Mile Škorić

Mile Škorić (born 19 June 1991) is a Croatian professional footballer who last played as a centre-back for Chinese Super League club Cangzhou Mighty Lions, whom he captained, and the Croatia national team.

Mile Škorić
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-06-19) 19 June 1991
Place of birth Vinkovci, SR Croatia,
Yugoslavia
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1996- Sloga Novi Mikanovci
-2002 Mladost Vođinci
2003–2006 Cibalia Vinkovci
2006–2010 Osijek
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 Osijek 27 (1)
2011 Gorica 11 (0)
2012–2013 HAŠK 37 (7)
2013–2023 Osijek 262 (15)
2023 Cangzhou Mighty Lions 21 (2)
International career‡
2013 Croatia U18 7 (0)
2017– Croatia 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:53, 29 March 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Škorić started his career playing at youth level for the local club in his village Novi Mikanovci, as a goalkeeper, then moving to NK Mladost Vođinci where he was moved to the centre-back position, before joining the HNK Cibalia Vinkovci academy.[1][2][3] At the age of 15 he moved on to Osijek with whom he had signed a scholarship contract in February 2010. He made his debut for the first team as a late substitute in a 1–1 draw against Zadar on 22 March 2008 in the 25th round of 2007–08 season.[4] He scored his first goal in Prva HNL in a 5–1 away win against Rijeka on 23 October 2010.[5] In 2011, he left Osijek and spent half a season with Gorica in Druga HNL, before moving to HAŠK in the same division. Škorić moved back to Osijek prior to the commencement of the 2013–14 season.[6] Škorić played an array of midfield, side-line and offensive positions in top-tier football before settling as a central defender in 2017. His appearance and then oft misunderstood positional and passing creativity earned him the nickname "Zidane iz Novih Mikanovaca" (Zidane from Novi Mikanovci).[7]

In March 2023, after almost ten seasons with Osijek, he signed for Chinese Super League club Cangzhou Mighty Lions on a two-year contract with the option for a third.[8] In early October 2023, however, he had his contract with the Chinese club annulled due to unpaid wages and became a free agent.[9]

Career statistics
Season Club League League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2007–08 Osijek 1. HNL 10––10
2008–09 9010–100
2009–10 12010–130
2010–11 5110–61
2011–12 Gorica 2. HNL 110––110
HAŠK 121––121
2012–13 256––256
2013–14 Osijek 1. HNL 23310–243
2014–15 31410–324
2015–16 23230–262
2016–17 22030–250
2017–18 3113080421
2018–19 3433030403
2019–20 3114120372
2020–21 3013110342
2021–22 2600041301
2022–23 1101020140
Osijek Total 2891625220133419
Career Total 3272325220138226
Last Update: 30 March 2023.

International career

Škorić was first called up by Croatia on May 28, 2017 for a friendly match against Mexico. His first competitive cap came on June 8, 2019 against Wales in a Euro 2020 qualifier.[10]

He became a cult hero when he drove himself from Osijek to Split (6+ hr drive) to guard Cristiano Ronaldo in a UEFA Nations League match against Portugal. Days before the November 17, 2020 match Zlatko Dalic lost all of his central defenders to injuries and COVID. He called up Škorić, who was on the preliminary squad, two days before the match. He earned acclaim for his performance in the match and managed to keep Ronaldo scoreless (Portugal won the game 3-2 with a 90th minute goal).

He was a part of the Croatian Euro 2020 squad, but did not make a single appearance during the tournament.

References
  1. Razgovor: Mile Škorić at SiB.hr
  2. Stigao je kao vratar, ali sam shvatio kako je bolji igrač at Glas Slavonije
  3. Prije devet godina razmišljao je napustiti nogomet, a sad se sprema za Europsko prvenstvo at Glas Slavonije
  4. HRnogomet.com
  5. HRnogomet.com
  6. HRsport.net
  7. telesport.telegram.hr
  8. "ŠKORIĆ POTPISAO ZA CANGZHOU" [SKORIĆ SIGNED FOR CANGZHOU]. nk-osijek.hr (in Croatian). 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  9. Mile Škorić za Germanijak: "Slobodan sam igrač. Osijek? Moj klub je uvijek opcija" at Germanijak
  10. "Player Database". EU-football. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
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