It doesn’t take a crystal ball to suggest that midfielder Stefan Mitrovic is well on his way to a strong future on both sides of the Atlantic. Mitrovic played his way through youth soccer in Hamilton followed by a brief period with Toronto FC academy before entering the professional game with the CSL’s Hamilton City during April 2018 and through the 2019 season.
The Serbia-born Mitrovic – his family moved from Krusevac, Serbia to Hamilton, Ontario early 2003 when Mitrovic was a few months old – is now of interest to both Canadian and Serbian national teams. He qualifies for both and has so far made appearances for the Serbia U-20, Serbia U-21 and gained a full cap with a 4-1 winning debut against Sweden on September 24, 2022
Mitrovic played 12 matches for Hamilton City during 2018 and the 2019 season and was then signed by Radnicki Nis of the Serbian SuperLiga, making 57 appearances before being transferred to Red Star Belgrade in 2022. As an aggressive attacking midfielder with the now strong European experience Mitrovic, 20, would be an asset with the Canadian national team despite his leanings so far with Serbia. Mitrovic was invited to the Canadian national team camp early 2022, but the call-up was cancelled when there was a COVID 19 threat.
Whatever the outcome during the upcoming World Cup games with both Canada and Serbia taking part, it looks as though Canadian coach John Herdman will be using some persuasion to bring Mitrovic on board, while the Serbian-born player will make the final decision.
Stan Adamson
