Predrag Mijatović (born 19 January 1969) is a retired Montenegrin professional football player. He rose from domestic leagues in the former Yugoslavia to become one of the leading forwards in Spain in the 1990s. His career combined club success, international appearances and a reputation for clinical finishing.
Club career
Mijatović began his senior career in Montenegro before moving to larger Yugoslav clubs and then abroad. He became widely known for his time in Spain, where he played a prominent role for Valencia and later for Real Madrid. His club journey included both domestic league competition and the top European tournaments.
- Early clubs: youth and first professional teams in Montenegro and Serbia.
- Spain: notable spells with Valencia and Real Madrid, where he was a first‑team attacking player.
- Later career: finished his playing days with shorter contracts and reduced playing time before retiring.
International career
On the international stage Mijatović represented the national side of his country through a period of political change. He played for the Yugoslavia national team and later appeared for the team that represented Serbia and Montenegro. Across his international appearances he was selected for major tournaments and contributed with goals and experience for the national setup. Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro are the two national entities most commonly associated with his international record.
Playing style and characteristics
Mijatović was primarily an attacking player deployed as a forward or supporting striker. He combined good technique, positional intelligence and a left‑footed shot that made him effective in the penalty area. Managers used him both as a focal goal threat and as a link between midfield and attack.
Notable moments and legacy
His most famous moment came in European competition when he scored the winning goal in the 1998 UEFA Champions League final for Real Madrid, a strike that secured the trophy for the club and cemented his place in its modern history. That achievement, together with sustained performances in La Liga, made him one of the best-known Montenegrin footballers of his generation. He remains a figure of interest for fans and historians studying the era and is often referenced in profiles of 1990s European football. For biographical details and further reading see a contemporary profile here and general information on his nationality here.
After retiring from playing he maintained ties to the sport through occasional media commentary and involvement in football projects, and his career is still cited when discussing successful players who transitioned from the Balkan leagues to the top European competitions.