Fulham’s first season back in the Premier League was a rousing success, as they finished within the Top 10. At one point, they were within striking distance of a spot in Europe, which just goes to show how good they were.
And a huge reason why was Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was undoubtedly one of the team’s best players. The Serbian international was the only double-digit scorer for the Cottagers last season, registering 15 goals, making him a regular in the Premier League 2023 highlights reel.
With Mitrovic leading the way, Fulham have emerged as one of the teams to watch out for, as they have the capability to punch above their weight and defy the Premier League 2023 odds once again.
It’s an exciting time to be a Fulham fan, so today, allow SBOTOP to chronicle Aleksandar Mitrovic’s journey to Craven Cottage.
Life before Fulham and with the Serbian national team
Aleksandar Mitrovic already has a ton of football experience despite being only 28 years old because he started playing the beautiful game at such a young age.
At 11 years old, Mitrovic started his football journey with Partizan. He spent six years there before moving to Teleoptik on loan, eventually helping them win the Serbian SuperLiga in his first season.
Mitrovic then moved on to Anderlecht, where he scored 44 goals in 90 matches across all competitions in two seasons. Just like at Teleoptik, he won the Belgian Pro League title in his first campaign and then followed it up with the Golden Boot award in his second season.
At the age of 18, Mitrovic was listed as one of the Top 10 young talents under the age of 19 in Europe. He helped Serbia win the 2013 European U-19 Championship and was voted the best player of the competition.
A few months after that, he played his first match for the senior national team, and the rest is history. He has earned 80 caps, representing Serbia at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and he’s also the nation’s all-time leading goal scorer with 52 and counting.
When he moved to Newcastle United in 2015, Mitrovic played three seasons for the Magpies, recording 14 goals in 65 appearances as well as winning the Championship in 2016-17.
In his final season at St. James Park, he was loaned to Fulham, eventually signing permanently on a five-year deal after a successful loan stint.
Bringing back Fulham to the Premier League
When Fulham were relegated to the Championship in the 2021-22 season, Mitrovic didn’t run away from the grind. Instead of leaving for another team, he signed a new extension that will last until the summer of 2026.
Mitrovic was on a mission to bring the Cottagers back to the Premier League. His hat-trick in their 3-1 home win over Swansea City set the tone for the rest of the season, as he finished with a staggering 43 league goals, breaking the record for most goals in a Championship campaign.
Fulham won the Championship despite a late wobble when they ended their campaign with two losses in their last three games.
Mitrovic was voted EFL Championship Player of the Season and was also named to the Team of the Season, alongside teammates Antonee Robinson, Harry Wilson, and Tosin Adarabioyo.
Mitrovic is Fulham through and through
Mitrovic started the 2022-23 season with a bang, recording a brace in the 2-2 home draw against Liverpool. He continued his scoring binge until he was dinged up by injuries before the World Cup break.
He regained his rhythm following the World Cup break, but his campaign ended prematurely when he was slapped with an eight-game ban during Fulham’s FA Cup quarter-final match against Manchester United in March.
The Serbian striker was sent off after arguing and making contact with the referee following a handball decision that also saw Willian and manager Marco Silva sent off.
With Mitrovic unavailable, Fulham were never the same as they limped towards the end of the campaign, failing to win in their final two league matches against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
Despite this, Mitrovic’s stock has never been higher because he is one of the most underrated strikers today. Since he’s in his prime, rival clubs are keeping tabs on him, particularly Chelsea and Manchester United.
But as he has proven time and time again, his affinity for Fulham goes deep. With a few more years left on his current contract, Mitrovic will aim to make the most of his time at Craven Cottage, and he has the “it” factor to lead them to new heights.
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