Ilija Stolica
Encyclopedia
Ilija Stolica (born July 7, 1978 in Zemun
) is a Serbia
n footballer.
n club FK Zemun
. In his first year with the club he appeared in 24 matches and scored 6 goals. His play with Zemun attracted the interest of Spanish Second Division side UE Lleida
who signed him in 1998. He remained in Spain for two years appearing in 28 matches for Lleida and scoring two goals. In 2000 he joined top Serbian club Partizan Belgrade
and scored 7 goals in 25 league matches. After a short stay with Partizan, Stolica rejoined FK Zemun
and was a top scorer in the 2001-02 Yugoslav First League scoring 25 goals in 35 matches and earning a full international call-up as a result. He remained at Zemun thru 2003 appearing in 58 matches and scoring 40 goals.
As a result of his play with Zemun he began to draw interest from various European clubs including Portuguese side SC Farense
and Spain's Rayo Vallecano. In January 2003 he was sold to Ukrainian top club FC Metalurh Donetsk
. While with Donetsk, Stolica made 20 league appearances and scored 5 goals. During the 2005 season he returned to the Serbia
being loaned to OFK Beograd
where he made 12 appearances and scored 8 goals.
In 2005 Stolica embarked on a career in Belgium
joining Sint-Truidense. He remained with Sint-Truidense for two seasons scoring 11 goals in 44 matches. In 2007 he joined RAEC Mons
and remained at the club for two seasons scoring 12 goals in 42 matches. In 2009 he joined OFI Crete
in Greece, remaining there briefly before returning to the Balkans
with Budućnost Podgorica
.
On July 30, 2010, Stolica was signed to a contract by the New England Revolution
. Stolica made his first appearance on August 8, 2010 against DC United and scored in his first start for the club, a 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo
on August 14, 2010.
Stolica, along with team mate Tim Murray
was loaned to USL Pro
club F.C. New York
on April 29, 2011.
Stolica was released by New England on July 1, 2011.
national team, and played for the FR Yugoslavia Olympic team
in qualification for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, before making his debut for the new Serbia and Montenegro
national team which was formed following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. He has two caps for his country, but has not played internationally since 2002.
Zemun
Zemun is a historical town and one of the 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia...
) is a Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n footballer.
Club
Stolica began his career with SerbiaSerbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n club FK Zemun
FK Zemun
FK Zemun is a football club located in Zemun, a municipality of Belgrade, in Serbia.- History :Immediately after the end of the Second World War the sports activities in Zemun are restored...
. In his first year with the club he appeared in 24 matches and scored 6 goals. His play with Zemun attracted the interest of Spanish Second Division side UE Lleida
UE Lleida
Club Lleida Esportiu is a Spanish football team based in Lleida, Catalonia. Founded in 2011, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Camp d'Esports, with a capacity of 13,500 seats.-History:...
who signed him in 1998. He remained in Spain for two years appearing in 28 matches for Lleida and scoring two goals. In 2000 he joined top Serbian club Partizan Belgrade
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
and scored 7 goals in 25 league matches. After a short stay with Partizan, Stolica rejoined FK Zemun
FK Zemun
FK Zemun is a football club located in Zemun, a municipality of Belgrade, in Serbia.- History :Immediately after the end of the Second World War the sports activities in Zemun are restored...
and was a top scorer in the 2001-02 Yugoslav First League scoring 25 goals in 35 matches and earning a full international call-up as a result. He remained at Zemun thru 2003 appearing in 58 matches and scoring 40 goals.
As a result of his play with Zemun he began to draw interest from various European clubs including Portuguese side SC Farense
SC Farense
SC Farense is a Portuguese association football club from Faro founded in 1910. SC Farense is the most successful club in the Algarve. The home colours are white and black....
and Spain's Rayo Vallecano. In January 2003 he was sold to Ukrainian top club FC Metalurh Donetsk
FC Metalurh Donetsk
FC Metalurh Donetsk is a Ukrainian professional football club from the city of Donetsk. The club currently plays in the Ukrainian Premier League.- Pre-history :...
. While with Donetsk, Stolica made 20 league appearances and scored 5 goals. During the 2005 season he returned to the Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
being loaned to OFK Beograd
OFK Beograd
Omladinski fudbalski klub Beograd, commonly referred to as OFK Beograd , is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia, more precisely from the Karaburma urban neighborhood. It currently is the oldest team playing in the Serbian SuperLiga. The name means "Youth Football Club Belgrade" in Serbian...
where he made 12 appearances and scored 8 goals.
In 2005 Stolica embarked on a career in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
joining Sint-Truidense. He remained with Sint-Truidense for two seasons scoring 11 goals in 44 matches. In 2007 he joined RAEC Mons
R.A.E.C. Mons
R.A.E.C. Mons is a Belgian football club based in Mons, Belgium. The team was promoted to the Belgian Jupiler League recently on 29 May 2011 after beating Waasland-Beveren in a "Winner-Take-All" Test match of the Final Tour of the Belgian second division and has Re-Joined the Top Belgian League...
and remained at the club for two seasons scoring 12 goals in 42 matches. In 2009 he joined OFI Crete
OFI Crete
OFI , the Sportfriends Association Heraklion, is a Greek association football club based in Heraklion, on the island of Crete. Outside Greece, the club is generally known as OFI Crete F.C., however, the name Crete is not actually part of the club's official title.OFI is the club with most...
in Greece, remaining there briefly before returning to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
with Budućnost Podgorica
FK Buducnost Podgorica
FK Budućnost is a football club from Podgorica, Montenegro, currently competing in the First League of Montenegro. Its colours are blue and white. FK Buducnost is a part of the Budućnost sport society.-History:...
.
On July 30, 2010, Stolica was signed to a contract by the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. Stolica made his first appearance on August 8, 2010 against DC United and scored in his first start for the club, a 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
on August 14, 2010.
Stolica, along with team mate Tim Murray
Tim Murray (soccer)
Tom Murray is an American soccer player currently playing for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.-College:...
was loaned to USL Pro
USL Pro
The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro , is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011....
club F.C. New York
F.C. New York
F.C. New York is an American professional soccer team based in Queens, New York, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
on April 29, 2011.
Stolica was released by New England on July 1, 2011.
International
Stolica played for the old FR Yugoslavia U-21Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
national team, and played for the FR Yugoslavia Olympic team
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
in qualification for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, before making his debut for the new Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia national football team
The Serbia national football team represents Serbia in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia, the governing body for football in Serbia. Serbia's home ground is Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade and their last head coach was Vladimir Petrović...
national team which was formed following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. He has two caps for his country, but has not played internationally since 2002.
External links
- MLS player profile
- Personal Site
- Profile at PlayerHistory
- Profile at WorldFootball
- Profile at Transfermarkt
- Profile at revolutionsoccer.net