Miljan Mrdaković

Miljan Mrdaković
Personal information
Full name Miljan Mrdaković[1]
Date of birth (1982-05-06)6 May 1982[1]
Place of birth Niš, SFR Yugoslavia[1]
Date of death 22 May 2020(2020-05-22) (aged 38)
Place of death Belgrade, Serbia
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1993–1995 Radnički Niš
1995–1998 Partizan
1998–2001 Anderlecht
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Anderlecht 0 (0)
2002 → Eendracht Aalst (loan) 3 (0)
2002–2003 OFK Beograd 32 (20)
2003–2004 Gent 22 (4)
2004 OFK Beograd 10 (1)
2005 Austria Salzburg 10 (3)
2005–2006 Metalist Kharkiv 27 (7)
2006–2007 Maccabi Tel Aviv 29 (7)
2007–2008 Vitória Guimarães 27 (6)
2008–2009 Shandong Luneng 18 (8)
2009–2011 Apollon Limassol 31 (21)
2010 → Ethnikos Achna (loan) 14 (8)
2011–2012 AEK Larnaca 18 (7)
2012 Jiangsu Sainty 5 (1)
2013 Enosis Neon 15 (7)
2013–2014 Veria 13 (5)
2014 Tampines Rovers 25 (11)
2015 Levadiakos 3 (0)
2015 Vojvodina 6 (0)
2016 Agrotikos Asteras 5 (1)
2016 Rad 0 (0)
2017 OFK Beograd 5 (2)
Total 318 (119)
International career
1999–2001 FR Yugoslavia U18 8 (0)
2002 FR Yugoslavia U21 1 (0)
2008 Serbia Olympic (O.P.) 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Miljan Mrdaković (Serbian Cyrillic: Миљан Мрдаковић, pronounced [mǐʎan mr̩dǎːkoʋitɕ]; 6 May 1982 – 22 May 2020) was a Serbian professional footballer who played as a striker.

A journeyman, he played for 20 clubs across ten countries and scored 150 goals in all competitions. He also represented Serbia at the 2008 Olympics.[2]

Club career

Mrdaković was born in Niš, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After starting out at FK Radnički Niš and FK Partizan he moved to Belgian club R.S.C. Anderlecht at the age of 16, playing for their youth and reserve teams[3] before going on loan to fellow Belgian Pro League side S.C. Eendracht Aalst in early 2002.

Subsequently, Mrdaković returned to his homeland and signed for OFK Beograd on a free transfer. He was his team's top scorer in the 2002–03 season and third overall with 20 league goals, and in August 2003 transferred back to Belgium by joining K.A.A. Gent on a four-year contract.[4] He left by mutual agreement in April 2004, then spent a further one and a half years with OFK.[5]

In early 2005, Mrdaković signed with SV Austria Salzburg. Six months later, he left for FC Metalist Kharkiv of the Ukrainian Premier League and, in August 2006, was acquired by Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv FC.[6] During his spell at the latter, he scored eight times across all competitions.[7]

After spending the 2007–08 campaign in the Portuguese Primeira Liga with Vitória de Guimarães,[8] Mrdaković plied his trade in the Chinese Super League with Shandong Luneng Taishan FC. In July 2009, he agreed to a two-year deal at Apollon Limassol FC.[9] He failed to make an immediate impact, being loaned to fellow Cypriot First Division club Ethnikos Achna FC the following transfer window.

Mrdaković returned to the Tsirio Stadium for 2010–11, netting a career-best 21 goals to be his team's top scorer.[10] In June 2011, he signed with AEK Larnaca FC on a three-year contract.[11] He scored seven times in the league during his tenure,[12] leaving in February 2012.[13]

In early 2012, Mrdaković rejoined the Chinese top flight with Jiangsu Sainty FC.[14] He returned to Cyprus shortly after, joining Enosis Neon Paralimni FC.[15]

After a few months in the Super League Greece with Veria FC, Mrdaković moved to Tampines Rovers FC of Singapore in January 2014 as their marquee player.[16] He scored 25 goals overall,[17] helping his team to win two cup titles (Charity Shield in February and League Cup in July).

In February 2015, Mrdaković returned to Greece and signed with Levadiakos FC.[18] He joined FK Vojvodina on a one-year deal in June,[19] scoring twice in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League as the side progressed to the play-off round.[20][21]

Mrdaković returned to OFK Beograd on 19 January 2017, stating his intention to retire at the club.[22]

International career

Mrdaković represented FR Yugoslavia at the 2001 UEFA European Under-18 Championship. He was also capped for the national under-21 team, but saw little action due to a conflict with Vladimir Petrović.[23][24]

In July 2008, Mrdaković was called up by Miroslav Đukić to the Serbia squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics; he was one of the three overage players alongside Aleksandar Živković and Vladimir Stojković.[25] He appeared in all three group stage matches, scoring in the 4–2 loss against Ivory Coast.[26]

Mrdaković received his first call-up to a full Serbia squad in May 2011, when Petrović selected him for two friendlies in Asia and Oceania.[27] However, he missed the mini tour due to an injury picked up in a training session.[28]

Death

Mrdaković died by suicide in the Zvezdara municipality of Belgrade on 22 May 2020, aged 38.[29]

Career statistics

[30][31][32][33]

Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Anderlecht 2001–02 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
Eendracht Aalst (loan) 2001–02 3 0 0 0 — — 3 0
OFK Beograd 2002–03 32 20 0 0 — — 32 20
2003–04 0 0 0 0 — 2[a] 0 2 0
Total 32 20 0 0 — 2 0 34 20
Gent 2003–04 22 4 2 1 — — 24 5
OFK Beograd 2003–04 4 0 0 0 — 0 0 4 0
2004–05 6 1 0 0 — 3[a] 1 9 2
Total 10 1 0 0 — 3 1 13 2
Austria Salzburg 2004–05 10 3 0 0 — — 10 3
Metalist Kharkiv 2005–06 25 7 1 0 — — 26 7
2006–07 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0
Total 27 7 1 0 — — 28 7
Maccabi Tel Aviv 2006–07 29 7 1 0 6 1 — 36 8
Vitória Guimarães 2007–08 27 6 3 0 2 1 — 32 7
Shandong Luneng 2008 17 8 — — — 17 8
2009 1 0 — — 2[b] 2 3 2
Total 18 8 — — 2 2 20 10
Apollon Limassol 2009–10 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
Ethnikos Achna (loan) 2009–10 14 8 0 0 — — 14 8
Apollon Limassol 2010–11 30 21 5 3 — 1[c] 0 36 24
Total 31 21 5 3 — 1 0 37 24
AEK Larnaca 2011–12 18 7 2 1 — 10[c] 3 30 11
Jiangsu Sainty 2012 5 1 0 0 — — 5 1
Enosis Neon 2012–13 15 7 3 1 — — 18 8
Veria 2013–14 13 5 1 1 — — 14 6
Tampines Rovers 2014 25 11 5 4 4 6 5[d] 4 39 25
Levadiakos 2014–15 3 0 0 0 — — 3 0
Vojvodina 2015–16 6 0 0 0 — 3[c] 2 9 2
Agrotikos Asteras 2015–16 5 1 0 0 — — 5 1
Rad 2016–17 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
OFK Beograd 2016–17 5 2 0 0 — — 5 2
Career total 318 119 23 11 12 8 26 12 379 150
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup.
  2. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League.
  3. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League.
  4. ^ One appearance and one goal in AFC Champions League, four appearances and three goals in AFC Cup.

Honours

Shandong Luneng

Tampines Rovers

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Miljan Mrdakovic". Eurosport. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Miljan Mrdaković". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Terorista sa Karaburme" [Terrorist from Karaburma]. Glas javnosti (in Serbian). 28 October 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Prvi strelac OFK Beograda prešao u belgijski Gent" [OFK Belgrade's top scorer moved to Belgium's Gent] (in Serbian). B92. 5 August 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Mdrakovic verlaat AA Gent" [Mrdakovic leaves AA Gent]. Voetbalkrant (in Dutch). 2 April 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  6. ^ Linnyk, Ihor (30 August 2006). "Blokhin tops honours list". UEFA. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  7. ^ "מילאן מרדאקוביץ'" [Miljan Mrdaković] (in Hebrew). Football.org. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Mrdakovic vem para superar Nuno Gomes" [Mrdakovic comes to outdo Nuno Gomes]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 June 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Miljan Mrdakovic has signed for Apollonas". Apollon Limassol. 12 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Πρώτος σκόρερ ο Μρντάκοβιτς" [Mrdakovic is the top scorer] (in Greek). Cyprus Football Association. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  11. ^ "ΔΙΕΤΕΣ ΣΥΜΒΟΛΑΙΟ ΜΕ ΜΙΡΤΑΚΟΒΙΤΣ" [Two-year contract with Mrdakovic] (in Greek). AEK Larnaca. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Miljan Mrdakovic" (in Greek). Cyprus Football Association. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  13. ^ "ΟΛΟΚΛΗΡΩΘΗΚΕ Η ΜΕΤΕΓΓΡΑΦΗ ΤΟΥ ΜΙΛΙΑΝ" [Transfer worth millions completed] (in Greek). AEK Larnaca. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Jiangsu Sainty 2012 season preview". Wild East Football. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  15. ^ Đukić, I. (2 January 2013). "Mrdaković se vratio na Kipar, potpisao za Enozis" [Mrdaković returned to Cyprus, signed for Enosis]. Blic (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  16. ^ Guen Chin, Dan (23 January 2014). "New signings boost Tampines' AFC Champs League assault". Today. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  17. ^ Todorović, N. (15 November 2014). "Mrdaković postigao 25 golova ove godine" [Mrdaković scored 25 goals this year]. Blic (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  18. ^ Tsimpogiannis, Achilleas (11 February 2015). "Ανακοίνωσε Μρντάκοβιτς ο Λεβαδειακός" [Mrdaković announced by Levadiakos] (in Greek). Gazzetta. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Potpisao Mrdaković" [Mrdaković signed] (in Serbian). FK Vojvodina. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Peva ceo Novi Sad: Voša izbacila MTK!" [The whole of Novi Sad sings: Voša ousted MTK!] (in Serbian). Mondo. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Vojvodina ubedljiva protiv Spartaksa – 3:0!" [Convincing Vojvodina against Spartaks – 3:0!] (in Serbian). Radio Television of Serbia. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Povratak golgetera" [The goal-getter's return] (in Serbian). OFK Beograd. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  23. ^ "Ja sam Pižon, a ko su oni!" [I am the Pigeon, and who are they!]. Glas javnosti (in Serbian). 18 February 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  24. ^ "Mrdaković čuvar "Romantike"" [Mrdaković the guardian of "Romance"]. Glas javnosti (in Serbian). 25 March 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  25. ^ "Đukić odredio konačan sastav" [Đukić decided on final lineup] (in Serbian). B92. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  26. ^ "Srbija – Obala Slonovače 2:4" [Serbia – Ivory Coast 2:4] (in Serbian). B92. 10 August 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  27. ^ "Pižon sastavio spisak, zove pet debitanata" [Pigeon put together a list, calling five debutants]. Blic (in Serbian). 26 May 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  28. ^ Nikolić, D. (1 June 2011). "Mrdaković ne putuje sa "orlovima" zbog povrede" [Mrdaković is not traveling with the "eagles" due to injury]. Blic (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Mediji: Bivši mladi reprezentativac i fudbaler Partizana izvršio samoubistvo" [Media: Former national youth team player and Partizan footballer committed suicide] (in Serbian). B92. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  30. ^ Miljan Mrdaković at Soccerway
  31. ^ Miljan Mrdaković at WorldFootball.net
  32. ^ "Miljan Mrdakovic" (in German). Austrian Football Bundesliga. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  33. ^ "Miljan Mrdakovic" (in Greek). Cyprus Football Association. Retrieved 22 July 2019.