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Nemanja Matic
Nemanja Matic
General Data
Nemanja Matić (pronounced Matich) (born August 1, 1988 in Šabac) is a Serbian football midfielder who currently plays for Chelsea in England. His younger brother Uroš plays for MFK Košice.
| Full name | Nemanja Matic | |
| Date of birth | August 1, 1988 | |
| Place of birth | Šabac, SFR Yugoslavia | |
| Height | 6 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1.94 m) |
|
| Playing position | Midfielder | |
| Current club | Chelsea | |
| Number | 24 | |
|
-2000 |
Radnički Obrenovac Crvena Zvezda FK Partizan |
|
| Years | Club | Appearances (Goals) |
|
2005-2007 |
Jedinstvo Ub MFK Košice Chelsea |
16 (0) 67 (4) 0 (0) |
|
National team 2008- |
Serbia U-21 Serbia |
5 (2) 2 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Career
At the age of 16 in 2004, Matić was called up for Serbian side Kolubara Lazarevac full squad. Matić played three season there amassing 16 appearances. After impressing in the Srpska Liga Belgrade he was bought by Slovakian club MFK Košice of the Corgoň Liga. He impressed during his time in Slovakia making 67 Corgoň Liga appearances and scoring 4 goals; helping them gain 4th spot in the league during the 2008–09 campaign. He also impressed in the Slovak Cup helping his team defeat FC Artmedia Petržalka in the cup final at NTC Stadion in Senec. Košice won the game 3-1 and gained a berth in the first edition of the UEFA Europa League.
Nemanja has got two nationalities. He is born of Serbian and he obtained Slovak nationality. After having a trial early in the 2008–2009 Premiership season, it was believed Middlesbrough F.C. were leading the pack to sign the young Serbian star, but the trial was cut short as he was called up for Serbia's full squad for a friendly against Denmark. In the summer months there was much speculation in England that Matić go return to the Premier League with a hosts of clubs after him including Tottenham and Chelsea F.C..
On 18 August 2009, Matic signed for Chelsea for a fee of around £1.5 million in a four year contract. He was given the number 24 shirt by Chelsea but wasn't able to make his debut immediately due to the injury he picked up at the recent U21 championships. He was on the bench for Chelsea's Carling Cup tie against Queens Park Rangers on September 23rd 2009 but did not take any part in the 1-0 victory.
Advice about him gave Serbian coach Vermezović who trained Spartak Trnava in 2008-09 season. Nemanja was an unknown player in Serbia until then. Matić's debut for the national team of Serbia U-21 came in a match against Denmark U-21 on October 11, 2008. After three matches and two goals for the Serbia under-21 squad, he was called up to the Serbia first team and he made his debut in a friendly against Poland at December 14, 2008.
Matić took part in 2009 EURO U-21 Championship where he played 85 minutes in the first group match against Italy (0:0). Matić was injured after contact with Italian Giovinco. He broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot and he had to undergo surgery.
