 6 September as a second-half substitute.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} In November 2021, Mitrović accepted a call-up to the Serbia U21 and on 16 November in the match against Ukraine, he scored a goal in a 2–1 defeat.{{cite web|date=16 November 2021|script-title=sr:Млада Репрезентација Поражена У Украјини|url=https://fss.rs/u21-mlada-reprezentacija-porazena-u-ukrajini/|publisher=Football Association of Serbia|language=sr|trans-title=U21 - Young National Team Defeated in Ukraine}}
In December 2021, Mitrović confirmed he had accepted a call-up from Canada for its January 2022 camp,{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/northern-futbol-podcast-stefan-mitrovic-discusses-canada-future/|first=Peter|last=Galindo|title=Northern Fútbol Podcast, Episode 41: Stefan Mitrovic Discusses His Canada Future|newspaper=Northern Tribune|date=7 December 2021}} however the camp was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.{{cite web|url=https://www.canadasoccer.com/news/canada-soccer-update-on-mens-national-team-planning-for-january/|date=11 January 2022|title=Canada Soccer Update on men's national team planning for January|publisher=Canadian Soccer Association}} However, Mitrović chose to represent the senior Serbia national football team and debuted in a UEFA Nations League match against Sweden on 24 September 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.mozzartsport.com/fudbal/vesti/kraj-srbija-svedska-41/431603|title=Kraj: Srbija 4-1 Švedska|website=Mozzart Sport|date=24 September 2022|access-date=1 May 2025|language=sr}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|26 May 2024}}{{Soccerway|stefan-mitrovi/645151}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;font-size:95%" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=5|Radnički Niš
|rowspan=4|Serbian SuperLiga |7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 1 | |||
| 2020–21
|13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 2 | |||
| 2021–22
|35 | 10 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 10 | |||
| 2022–23
|2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!57 | 13 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 61 | 13 | |||
| rowspan="3" valign="center"|Red Star Belgrade
|rowspan=2|Serbian SuperLiga |32 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 8{{efn|Three appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, five appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League}} | 3 | colspan="2" |— | 43 | 8 | ||
| 2023–24
|9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|Appearances UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!41 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 3 | colspan="2" |— | 56 | 9 | ||
| rowspan="1" valign="center"|Hellas Verona
|rowspan=1|Serie A |10 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!108 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 3 | colspan="2" |— | 127 | 23 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|23 March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Serbia
|2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 6 | 0 |
Honours
;Red Star Belgrade
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|stefan-mitrovi/645151}}
{{Oud-Heverlee Leuven squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitrovic, Stefan}}
Category:Footballers from Kruševac
Category:Soccer people from Ontario
Category:Serbian men's footballers
Category:Serbia men's international footballers
Category:Serbia men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Serbia men's youth international footballers
Category:Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Serbian emigrants to Canada
Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Hamilton City SC players
Category:FK Radnički Niš players
Category:Red Star Belgrade footballers
Category:Hellas Verona FC players
Category:Oud-Heverlee Leuven players
Category:Serbian First League players
Category:Serbian SuperLiga players
Category:Canadian Soccer League (1998–present) players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Serbian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium