Mitar Mrkela played 208 competitive matches for the club and scored 46 goals (in total, he made 327 appearances, scoring 99 goals). He won four national titles as a red and white (1984, 1988, 1990, 1991) and two cups (1985 and 1990).
He also earned five caps for the Yugoslavian national team and scored a goal. His debut came at a very young age, at just 17 years, four months and seven days, against Bulgaria in Sofia. He was a member of the Olympic team, which won the bronze medal in the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
After the end of his playing career, Mrkela remained in sport, with his career being closely bound to two Belgrade clubs, OFK Beograd and FK Crvena zvezda. He also worked as youth sides director with the Football Association of Serbia.
After seven years with the Serbian FA, which saw the young Eagles win the U20 World Cup in 2015 and U17 European champion in 2013, Mitar Mrkela returned to his beloved Zvezda. In June 2017, he arrived with head coach Vladan Milojević and was a part of the club in the seven-season string of championship wins between 2018 and 2023. Throughout those seasons, the club has done well in European competitions, with three UEFA Champions League group stages and four UEFA Europa League campaigns. Mrkela oversaw three domestic Double wins.