Miljan Mrdaković (, ; 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.
Club career Mrdaković was born in Niš, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After starting out at Radnički Niš and Partizan he moved to Belgian club Anderlecht at the age of 16, playing for their youth and reserve teams before going on loan to fellow Belgian Pro League side 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 Gent on a four-year contract. He left by mutual agreement in April 2004, then spent a further one and a half years with OFK.
In early 2005, Mrdaković signed with Austria Salzburg. Six months later, he left for Metalist Kharkiv of the Ukrainian Premier League and, in August 2006, was acquired by Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv. During his spell at the latter, he scored eight times in all competitions.
After spending the 2007–08 campaign in the Portuguese Primeira Liga with Vitória de Guimarães, Mrdaković plied his trade in the Chinese Super League with Shandong Luneng Taishan. In July 2009, he agreed to a two-year deal at Apollon Limassol. He failed to make an immediate impact, being loaned to fellow Cypriot First Division club Ethnikos Achna the following transfer window.
Mrdaković returned to the Tsirio Stadium for 2010–11, netting a career-best 21 goals to lead all players. In June 2011, he signed with AEK Larnaca on a three-year contract. He scored seven times in the league during his tenure, leaving in February 2012.
In early 2012, Mrdaković rejoined the Chinese top flight with Jiangsu Sainty. He returned to Cyprus shortly after, joining Enosis Neon Paralimni.
After a few months in the Super League Greece with Veria, Mrdaković moved to Tampines Rovers of Singapore in January 2014 as their marquee player. He scored 25 goals overall, 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. He joined Vojvodina on a one-year deal in June, scoring twice in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League as the side progressed to the play-off round.
Mrdaković returned to OFK Beograd on 19 January 2017, stating his intention to retire at the club.
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.
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. He appeared in all three group stage matches, scoring in the 4–2 loss against Ivory Coast.
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. However, he missed the mini tour due to an injury picked up in a training session.
Death Mrdaković died by suicide in the Zvezdara municipality of Belgrade on 22 May 2020, aged 38.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAnderlecht2001–02Belgian First Division0000—0000Eendracht Aalst (loan)2001–02Belgian First Division3000——30OFK Beograd2002–03First League of Serbia and Montenegro322000——32202003–04First League of Serbia and Montenegro0000—2020Total322000—203420Gent2003–04Belgian First Division22421——245OFK Beograd2003–04First League of Serbia and Montenegro4000—00402004–05First League of Serbia and Montenegro6100—3192Total10100—31132Austria Salzburg2004–05Austrian Bundesliga10300——103Metalist Kharkiv2005–06Vyshcha Liha25710——2672006–07Vyshcha Liha2000——20Total27710——287Maccabi Tel Aviv2006–07Israeli Premier League2971061—368Vitória Guimarães2007–08Primeira Liga2763021—327Shandong Luneng Taishan2008Chinese Super League178———1782009Chinese Super League10——2232Total188——222010Apollon Limassol2009–10Cypriot First Division1000——10Ethnikos Achna (loan)2009–10Cypriot First Division14800——148Apollon Limassol2010–11Cypriot First Division302153—103624Total312153—103724AEK Larnaca2011–12Cypriot First Division18721—1033011Jiangsu Sainty2012Chinese Super League5100——51Enosis Neon2012–13Cypriot First Division15731——188Veria2013–14Super League Greece13511——146Tampines Rovers2014S.League25115446543925Levadiakos2014–15Super League Greece3000——30Vojvodina2015–16Serbian SuperLiga6000—3292Agrotikos Asteras2015–16Greece Football League5100——51Rad2016–17Serbian SuperLiga0000——00OFK Beograd2016–17Serbian First League5200——52Career total31811923111282612379150
Honours Shandong Luneng Taishan Chinese Super League: 2008
Tampines Rovers Singapore League Cup: 2014 Singapore Charity Shield: 2014
Individual Cypriot First Division top scorer: 2010–11
References
External links