Ilija Mitic
Encyclopedia
Ilija Mitic is a former Serbian American
professional soccer player. He was a star of the North American Soccer League
, its 7th all-time leading scorer with 239 points in 166 games, including 101 goals.
Mitic played with Partizan Belgrade
as they won the Yugoslav championship in 1960-61. Earning 2 U-23 caps and 8 youth caps, he later joined OFK Belgrade.
Mitic signed with the Oakland Clippers
in 1967 as they won the one-year National Professional Soccer League
title. With the Clippers he was the NASL's 3rd leading scorer in 1968 and a league first-team all-star selection. Mitic joined the Dallas Tornado
as the Clippers folded and was named to the league's first team again in 1969. Converting from forward to midfielder, Mitic was again an NASL first-team all-star selection in 1973 and '74. He also played indoor soccer for the Tornado.
Traded after playing 3 games in 1975, he finished his NASL career with the San Jose Earthquakes
where in 1978 he was the league's third leading scorer. He played one 'A' international for the United States national soccer team
, on October 10, 1973 at Candlestick Park, as the U.S. lost to Poland
0-1 in a friendly.
Serbian American
Serbian Americans are citizens of the United States who are of Serbian ancestry. For the 2000 US Census, 140,337 Americans indicated Serbian as their first ancestry, while 170,312 persons declared to have Serbian ancestry...
professional soccer player. He was a star of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, its 7th all-time leading scorer with 239 points in 166 games, including 101 goals.
Mitic played with Partizan Belgrade
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
as they won the Yugoslav championship in 1960-61. Earning 2 U-23 caps and 8 youth caps, he later joined OFK Belgrade.
Mitic signed with the Oakland Clippers
Oakland Clippers
The Oakland Clippers were a soccer team based out of Oakland, California that played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League . Their home field was Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum....
in 1967 as they won the one-year National Professional Soccer League
National Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
title. With the Clippers he was the NASL's 3rd leading scorer in 1968 and a league first-team all-star selection. Mitic joined the Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus...
as the Clippers folded and was named to the league's first team again in 1969. Converting from forward to midfielder, Mitic was again an NASL first-team all-star selection in 1973 and '74. He also played indoor soccer for the Tornado.
Traded after playing 3 games in 1975, he finished his NASL career with the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
where in 1978 he was the league's third leading scorer. He played one 'A' international for the United States national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, on October 10, 1973 at Candlestick Park, as the U.S. lost to Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
0-1 in a friendly.
Source
- Ilija Mitic at National-Football-Teams.com
- NASL homepage
- Profile at OM1899
- NASL stats at Nasljeseys.