Mihailo Ristić (, ; born 31 October 1995) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for Serbian Superliga club Red Star Belgrade and the Serbia national team
Club career Red Star Belgrade Born in Bijeljina, Ristić played with Partizan Donja Trnova and Rudar Ugljevik during his youth career, before he moved to Red Star Belgrade, in early 2013 thanks to a scouting search. He became one of the best players in Red Star's youth teams in shortly time, and was called to the first team under coach Ricardo Sá Pinto for the last league fixture of the 2012–13 season against Vojvodina. Although he did not make a deby on that match, he was on the bench during the game.
After the end of his youth career, Ristić signed his first professional contract with Red Star Belgrade in July 2014. He made his Serbian SuperLiga debut for Red Star Belgrade on 9 August 2014, under coach Nenad Lalatović, when he replaced Vukan Savićević in the 82 minute in a 2–0 win against Radnički Niš. During the season, he was mostly used as a defensive midfielder.
After Miodrag Božović became the first coach of the Red Star Belgrade, Ristić started 2015–16 season as a back-up player. He also changed several positions on the field, playing as a central and left midfielder or as a left-back in some occasions. At the beginning of 2016–17 season, Mihailo definitely changed his position, but he also changed his jersey number and took 73 (He had worn 24 & 36 previously). After Luis Ibáñez left the club, Ristić became the first choice as a left-back, which he justified making two assists in the 3rd fixture of the 2016–17 Serbian SuperLiga season against Mladost Lučani. On 14 September 2016, Ristić extended his contract with club until summer 2020.
Krasnodar
On 30 June 2017, Ristić signed a five-year contract with the Russian Premier League club Krasnodar. The reported fee is believed to be around €2 million plus 20 percent of the future transfer.
Ristić made his debut for new club in the first leg of third qualifying round for 2017–18 UEFA Europa League, in a 2–1 home victory against Lyngby Boldklub on 27 July 2017. On 17 August 2017, in the first leg match of the play-off round for 2017–18 UEFA Europa League Ristić scored from a long distance against his former club Red Star. However, neither the referee nor the linesman saw it as a goal, and play was continued. The final score was a 3–2 win for Krasnodar.
On 2 February 2018, Ristić returned to Czech club Sparta Prague on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy.
Later career Ristić joined French club Montpellier on 12 January 2019. On 26 May 2022, he officially signed for Primeira Liga club Benfica on a free transfer. Ristić made his Primeira Liga debut on 27 August, replacing Alejandro Grimaldo in the 91st minute in a 3–0 away victory against Boavista. He scored his first goal for the club on 6 November, closing Benfica's 5–1 victory against Estoril.
On 1 September 2023, Ristić signed a three-year contract with La Liga club Celta, for a fee of €1.5 million, which could rise to €3 million with add-ons.
International career Ristić was a member of Serbia national under-19 football team between 2013 and 2014. During that period, Ristić played as a left-back in some matches. He was also called into U20 squad under coach Veljko Paunović in 2015, but he later missed FIFA U-20 World Cup because of tonsillectomy. Selector of Serbia national under-23 football team, Milan Rastavac invited him to squad for a revival match against Qatar in December 2015. Ristić was called, and made his debut for Serbia U21 team in a match against Andorra, played in March 2016. Coach Slavoljub Muslin invited Ristić for a friendly match of the Serbia national football team against Qatar in September 2016.
On 11 October 2020, Ristić debuted for the Serbia national football team in a 3-0 friendly loss against Qatar alongside Dušan Vlahović.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupIncludes Serbian Cup, Russian Cup, Coupe de France and Taça de PortugalLeague cupIncludes Coupe de la Ligue and Taça da LigaContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRed Star Belgrade2013–14Serbian SuperLiga0000—00—002014–15Serbian SuperLiga23220———2522015–16Serbian SuperLiga29220—10—3222016–17Serbian SuperLiga263Does not include a goal scored against Javor Ivanjica in 36th fixture, wrongly attributed to him by Soccerway50—30—343Total78790—40—917Krasnodar2017–18Russian Premier League4010—30—80Sparta Prague (loan)2017–18Czech First League2000—00—202018–19Czech First League1000—10—20Total3000—10—40Montpellier2018–19Ligue 11010000——1012019–20Ligue 11801020——2102020–21Ligue 13403000——3702021–22Ligue 12912100——312Total9126120——993Benfica2022–23Primeira Liga71201000—1012023–24Primeira Liga100000001Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira020Total8120100010121Celta2023–24La Liga12030———1502024–25La Liga10020———1202025–26La Liga5030—6Appearances in UEFA Europa League0—140Total27080—60—410Red Star Belgrade2026–27Serbian SuperLiga1000—00—10Career total21210261301401025411
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSerbia201610201700201800201900202040202120202220Total90
Honours Red Star Belgrade Serbian SuperLiga: 2013–14, 2015–16 Serbian Cup runner-up: 2016–17
Benfica Primeira Liga: 2022–23 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2023
References
External links
Profile at the S.L. Benfica website Mihailo Ristić at Utakmica.rs