Aleksandar Mitrović (footballer)

Aleksandar Mitrović

Mitrović with Newcastle United in 2015
Personal information
Full name Aleksandar Mitrović
Date of birth (1994-09-16) 16 September 1994[1]
Place of birth Smederevo, FR Yugoslavia
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Newcastle United
Number 45
Youth career
2005–2011 Partizan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Teleoptik 25 (7)
2012–2013 Partizan 28 (13)
2013–2015 Anderlecht 69 (36)
2015– Newcastle United 45 (12)
National team‡
2011–2013 Serbia U19 13 (5)
2013– Serbia U21 5 (4)
2013– Serbia 26 (7)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 December 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2016

Aleksandar Mitrović (Serbian Cyrillic: Александар Митровић; born 16 September 1994) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a striker for English club Newcastle United and the Serbia national team. At the age of 18, Mitrović was named among the top 10 talents under the age of 19 in Europe by a selection of UEFA reporters.[2]

A youth product at Partizan, he turned professional after a loan at Teleoptik, and was a regular as they won the Serbian SuperLiga in his first season. He then joined Anderlecht for a club record €5 million, and scored 44 goals in 90 games across all competitions in a two-season spell. He won the Belgian Pro League in his first campaign at the club, and was the league's top scorer in his second. In 2015, he moved to Newcastle United for £13 million.

Mitrović helped Serbia win the 2013 European Under-19 Championship, being voted the best player of the tournament. Since that year, he has also been a senior international player, earning over 20 caps.

Club career

Early years

Born in Smederevo, Mitrović came to Partizan and went through the youth system of the club. Before being promoted to the first team, he made his senior debut with their affiliated side Teleoptik in the 2011–12 season, scoring seven goals in 25 league matches.

Partizan

On 27 June 2012, together with two Teleoptik teammates, Mitrović signed his first professional contract with Partizan, on a four-year deal.[3] He made his official debut for the club in a Champions League qualifier against Maltese side Valletta, scoring a goal nine minutes after coming on as a substitute.[4] On 23 August 2012, Mitrović scored a header against Tromsø in the Europa League play-off round. Three days later, he scored his first league goal in a home fixture against Jagodina. On 17 November 2012, Mitrović scored the opening goal in his first ever Eternal derby, which Partizan eventually lost 3–2. Five days later, he also scored in a 1–1 away draw with Azerbaijani side Neftchi Baku during the Europa League group stage.[5] By the end of his debut season, Mitrović was Partizan's top scorer in all competitions with 15 goals in 36 appearances even though he was one of the youngest players of the team.[6] Due to his displays, he earned a place in Jelen SuperLiga's Team of the Season selection.[7] Additionally, Serbian sports portal Mozzart Sport rated Mitrović third of 25 best players in the national league for that season.[8]

Anderlecht

Mitrović in 2014

On 12 August 2013, after much speculation, it was announced that Mitrović was sold to Anderlecht and that he would join the Belgian club on 30 August at the request of the player and his family.[9] The transfer fee was €5 million,[10] which is Anderlecht's record signing fee. On 1 September, Mitrović provided two assists on his debut for the club after coming on as a substitute at the beginning of the second half in a league match against Zulte Waregem.

On 10 December 2013, in the last round of the Champions League Group C against Olympiacos, Mitrović replaced[11] goalkeeper Silvio Proto who had been sent off, but failed to save a penalty from Alejandro Domínguez.[12]

Mitrović ended his debut season in Belgium with 16 league goals as Anderlecht won their 33rd league title.[13]

Mitrović began the 2014–15 season by scoring in Anderlecht's 2–1 Super Cup defeat of K.S.C. Lokeren.[14] On 5 November 2014, he scored an equalizing goal in the 90th minute in the UEFA Champions League versus Arsenal, completing Anderlecht's comeback from 3–0 to 3–3.[15] Overall, he scored 20 goals in the Pro League, making him the competition's top scorer, and 28 in all competitions.[13] On 22 March 2015, he scored the team's only goal in the 2–1 Belgian Cup Final loss to Club Brugge KV in Brussels.[16]

Newcastle United

Mitrović preparing for his Newcastle debut. He was booked 22 seconds later.

On 21 July 2015, Mitrović joined Newcastle United on a five-year deal for a reported £13 million, saying he hoped to be able to play like club legend Alan Shearer.[17][18] He made his debut on 9 August as Newcastle began the season with a 2–2 draw against Southampton at St James' Park, playing the final 15 minutes in place of Papiss Cissé. He was booked 22 seconds into his debut for a foul on Matt Targett.[19] Twenty days later, he was sent off in the 15th minute of a 0–1 home defeat to Arsenal for a foul on Francis Coquelin.[20]

Mitrović scored his first Newcastle goal on 3 October away to Manchester City, opening the scoring in a 6–1 loss.[21] In his next game, he netted the fourth goal in the team's first win of the season, a 6–2 home thrashing of Norwich City.[22] He scored his third goal on 13 December in an away game against Tottenham Hotspur, equalising in a 1–2 win two minutes after coming on as a substitute for Cissé.[23]

He won and converted a penalty in a 3–3 draw against Manchester United on 12 January 2016.[24] On 20 March, he headed the equaliser in a 1–1 draw against arch-rivals Sunderland in the Tyne–Wear derby. Mitrović was booked for taking off his shirt in celebration, and a fan who ran onto the pitch to celebrate with him was given a banning order.[25]

On 2 April, Mitrović scored two goals, one from a penalty, in a 3–2 defeat to Norwich City.[26] On the final day of the season, and with Newcastle United already relegated, Mitrović scored the second goal in a 5–1 win over third-place Tottenham Hotspur, but was also sent off for a shin-high challenge on Kyle Walker.[27] He is the sixth player in Premier League history to score a goal, assist a goal and get sent off in the same match.[28]

After being suspended for the first four matches of the season as punishment for his red card against Tottenham at the end of the previous season,[29] Mitrović made his season debut in the EFL Cup against Cheltenham on 23 August, but was forced off with a head injury in the first half.[30] As a result, Mitrović had to wait until 13 September to make his Championship debut, scoring his first goal of the 2016–17 season at Queens Park Rangers, with the fifth goal in a 6–0 win.[31] On 25 October, he bagged a brace and a assist in a 6–0 win over Preston North End, as the Magpies advanced to the EFL Cup quarter-finals.[32][33] That weekend, Mitrović received his first league start since the match at Loftus Road, and against the same opposition, Mitrović again scored a brace in a 2–1 win.[34] Despite losing playing time to summer signing Dwight Gayle, Mitrović remained positive, saying "maybe last season I played more, but we are in good shape", as Newcastle arrived at the top of the table on 18 October.[35]

International career

Youth

With four goals, Mitrović was the top scorer of the Serbian national under-19 team in their successful qualifying campaign for the 2012 UEFA Under-19 Championship. On 3 July 2012, the opening day of the final tournament, he was sent off during a match against France U19, which caused him to miss the rest of the competition due to suspension. On 26 March 2013, Mitrović scored two goals in a friendly for Serbia's U21 team against Bulgaria U21.[36]

Mitrović was called up by Serbia's U19 coach Ljubinko Drulović for two qualification matches for the 2013 UEFA Under-19 Championship taking place after his debut with the senior national side against Belgium.[37] Mitrović was also a member of the squad that traveled to Lithuania for the final tournament, where he established himself as one of the key players in Serbia's U19 team which won the competition for the first time in the history of Serbian football. He contributed by scoring a goal and providing two assists during the contest (including one in the final match against France U19.[38] Also, Mitrović was named the tournament's Golden Player for his performances.[39]

Senior

Mitrović earned his first call up to the Serbian senior national team by coach Siniša Mihajlović for a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Belgium.[40] He played 69 minutes on his debut on 7 June 2013 and earned a yellow card after stepping on Axel Witsel's foot, before being substituted for Marko Šćepović.[41] On 6 September, Mitrović scored his first goal for the senior side in a 1–1 home draw against Croatia in another World Cup qualifier.[42] Two years and a day later, he scored his next international goal, the consolation in a 2–1 friendly defeat to France at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Serbia's 100th match as an independent nation.[43]

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Mitrović scored three goals in two matches to ensure Serbia were still in contention to qualify from their group. On 9 October 2016, he scored a brace in a 3–2 win against Austria,[44] and on 12 November, he scored the equaliser against Wales in 1–1 draw.[45]

Personal life

With his partner Kristina, Mitrović has a son, named Luka.[46] He is a lifelong supporter of both Partizan and Newcastle United.[35]

Career statistics

Club

As of 2 December 2016[47]
Club statistics
Club Season League National Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Teleoptik 2011–12 Serbian First League 25710——267
Total 25710——267
Partizan 2012–13 Serbian SuperLiga 25102293—3615
2013–14 330030—63
Total 281322123—4218
Anderlecht 2013–14 Belgian Pro League 32161060003916
2014–15 37206473115128
Total 693674133119044
Newcastle United 2015–16 Premier League 349100010369
2016–17 Championship 113000022135
Total 45121000324914
Career total 167681162564320783

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Serbia
201331
201470
201581
201685
Total267

International goals

As of match played 12 November 2016 [47]
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 6 September 2013Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia3 Croatia1–11–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 7 September 2015Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France15 France1–21–2Friendly
3 25 May 2016Užice City Stadium, Užice, Serbia20 Cyprus1–02–1Friendly
4 5 June 2016Stade Louis II, Monaco22 Russia1–11–1Friendly
5 9 October 2016Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia24 Austria1–03–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 2–1
7 12 November 2016Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales25 Wales1–11–1

Honours

Club

Partizan
Anderlecht

Country

Serbia U19

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Premier League Player Profile Aleksandar Mitrovic". Barclays Premier League. 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "Ten Under-19 talents to watch". uefa.com. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Mlade snage nadolaze" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Partizan ease past Valletta". uefa.com. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "Neftçi and Partizan inseparable again". uefa.com. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  6. ↑ "Mitrović: Nadam se ostanku u Partizanu, većoj minutaži i trofeju najboljeg strelca" (in Serbian). mozzartsport.com. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "Idealnih 11 Superlige: Partizan pet, Voša tri, Zvezda, Hajduk i Srem po jednog predstavnika! (VIDEO)" (in Serbian). mozzartsport.com. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "TOP 25 najboljih fudbalera Superlige u izboru MOZZART Sporta (VIDEO)" (in Serbian). mozzartsport.com. 2 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Saopštenje FK Partizan" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Saopštenje FK Partizan" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "Olympiakos 3-1 Anderlecht: Saviola double sends Greek champions through". Goal.com. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Saviola the hero as Olympiacos squeeze through". UEFA.com. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  13. 1 2 "Aleksandar Mitrovic: We profile the striker after he joins Newcastle". BSkyB. 21 July 2015.
  14. ↑ "Anderlecht soulève sa douzième Supercoupe face à Lokeren". Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française (in French). 20 July 2014.
  15. ↑ "Arsenal throw away three-goal lead against Anderlecht". theguardian.com. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "Bruges arrache la Coupe de Belgique". UEFA (in French). 22 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "Mitrovic becomes a Magpie". Newcastle United F.C. 21 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "Aleksandar Mitrovic: Newcastle United sign Anderlecht striker". BBC Sport. 21 July 2015.
  19. ↑ Davis, Matt (9 August 2015). "Newcastle 2-2 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  20. ↑ Abraham, Timothy (29 August 2015). "Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  21. ↑ Bevan, Chris (3 October 2015). "Man City 6-1 Newcastle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ↑ Hafez, Shamoon (18 October 2015). "Newcastle 6-2 Norwich". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ↑ Johnston, Neil (13 October 2015). "Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  24. ↑ Olsen, Connor (12 January 2016). "Newcastle 3-3 Manchester United". BBC Sport.
  25. ↑ Downes, John (21 March 2016). "Newcastle fan receives banning order after celebrating in hilarious fashion with Aleksandar Mitrovic in Tyne-Wear derby". Daily Mail. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  26. ↑ "Match report: Norwich City 3 Newcastle United 2". The Independent. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  27. ↑ Chowdhury, Saj (15 May 2015). "Newcastle United 5-1 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport.
  28. ↑ "OptaJoe on Twitter: "6 - Aleksandar Mitrovic is the sixth player in PL history to score a goal, assist a goal and get sent off in the same game. Mixed."". Twitter. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  29. ↑ Waugh, Chris (1 June 2016). "Aleksandar Mitrovic's ban means Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez will make signing striker a priority". Evening Chronicle.
  30. ↑ Waugh, Chris (24 August 2016). "Newcastle 2-0 Cheltenham: Why was Perez bandaged? Is Mitrovic OK? How damaging could this win be?". Evening Chronicle.
  31. ↑ "Queens Park Rangers 0–6 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  32. ↑ "Newcastle United 6–0 Preston North End". BBC Sport. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  33. ↑ Taylor, Louise (25 October 2016). "Aleksandar Mitrovic double caps knockout Newcastle rout of Preston". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  34. ↑ "Preston North End 1–2 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  35. 1 2 Edwards, Luke (28 October 2016). "Aleksandar Mitrovic: 'My father said I would be a criminal or a kick boxer'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  36. ↑ "Dva gola Mitrovića za pobedu "orlića" protiv Bugarske" (in Serbian). blic.rs. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  37. ↑ Друловић одредио коначан списак за Елитну рунду (ВИДЕО) (in Serbian). fss.rs. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  38. ↑ "Luković strike seals first Serbia triumph". uefa.com. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  39. ↑ "2013: Aleksandar Mitrović". uefa.com. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  40. ↑ "Miha objavio spisak, samo Mitrović debitant" (in Serbian). sportske.net. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  41. ↑ БЕЗ СРБИЈЕ НА СП: Пораз Орлова у Белгији (in Serbian). zurnal.rs. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  42. ↑ Србија – Хрватска 1:1 (0:0) (in Serbian). fss.rs. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  43. ↑ Crossan, David (7 September 2015). "Matuidi makes difference as France edge Serbia". UEFA. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  44. ↑ "Serbia 3–2 Austria". BBC Sport. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  45. ↑ Pritchard, Daffyd (12 November 2016). "Wales 1–1 Serbia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  46. ↑ "Mitrovic proud father of baby son". Anderlecht Online. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  47. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Aleksandar Mitrović profile at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  48. ↑ "Idealnih 11 Superlige: Partizan pet, Voša tri, Zvezda, Hajduk i Srem po jednog predstavnika! (VIDEO)" (in Serbian). Mozzart Sport. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  49. ↑ Bryan, Paul (8 August 2013). "2013: Aleksandar Mitrović". UEFA. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  50. ↑ "Technical Report" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. pp. 18–19.
  51. ↑ "Sport.be" (in Dutch). 2 January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014.

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