Marko Mitrović Named Head Coach Of U.S. Under-19 Men’s Youth National Team
Former Reading and Chicago Fire FC Assistant Coach Helped Lead Serbia to 2015 U-20 World Cup Championship; Will Hold First Training Camp This Week in Southern California
CHICAGO (April 18, 2022) – U.S. Soccer has appointed Marko Mitrović as the new head coach of the U.S. Under-19 Men’s Youth National Team.
Mitrović holds a UEFA Pro License and brings a variety of experience from across the youth and professional game. He served as an assistant coach for Serbia when it won the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup and spent four years as an assistant with Chicago Fire FC. Most recently, the Serbian worked as an assistant at Reading in the English Championship.
“We’re excited to have Marko join U.S. Soccer to lead our U-19 Men’s Youth National Team,” said Brian McBride, U.S. Men’s National Team General Manager. “With so many talented players in this age group working to break through with their club teams, we’re thrilled to get the U-19s back on the field and get more players experience in our National Team environment. Marko has a proven track record of success in the youth international game and we think he’ll be a great leader as these players aim to take the next step in their careers.”
Mitrović will hold his first training camp as U-19 MYNT head coach from April 22-May 1 in Carson, Calif.
As a coach in Serbia’s youth national team program, Mitrović helped launch the careers of several young Serbian players, boosting them to the senior national team and top clubs across Europe. He was the first assistant when Serbia lifted the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, the nation’s first FIFA title since the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The Orlići also finished third at the 2014 UEFA U-19 Championship. In addition to his duties as an assistant with Serbia’s older youth teams, Mitrović served as head coach for Serbia’s U-15 and U-16 squads in 2014 and 2015.
Following his success with Serbia, Mitrović joined the Fire as an assistant from 2016-2019. During his tenure, the Fire returned to the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2017 following a five-year drought and consecutive last-place league finishes. The team also reached the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinals.
“It’s an honor to join U.S. Soccer as a coach for the Youth National Teams,” said Mitrović. “I’ve been impressed by the growth of the USMNT program over the last few years and I’m excited to play a role in developing the next generation of top talents and senior National Team players. There’s so much potential in this country and with this age group in particular. I can’t wait to get started helping these players reach their goals.”
Mitrović’s track record of recognizing and developing young players includes the likes of Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic, Real Madrid forward Luka Jovic, Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić, Montreal CF midfielder Djordje Mihailovic and more.
He launched his coaching career in his native Serbia, beginning as an assistant with Banat Zrenjanin. He worked as a head coach for two years in the Red Star Belgrade academy, where he also developed as a youth player.
Mitrović was one of the youngest-ever to debut for Red Star, Serbia’s most-successful club. During his 14-year playing career, Mitrović competed in the top divisions of Serbia, Hungary, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. He won the Serbian Cup with Red Star in his first professional season, and finished runner-up in both the league and cup with Kazakhstan’s FK Astana during the 2008-09 season.