Nik Mrdja

Last updated

Nik Mrdja
Nik Mrdja.jpg
Mrdja with Central Coast Mariners in 2009
Personal information
Full name Nikola Mrdja [1]
Date of birth (1978-11-30) 30 November 1978 (age 44)
Place of birth Perth, Western Australia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Bayswater City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1997 Bayswater City
1998 Kingsway
1998–1999 Canberra Cosmos 3 (0)
2000–2001 Perth SC 6 (2)
2001–2004 Perth Glory 73 (25)
2004 AIK 12 (2)
2005–2011 Central Coast Mariners 48 (12)
2010 → Melbourne Victory (loan) 3 (1)
International career
2007 Australia 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Nikola "Nik" Mrdja (born 30 November 1978) is an Australian former soccer player, who played as a striker. [1] Mrdja had a career spanning several National Soccer League (NSL) and A-League clubs from 1998 to 2011, as well as a brief spell in Sweden with AIK in 2004. Mrdja made one appearance for Australia, in a friendly against Argentina in 2007.

Contents

Club career

Early years

In October 1998, Mrdja signed for Canberra Cosmos after travelling from Perth to Canberra to trial at his own expense. [2] In late November 1998, Mrdja was one of five players released by the club. [3]

In April 2000, Mrdja signed for Perth SC. [4]

Mrdja trialled for Perth Glory in January 2001, signing soon after. [5] [6]

Mrdja scored a golden goal for Perth Glory in the final of the 2003–04 National Soccer League against Parramatta Power in the last match of the NSL. [7]

Central Coast Mariners

In December 2004, Mrdja signed with Central Coast Mariners to play in the newly formed A-League. [8] In the Mariners first competitive fixture, an F3 Derby against the Newcastle Jets in qualification for the 2005 OFC Club Championship, Mrdja broke opposing defender Andrew Durante's leg with a tackle late in extra time. [9] The incident subsequently gained prominence as a sparking point for the clubs' rivalry. [10] On the field, Mrdja's early form for the Mariners was strong. In the club's next game against Adelaide United, Mrdja scored a hat-trick, sealing progress to the qualification final. [11] He scored another hat-trick in a 2005 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup win over Queensland Roar. [12]

However, soon after Mrdja suffered a knee injury causing him to miss the entire 2005–06 A-League season, eventually returning early in the 2006–07 season. [13] His first goal in the A-League came from a direct free kick in a win over New Zealand Knights on 19 November 2006. [14] Mrdja's knee injury continued to be an issue, and saw him miss much of the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons. [15]

It is during his time at the Mariners that Mrdja discovered his love for disco biscuits.

Melbourne Victory

In February 2010, with the Mariners out of contention for the 2009–10 A-League finals, Mrdja was released by the Mariners and signed a short-term deal with Melbourne Victory to play in the final rounds of the A-League and in the 2010 AFC Champions League, as an injury replacement for Billy Celeski. At the same time, he signed a deal to play for the Mariners again in the 2010–11 season. [16] The unusual nature of the move, despite being valid within the rules, created significant controversy, given its lateness in the season and the ban on direct loans between A-League clubs. [17] The issue, and subsequent public controversy, prompted a review of the A-League's transfer rules by Football Federation Australia. [18]

Mrdja made his debut for the Victory on 5 February 2010, coming on as a halftime substitute in a win over North Queensland Fury, in the second-last round of the 2009–10 A-League regular season. [19] He scored his first goal for the club two weeks later, in a win in the first leg of the major semifinal against Sydney FC, before being sent off later in the match for elbowing Shannon Cole. [20] Mrdja received a two-game suspension for the incident, which eventually saw him miss the 2010 A-League Grand Final. [21]

Mrdja retired from professional football at the end of the 2010–11 season. [22]

International career

Mrdja was called up to the Australian national team for the first time in September 2007 for a friendly against Argentina, after an injury ruled out Scott McDonald and following Mrdja's good form in the A-League. [23] In the game, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Mrdja made his debut as a substitute in the 82nd minute, coming on for Joshua Kennedy in a 1–0 defeat. [24]

Honours

Club

Perth Glory
Central Coast Mariners

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perth Glory FC</span> Australian professional football club

Perth Glory Football Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in Perth, Western Australia. It competes in the country's premier men's competition, A-League Men, under licence from Australian Professional Leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Brosque</span> Australian soccer player

Alex Jason Brosque is an Australian former professional footballer who was the captain of A-League club Sydney FC. He played primarily as a striker but played predominantly as a midfielder in central midfield during his time in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Vukovic</span> Australian soccer player

Daniel Vukovic is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League and the Australia national team. Vukovic is the holder of several A-League records: he has the second most clean sheets of any goalkeeper in the A-League (87), he is the only goalkeeper to score in the A-League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Beauchamp</span> Australian association football player

Michael Francis Beauchamp is an Australian former professional footballer who played as a central defender. He was a member of the Australian 2006 World Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup squads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Thwaite</span> Professional Australian Football Player

Michael Errol Thwaite is a former Australian football (soccer) player who last played for Gold Coast United.

The 2006–07 A-League was the 30th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the second season of the A-League since its establishment the previous season. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Fox Sports had signed a A$120 million deal over 7 years for the exclusive broadcast rights of the A-League, AFC Champions League, and national team matches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa De Vanna</span> Australian soccer player

Lisa Marie De Vanna is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Perth Glory. She has previously played for Adelaide Sensation, Western Waves, Doncaster Rovers Belles, AIK, Perth Glory, Washington Freedom, Brisbane Roar, magicJack, Newcastle Jets, Linköping, Sky Blue FC, Melbourne Victory, Boston Breakers, Washington Spirit, Melbourne City, North Shore Mariners, Orlando Pride, Canberra United, South Melbourne, Sydney FC, and Fiorentina as well as representing the Australian national team 150 times. She is noted for her pace and dribbling skills. She has been regularly considered one of the greatest female footballers in the world; football analyst and former Socceroo Craig Foster stated that she "ran on jet-fuel; burning up twice as fast, but with incredible impact."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Redmayne</span> Australian soccer player

Andrew James Redmayne is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Sydney FC in the A-League and the Australia men's national team.

Melbourne Victory FC is an Australian women's soccer team affiliated with Melbourne Victory FC and Football Federation Victoria. Founded in 2008, the team is one of the representatives of Melbourne in Australia's top-tier domestic competition – the A-League Women.

The 2009–10 A-League National Youth League season was the second season of the Australian A-League National Youth League soccer competition. Like the previous season, the season ran alongside the 2009–10 A-League season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caitlin Foord</span> Australian international football (soccer) player

Caitlin Jade Foord is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for FA Women's Super League club Arsenal and the Australia national team, the Matildas. She became the youngest Australian to play at a World Cup when she represented Australia at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup at the age of 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitchell Mallia</span> Australian soccer player

Mitchell Daniel Mallia is a former Australian professional soccer player who last played for Blacktown City.

The 2011–12 Central Coast Mariners season will be Central Coast Mariners's seventh A-League season. It includes the 2011–12 A-League season as well as any other competitions of the 2011–12 football (soccer) season. This will include competing in the 2012 AFC Champions League.

The 2012–13 A-League was the 36th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the eighth season of the Australian A-League since its establishment in 2004. The 2012–13 season saw the introduction of a new Western Sydney-based team, the return of Newcastle Jets FC after their A-League licence was returned by FFA, and the end of Gold Coast United after they were removed from the competition at the end of the previous season. This season was also the last A-League season to be broadcast exclusively on paid television, after SBS obtained the rights to a live Friday night game each week of the A-League season, and all A-League finals games on a one-hour delay, on a $160 million four-year broadcast deal, effective from the 2013–14 A-League season onwards.

The 2016–17 A-League was the 40th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the 12th since the establishment of the A-League in 2004. The season began on 7 October 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remy Siemsen</span> Australian soccer player (born 1999)

Remy Dianne Siemsen is an Australian professional soccer player who plays for English Women's Super League club Leicester City and the Australia women's national team. She has represented Australia on the under-20 national team. Following her debut season in the W-League at the age of 16, she was named W-League Young Footballer of the Year.

The 2018–19 A-League was the 42nd season of national level soccer in Australia, and the 14th since the establishment of the A-League in 2004. The regular season commenced on 19 October 2018 and concluded on 28 April 2019. The play-offs began on 3 May 2019 and ended with the Grand Final on 19 May 2019. Sydney FC defeated Perth Glory in the Grand Final.

The 2019–20 A-League, also known as the 2019–20 Hyundai A-League for sponsorship reasons, was the 43rd season of national level soccer in Australia, and the 15th since the establishment of the A-League in 2004. The regular season commenced on 11 October 2019 and was scheduled to conclude on 26 April 2020, though was postponed to 19 August 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused Football Federation Australia (FFA) to suspend the season from late March to mid July. The season resumed on 17 July 2020, which meant the finals occurred in mid-August and the Grand Final was held on 30 August 2020.

This article concerns football records in Australia. Unless otherwise stated, records are taken from the National Soccer League or A-League Men. Where a different record exists for the top flight, this is also given.

References

  1. 1 2 "Nik Mrdja – AIK:s Andra Australiensare". AIK Fotboll . Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Nicholson, James (8 November 1998). "Mrdja Back in WA Sooner Than He Thought After Cosmos Call-up". The Canberra Times. p. 18.
  3. ↑ Nicholson, James (27 November 1998). "Schwab Likely To Intervene on Behalf of Sacked Cosmos Players". The Canberra Times.
  4. ↑ "Cosmos Coach Stays Despite "totally Inept And Embarrassing" Team". The Canberra Times. 18 April 2000.
  5. ↑ Nicholson, James (10 January 2001). "Cosmos Gains Breathing Space". The Canberra Times.
  6. ↑ "Best of 2000 out to assert authority". The Sunday Times. 18 February 2001. p. 90.
  7. ↑ "Mrjda wins it for Glory". The World Game . Special Broadcasting Service. 4 April 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  8. ↑ Lynch, Michael (15 December 2004). "Player drain as Victory delays". The Age . Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  9. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (9 May 2005). "A-League's new order hits the spot, but fans take time to catch on". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  10. ↑ Danvers, Greg (15 August 2008). "Siblings face off in epic A-league opener". The Daily Telegraph . Sydney. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  11. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (12 May 2005). "It's Mrdja as Mariners sink Adelaide". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  12. ↑ "Mrdja hat-trick seals win". The World Game . Special Broadcasting Service. 24 July 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  13. ↑ "Mrdja back for Mariners". The World Game . Special Broadcasting Service. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  14. ↑ "Mariners on the move after downing Knights". Australia: ABC News. 19 November 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  15. ↑ "Mrdja and Osman return to the fold". Football NSW. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  16. ↑ "Mrdja makes Melbourne move". The World Game . Special Broadcasting Service. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  17. ↑ Airs, Kevin (8 February 2010). "Mrdja's Odyssey is a move too far". Australian FourFourTwo . Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  18. ↑ "Mrdja switch backlash prompts FFA review". Australia: ABC News. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  19. ↑ "El Zorro the hero for Victory". Australian FourFourTwo . 5 February 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "Victory don't get away with Mrdja". Australian FourFourTwo . 18 February 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  21. ↑ Hand, Guy (23 February 2010). "Mrdja's ban may include Grand Final". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  22. ↑ "Mariners sign Baird from Glory". Australia: ABC News. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  23. ↑ Chiarelli, Simon (7 September 2007). "Mrdja gets the Socceroos nod". Australian FourFourTwo . Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  24. ↑ "Argentina get home against gallant Australia". Football Federation Australia. 12 September 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.