David James vs Predrag Mijatović: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, England (born 1970, retired 2014) · Striker, Yugoslavia (born 1969, retired 2004)
Comparing David James with Predrag Mijatović means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Different decades shaped different demands, and both adapted to theirs brilliantly. David James finishes with 0 career goals from 850 games — a 0.00 strike rate — against Predrag Mijatović's 210 from 500 at 0.42 per match. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — David James is listed at 0 and Predrag Mijatović at 30 where figures survive. The honours ledger favours David James with 1 major trophies (1× FA Cup (2008)) against Predrag Mijatović's 2 (1× UEFA Champions League (1998)). Across the turn of the millennium and the 1990s respectively, their commanding and predatory styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Context beyond the headline totals is important: David James's landmark level arrived around 2005 with a career spanning Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham United, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Bristol City, Bournemouth; Predrag Mijatović's came around 1998 across Budućnost Podgorica, Partizan, Valencia CF, Real Madrid, Fiorentina, Levante. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
186 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
The Premier League's most-capped goalkeeper at the time of his retirement, James was renowned for his shot-stopping and occasional highlight-reel errors across a two-decade top-flight career.
“An athletic, agile shot-stopper whose reflexes and command of his box made him a mainstay of English goalkeeping for two decades.”
Mijatović's decisive winning goal in the 1998 Champions League final ended Real Madrid's 32-year wait for the European Cup and remains one of the club's most iconic moments.
“A clever, mobile striker whose intelligent runs in behind and composed finishing produced goals in the biggest moments.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 1× FA Cup (2008)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1998)
- 1× La Liga (1997)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1988 Professional debut for Watford
- 2008 Won FA Cup with Portsmouth
- 2005 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester City
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Bournemouth
- Finished his career with 0 goals in 850 appearances and 1 major honours. Finished his career with 0 goals in 850 appearances and 1 major honours.
- 1986 Professional debut for Budućnost Podgorica
- 1998 Won UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid
- 1997 Won La Liga with Real Madrid
- 1998 Reached the peak of his powers at Real Madrid
- 2004 Retired after a final spell at Levante
- Finished his career with 210 goals in 500 appearances and 2 major honours. Finished his career with 210 goals in 500 appearances and 2 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Predrag Mijatović wins out by a clear margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
Predrag Mijatović edges it (a clear margin)
