Mario Mitaj
Mario Mitaj (born 6 August 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Russian Premier League club Lokomotiv Moscow. Born in Greece, he represents Albania at international level.[2]
 Mitaj with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 August 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Athens, Greece | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lokomotiv Moscow | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2017–2020 | AEK Athens | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | AEK Athens | 11 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | AEK Athens B | 20 | (0) |
| 2022– | Lokomotiv Moscow | 11 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Albania U16 | 1 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Albania U17 | 6 | (1) |
| 2020– | Albania U21 | 11 | (0) |
| 2021– | Albania | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 May 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:09, 31 March 2021 (UTC) | |||
Club career
AEK Athens
On 12 August 2020, Mitaj signed his first professional contract with Greek club AEK Athens and immediately started training with the first team.[3]
On 18 October 2020, he made his first league appearance in a game against PAOK, thus becoming the youngest foreign player in club history to feature in a competitive fixture, at 17 years, 2 months and 13 days old.[4]
On 2 February 2021, he signed a new contract, running until the summer of 2023.[5]
On 10 August 2021, the Albanian defender signed a new deal, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2026.[6]
Lokomotiv Moscow
On 27 August 2022, Mitaj signed a five-year contract with Russian Premier League club FC Lokomotiv Moscow.[7] The transfer fee was 3 million euros and AEK also kept a percentage for the next Mitaj's transfer.
International career
Having lived in Nea Ionia, Attica, Greece for a large part of his life, Mitaj was eligible to represent both Albania and Greece at international level. After having featured in all young Albanian squads, he earned his first cap for Albania's senior squad on 31 March 2021, in a 2–0 victory over San Marino for the 2022 European FIFA World Cup qualifiers, becoming cap-tied to Albania in the process. With this appearance, he became Albania's youngest ever international player at 17 years and 237 days old.[8]
Career statistics
- As of 27 November 2022
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| AEK Athens | 2020–21 | Super League Greece | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| AEK Athens B | 2021–22 | Super League Greece 2 | 20 | 0 | – | – | 20 | 0 | ||
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2022–23 | RPL | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 9 | 0 | |
| Career total | 36 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 0 | ||
- Appearance in the UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
References
- "Mario Mitaj". FC Lokomotiv Moscow. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- Mario Mitaj at Soccerway
- "Mario Mitaj signed a professional contract with AEK!". www.aekfc.gr. 12 August 2020.
- "ΘΕΜΑ Μάριο Μιτάι: Ο νεότερος ξένος στην ιστορία της ΑΕΚ" [SUBJECT Mario Mitai: The youngest foreigner in the history of AEK]. www.amna.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ""Έδεσε" και τους Μιτάι και Μαχαίρα η ΑΕΚ (vid)" (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-01-02.
- "ΑΕΚ: Επέκτεινε το συμβόλαιο του Μιτάι μέχρι το 2026" (in Greek). www.sport24.gr. 10 August 2021.
- "МАРИО МИТАЙ – НОВЫЙ ЗАЩИТНИК "ЛОКОМОТИВА"" (in Russian). Lokomotiv Moscow. 27 August 2022.
- "ΑΕΚ: «Έκλεισε» στην Αλβανία ο Μιτάι και «έγραψε» ιστορία". www.newsit.gr. April 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
External links
- Mario Mitaj – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Mario Mitaj at ESPN FC