Stefan Mitrović (footballer, born 1990)

2.1. Early Career in Eastern Europe

Mitrović began his professional journey in Eastern Europe. He first played for Petržalka in the Slovak Super Liga during the 2009-10 season, making nine appearances. He then moved to the Czech Republic, joining Zbrojovka Brno for the 2010-11 season, where he appeared in eight matches. His time in Serbia included a stint with Metalac Gornji Milanovac in the Serbian SuperLiga for the 2011-12 season, where he played in 21 league games and one cup match.

2.2. First European Ventures

Mitrović's first significant move to Western European football came on 9 June 2012, when he signed a three-year contract with Kortrijk in the Belgian Pro League. During the 2012-13 season, he made 22 league appearances, scoring three goals, and also played in six cup matches. His performances in Belgium attracted attention, leading to a move to Portuguese giants Benfica on 7 May 2013, on a five-year contract. However, his time at Benfica was primarily spent with the reserve team in the Segunda Liga, where he played eight matches during the first six months of the 2013-14 season. On 22 January 2014, he was loaned to Real Valladolid in La Liga until the end of the season, featuring in 16 matches for the Spanish club.

2.3. Germany and Initial Gent Spell

On 16 July 2014, Mitrović transferred to SC Freiburg in Germany for a transfer fee of 1.18 M EUR. He made his debut for the club on 4 October 2014, in a match against Werder Bremen. In the 2014-15 season, he played 14 league matches and two cup matches for Freiburg. Following his tenure in Germany, Mitrović returned to Belgium, initially joining Gent on loan for the 2015-16 season. He made 21 league appearances and scored one goal during this loan spell, alongside playing in cup and continental competitions. He then signed a permanent contract with Gent, becoming a key player. Over the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, he played 47 league matches, scoring three goals, and actively participated in cup and continental fixtures, including scoring two goals in European competitions during this period.

2.4. French and Spanish League Tenure

In June 2018, Mitrović moved to French club RC Strasbourg from Gent for a transfer fee of 3.00 M EUR. He spent three seasons with Strasbourg in Ligue 1. In the 2018-19 season, he appeared in 34 league matches and five cup matches, contributing to the club's success, including winning the Coupe de la Ligue. For the 2019-20 season, he made 23 league appearances, scoring one goal, and also played in cup and continental matches, scoring one goal in European competition. In his final season with Strasbourg, 2020-21, he featured in 32 league games, scoring two goals, and made one cup appearance. On 6 July 2021, Getafe announced the signing of Mitrović from Strasbourg on a three-year contract. With Getafe, he played in La Liga for three seasons. In the 2021-22 season, he made 32 league appearances, scoring one goal. He continued to be a regular in the 2022-23 season with 22 league appearances. In the 2023-24 season, he made 11 league appearances and played in three cup matches, scoring one goal in the league.

2.5. Return to Gent

On 1 February 2024, Stefan Mitrović made a return to his former club, Gent, signing a new two-and-a-half-year contract. Since his return, he has continued his defensive role for the club. In the remainder of the 2023-24 season, he played 14 league matches, scoring two goals, and also appeared in two continental matches. For the ongoing 2024-25 season, he has already made 17 league appearances and played in two cup matches, alongside nine continental appearances.

3.1. Senior National Team Debut

Mitrović made his debut for the Serbia national football team on 31 May 2014, in a match against the Panama national team. This marked the beginning of his career representing Serbia on the international stage.

3.2. Major Tournament Participation

In November 2022, Mitrović was selected as part of Serbia's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar. He featured in a group stage match against the Cameroon national team, coming on as a substitute in the 55th minute, replacing Strahinja Pavlović. The match ended in a 3-3 draw.

3.3. Notable Incidents

A notable incident during Mitrović's international career occurred on 14 October 2014, during a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade. During the match, a remote-controlled drone flew over the pitch carrying a flag depicting "Greater Albania". Mitrović controversially took down the flag, leading to a brawl among players and staff from both teams, ultimately resulting in the abandonment of the match.

4.1. Club Statistics

4.2. International Statistics