| Nik Mrdja | |
| Fullname: | Nikola Mrdja[1] |
| Birth Date: | 30 November 1978 |
| Birth Place: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Height: | 1.86m (06.1feet) |
| Position: | Striker |
| Youthclubs1: | Bayswater City |
| Years1: | 1997 |
| Years2: | 1998 |
| Clubs2: | Kingsway |
| Years3: | 1998–1999 |
| Caps3: | 3 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2000–2001 |
| Caps4: | 6 |
| Goals4: | 2 |
| Years5: | 2001–2004 |
| Caps5: | 73 |
| Goals5: | 25 |
| Years6: | 2004 |
| Caps6: | 12 |
| Goals6: | 2 |
| Years7: | 2005–2011 |
| Caps7: | 48 |
| Goals7: | 12 |
| Years8: | 2010 |
| Clubs8: | → Melbourne Victory (loan) |
| Caps8: | 3 |
| Goals8: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2007 |
| Nationalteam1: | Australia |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
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.
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]
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.
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]
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]