Nikola Mitrović

Nikola Mitrović

250px Mitrović playing for Újpest in 2010
Personal information
Date of birth	(1987-01-02) 2 January 1987
Place of birth	Kruševac, SFR Yugoslavia
Height
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Shanghai Shenxin
Number	14
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)
International career
2010	Serbia	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 September 2015

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.

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	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	0
	Total	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	0
Napredak	2008–09	16	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	2
	2009–10	14	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	2
	Total	30	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	30	4
Volga	2009	21	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	22	2
	Total	21	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	22	2
Újpest	2010–11	29	1	5	2	0	0	0	0	34	3
	Total	29	1	5	2	0	0	0	0	34	3
Videoton	2011–12	28	1	6	0	9	1	2	0	45	2
	2012–13	26	6	5	0	6	3	11	0	49	9
	Total	55	7	11	0	15	4	13	0	94	11
Maccabi Tel Aviv	2013–14	32	2	0	0	0	0	8	0	40	2
	Total	32	2	0	0	0	0	8	0	40	2
Career totals		182	16	17	2	15	4	21	0	235	22

Honours

Partizan

• Serbian SuperLiga: 2007–08
• Serbian Cup: 2007–08

Maccabi Tel Aviv

• Israeli Premier League: 2013–14, 2014–15
• Israeli State Cup: 2014–15
• Toto Cup : 2014–15

External links

• Nikola Mitrović at National-Football-Teams.com
• Nikola Mitrović at Soccerway
• Nikola Mitrović at reprezentacija.rs