# Stefan Mitrović (footballer, born August 2002)

Stefan Mitrović (Serbian Cyrillic: 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 Serie A 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.
Mitrović played for a number of youth academies in Ontario, including Hamilton Serbians, Serbian White Eagles, Givova Academy, Hamilton United, Empire Niagara Academy, and Toronto FC.

## Club career
### Early career

In November 2018, Mitrović took part in the Canadian Premier League open tryouts, but was not approached by any club. In 2018 and 2019, he played with Hamilton City 1 in the Canadian Soccer League under head coach Saša Vuković.

### Radnički Niš

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. Mitrović earned his first professional start on May 30, 2020, in a 1–1 draw to Napredak Kruševac, and scored his first goal on June 8 in a 4–3 victory over Radnik Surdulica. In March 2022, Radnički Niš announced Mitrović had signed a two-year contract extension.

### Red Star

On 18 July 2022, Mitrović joined Red Star Belgrade on a transfer, after Red Star paid the €500,000 release clause in his contract with Radnički Niš.
As a "bonus" player, Mitrović managed to secure significant minutes in Serbian Superliga and even UEFA Europa League.
Halfway through the 2022–23 season, in 25 appearances, Mitrović scored 5 goals and managed to get 3 assists in all competition.
The most significant goal, he scored against Ferencvaroš at "Groupama arena" in Red Star loss (2:1) in 4th round of group H.

### Hellas Verona

On 1 February 2024, Mitrović signed with Serie A club Hellas Verona.

#### Loan to OH Leuven

On 6 September 2024, Mitrović moved to OH Leuven in Belgian Pro League on loan with an option to buy.

## International career

He was eligible to play for Canada and Serbia, in June 2020 Mitrović revealed he was 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. He made an appearance in the match on September 6 as a second-half substitute. In November 2021, Mitrović accepted a call-up to the Serbia U-21 side and on November 16 in the match against Ukraine, he scored a goal in a 2–1 defeat.
In December 2021, Mitrović confirmed he had accepted a call-up from Canada for their January 2022 camp, however the camp was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.
Mitrović chose to represent the senior Serbia national football team and debuted in a UEFA Nations League match against Sweden, on 24 September 2022.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 26 May 2024
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Radnički Niš | 2019–20 | Serbian SuperLiga | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 |
| Radnički Niš | 2020–21 | Serbian SuperLiga | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 2 |
| Radnički Niš | 2021–22 | Serbian SuperLiga | 35 | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 10 |
| Radnički Niš | 2022–23 | Serbian SuperLiga | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Radnički Niš | Total | Total | 57 | 13 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 61 | 13 |
| Red Star Belgrade | 2022–23 | Serbian SuperLiga | 32 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | — | — | 43 | 8 |
| Red Star Belgrade | 2023–24 | Serbian SuperLiga | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Red Star Belgrade | Total | Total | 41 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 3 | — | — | 56 | 9 |
| Hellas Verona | 2023–24 | Serie A | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 108 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 3 | — | — | 127 | 23 |
* ↑ Three appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, five appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearances UEFA Champions League

### International

    As of 8 September 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Serbia | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Serbia | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| Serbia | 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 4 | 0 |

## Honours
### Red Star Belgrade

* Serbian SuperLiga: 2022–23
* Serbian Cup: 2022–23