Mitchell Donald

Mitchell Donald

Donald with Red Star Belgrade in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Mitchell Glenn Donald [1]
Date of birth	(1988-12-10) 10 December 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth	Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Youth career
0000	SV Bijlmer
0000–1998	Zeeburgia
1998–2007	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2011	Ajax	8	(1)
2007–2009	→ Jong Ajax (loan)	56	(8)
2010	→ Willem II (loan)	14	(1)
2011–2014	Roda JC	91	(12)
2014–2015	Mordovia	14	(3)
2015–2018	Red Star Belgrade	79	(12)
2018–2020	Yeni Malatyaspor	58	(10)
2020–2021	BB Erzurumspor	16	(1)
International career‡
2009	Netherlands U21	3	(0)
2021–	Suriname	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:09, 6 June 2021 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 05:15, 17 July 2021 (UTC)

Mitchell Glenn Donald (born 10 December 1988) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder. ^[2] He previously played for AFC Ajax, where he went through the youth program. Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Suriname national team.

Club career

Ajax

Donald with Ajax in 2009

Born in Nieuw-Vennep, Donald joined Ajax following spells at amateur sides SV Bijlmer and A.V.V. Zeeburgia. He joined the first team of Ajax after the 2006–07 winter break in February 2007. Donald made his professional Ajax debut under manager Henk ten Cate on 14 February 2007, in the UEFA Cup clash against SV Werder Bremen. ^[3] In August 2007 he participated in the 1–0 win over PSV Eindhoven to clinch the Johan Cruijff-schaal, his first trophy. Donald made his Eredivisie debut on 23 September 2007 in a match against AZ, coming on as a substitute for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. ^[4] He went on to make two more substitutes appearances in the 2007–08 season, on 25 November 2007 against Vitesse Arnhem and on 13 January 2008 against AZ. ^{[5] [6]}

Donald made no appearances in the Eredivisie in the 2008–09 season under manager Marco van Basten, after being badly injured in pre-season at the Amsterdam Tournament in a challenge on Inter's Adriano, but he reestablished himself in the squad following the appointment of Martin Jol. ^[7] On 27 July 2009, almost exactly a year after injuring himself there, Donald appeared once again at the Amsterdam Tournament in a match against S.L. Benfica. ^[7] Jol stated that the game of Donald was "surprising" and that his game was "very good and beautiful for such a young player. It also gives confidence and that is important". ^[7] On 20 August 2009, he came on as a substitute in the UEFA Europa League match against Slovan Bratislava, and was in the starting lineup the following week in the away return match. ^{[8] [9]} On 20 September 2009, Donald played his first Eredivisie match in 20 months, coming on as a substitute in an away match against VVV-Venlo. ^[10] On 11 December 2009 (one day after his 21st birthday), Donald scored his first Eredivisie goal for Ajax in a 3–0 victory over N.E.C. ^[11]

Loan spell at Willem II

On 29 January 2010, Willem II signed the midfielder on loan from AFC Ajax until June 2011, where he joined his Ajax teammate Jan-Arie van der Heijden. ^[12] On 5 February 2010, Donald scored on his debut for the club from Tilburg in a 2–1 loss to NAC Breda. ^[13] Playing with Willem II, Donald collected 18 appearances at total, including 4 matches in relegation play-off. ^[2]

Roda JC

On 2 February 2011, Donald signed a contract for Roda JC, but he first joined on 1 July 2011 to his new team. ^[14] Donald made his official debut for Roda JC replacing Laurent Delorge in 3–0 defeat against Feyenoord on 13 August 2011. While with the club, Donald collected 102 matches in all competitions for three seasons at total, scoring 16 goals. ^[2]

Mordovia

In summer 2014, he signed with Russian Premier League side Mordovia Saransk.

Red Star Belgrade

Donald playing for Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Europa League, 2018

On 12 August 2015, he signed a 6-months loan deal with Serbian side Red Star Belgrade, with option for permanent 2-year deal, under the condition that he appear in more than half the league games until the 2015-16 winter break. ^[15] On 18 January 2016, it was announced that Donald had signed a 1.5-year contract with Red Star lasting until June 2017. ^[16] In March 2016, it was announced that his gross salary amounts to 1.005.030 euros. ^[17]

On 27 July 2017, Donald became the first foreign captain in the club history, leading the team in 2–0 victory over Sparta Prague. ^[18] He made his hundredth appearance for the club in the Eternal Derby, played on 13 December 2017. ^[19] Scoring a goal in 2–1 away victory over Vojvodina on 7 March 2018, Donald archived his 104 match for Red Star Belgrade, equalizing with Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes as a most capable foreign footballer in the club history. ^[20] Several days later, on Friday 9 March, he was hospitalized due to cardiac problems. ^[21]

On 14 April 2018, Donald became the most capped foreign footballer in the club's history. Replacing Nemanja Radonjić in 81 minute of the Eternal Derby, Donald noted his 105th official game with Red Star Belgrade. ^[22] He had been sent off after conflict with Seydouba Soumah on the field in last minutes of the match. ^[23] On 19 May 2018, Donald scored in the final match of the 2017–18 Serbian SuperLiga season, against Voždovac for winning the second trophy with the club. The match was noted as his last under contract with Red Star, after he refused to sign new deal. ^[24]

Yeni Malatyaspor

Donald moved to Turkey in summer 2018 by signing with Yeni Malatyaspor. ^[2]

Grafičar Beograd

In January 2023, after a year and a half without a club, Donald joined Serbian First League club Grafičar Beograd on tryout. ^[25]

International career

Born in the Netherlands, Donald is of Surinamese descent. ^[26] He made 3 appearances for the Netherlands Under-21 team in 2009. ^[2] He debuted with the Suriname national team in a 6–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification win over Bermuda on 4 June 2021. ^[27] A few weeks later on 25 June Donald was named to the Suriname squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. ^[28]

Personal life

He is the older brother of the footballer Joël Donald. ^[29] In late 2017, Donald owned a hookah lounge in Belgrade. ^[30] Donald is the father of 2 daughters and is married to Esra Donald.

Career statistics

As of end of 2020—21 season ^{[31] [32] [2]}

Donald playing with Mordovia in 2014

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ajax	2006–07	Eredivisie	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2007–08		3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	2008–09		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2009–10		5	1	0	0	3	0	—		8	1
	2010–11		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		8	1	0	0	4	0	—		12	1
Willem II (loan)	2009–10	Eredivisie	14	1	0	0	—		4 [a]	0	18	1
Roda	2011–12	Eredivisie	31	4	2	2	—		—		33	6
	2012–13		30	2	1	0	—		4	2	35	4
	2013–14		30	6	4	0	—		—		34	6
	Total		91	12	7	0	—		4 [a]	2	102	16
Mordovia	2014–15	Russian Premier League	12	1	0	0	—		—		12	1
	2015–16		2	1	0	0	—		—		2	1
	Total		14	2	0	0	—		—		14	2
Red Star	2015–16	Serbian SuperLiga	28 [b]	2	2	0	—		—		30	2
	2016–17		29	4 [c]	5	0	6	2	—		40	6
	2017–18		22	6	—		15	1	—		37	7
	Total		79	12	7	0	21	3	—		107	15
Yeni Malatyaspor	2018–19	Süper Lig	26	5	5	0	1	0	—		32	5
	2019–20		32	5	3	0	—		—		35	5
	Total		58	10	8	0	1	0	—		67	10
BB Erzurumspor	2020–21	Süper Lig	16	1	2	0	0	0	—		18	1
Career total			280	39	24	2	26	3	8	2	338	46

1. Appearances in the relegation play-offs
2. Donald spent the first half-season as a loaned player making 16 league and 2 cup appearances, after which he joined the club permanently
3. Including a goal scored on 17 May 2017 against Javor Ivanjica. ^[33]

Honours

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 2010–11 ^[2]
• KNVB Cup: 2006–07 ^[2]
• Johan Cruijff Shield: 2007 ^[2]

Red Star Belgrade

• Serbian SuperLiga: 2015–16, 2017–18 ^[2]

Individual

• Serbian SuperLiga Team of the Season: 2015–16, 2016–17

References

1. Mitchell Donald at the Turkish Football Federation
2. Mitchell Donald at Soccerway
3. "Werder Bremen 3 – 0 Ajax Amsterdam". ESPN Soccernet. 14 February 2007. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
4. "AZ Alkmaar 2 – 3 Ajax Amsterdam". ESPN Soccernet. 23 September 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
5. "Ajax Amsterdam 4 – 1 Vitesse Arnhem". ESPN Soccernet. 25 November 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
6. "Ajax Amsterdam 6 – 1 AZ Alkmaar". ESPN Soccernet. 13 January 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
7. "Jol: 'We moeten echt veel beter gaan verdedigen'". Voetbalzone. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
8. "Ajax Amsterdam 5 – 0 Slovan Bratislava". ESPN Soccernet. 20 August 2009. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
9. "Slovan Bratislava 1 – 2 Ajax Amsterdam". ESPN Soccernet. 27 August 2009. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
10. "VVV Venlo 0 – 4 Ajax Amsterdam". ESPN Soccernet. 20 September 2009. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
11. "Ajax Amsterdam 3 – 0 NEC Nijmegen". ESPN Soccernet. 11 December 2009. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
12. "Donald op huurbasis naar Willem II". AFC Ajax. 29 January 2010. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
13. "NAC bolster European hopes". Sky Sports. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
14. Roda JC Kerkrade contracteert Mitchell Donald: Dolgelukkig met deze overstap
15. Donald i zvanično potpisao za Zvezdu at Sportski žurnal, 12 August 2015 (in Serbian)
16. "DONALD ZVEZDIN do juna 2017. Godine | SPORT.TRAZIM.COM". Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016. Sport: DONALD ZVEZDIN do juna 2017. godine. (in Serbian) 18 January 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016
17. "Procurele plate igrača! Donald i Le Talek imaju milionske ugovore u Zvezdi!". telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 28 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
18. "Donald: Srećan sam u Zvezdi i nema razloga da idem! Kanga: Zaslužili smo i više! Boaći: Uvek verujem u ovaj tim!". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 27 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
19. "SK saznaje: Donald ide u Moskvu!". Sport Klub (in Serbian). 15 December 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
20. Доналд: Изненадио сам себе самог код гола.... Radio Television of Serbia (in Serbian). 8 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
21. ДРАМА ЗВЕЗДИНОГ КАПИТЕНА: Мичел Доналд у болници!. Sportski žurnal (in Serbian). 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
22. Доналд рекордер!. Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 16 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
23. Црвена звезда - Партизан 2:1 (2:0). Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 14 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
24. "KRAJ: Crvena zvezda - Voždovac 5:1 (VIDEO)". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
25. "МИЧЕЛ ДОНАЛД СЛЕТЕО У АНТАЛИЈУ!" [MITCHELL DONALD LANDED IN ANTALYA!] (in Serbian). Grafičar Beograd. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
26. "Zo kan het nationaal elftal van Suriname eruit gaan zien". Elfvoetbal.nl.
27. "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Qualifiers - North, Central America and Caribbean - Matches - Suriname - Bermuda". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021.
28. Surinamese Football Federation [@OfficialSVB1920] (25 June 2021). "The 23 That Will Represent Us At The CONCACAF Gold Cup" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 July 2021– via Twitter.
29. Telstar trekt Joël Donald aan - Telstar (in Dutch)
30. "GOST "BLICA" Mičel Donald jasan: Hoću da ostanem na "Marakani"". Blic (in Serbian). 19 December 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
31. "Mitchell Donald Statistics". ESPN Soccernet. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
32. "Mitchell Donald Statistics". Voetbal International. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
33. Јавор - Црвена звезда 0:3 (0:1). Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). Retrieved 17 May 2017.

External links

• Voetbal International profile (in Dutch)
• Mitchell Donald at Soccerbase
• Mitchell Donald Interview