Among the most gifted and influential soccer gamers in historical past have come from Serbia. These gamers have made a long-lasting impression on the worldwide scene, both with the Serbian nationwide crew as we all know it as we speak or throughout Yugoslavia’s heyday.
Whereas Yugoslavia have been two-time runners-up on the European Championship, the well-known nation has by no means gained a trophy since declaring independence in 2006, however issues are wanting up as they’re set to characteristic of their first Euros finals this summer season.
With that, right here is the record of who we consider are the ten biggest Serbian footballers, based mostly on their total impression at both membership or worldwide stage throughout their careers…
Rank |
Participant |
Profession span |
---|---|---|
1 |
Dejan Stanković |
1995-2013 |
2 |
Blagoje Marjanović |
1920-1951 |
3 |
Dragan Stojković |
1981-2001 |
4 |
Nemanja Vidić |
2000-2016 |
5 |
Predrag Mijatović |
1987-2003 |
6 |
Branislav Ivanović |
2002-2021 |
7 |
Aleksandar Mitrović |
2011-present |
8 |
Rajko Mitić |
1940-1958 |
9 |
Nemanja Matić |
2006-present |
10 |
Dušan Tadić |
2006-present |
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10
Dušan Tadić
2006-present
Dušan Tadić has excelled at membership and worldwide stage. When Tadić joined Southampton in 2014, his membership profession took a significant flip, as his goalscoring and inventiveness instantly made an impression. He performed in 162 video games over his 4 seasons at Southampton, tallying 24 objectives and dispensing 35 assists.
After transferring to Ajax in 2018, he helped them win a number of Eredivisie titles and attain within the Champions League semi-finals within the 2018/19 season, solely to be edged out by Tottenham Hotspur. His stats in Amsterdam have been fairly exceptional, having bagged 105 objectives and 112 assists in simply 241 appearances.
Tadić has additionally been an important member of Serbia’s worldwide crew, profitable 106 caps and captaining the facet.
9
Nemanja Matić
2006-present
Nemanja Matić has established himself as a formidable midfield participant for his golf equipment and the Serbian nationwide crew. The 35-year-old, who’s well-known for his energy, tactical acumen, and noteworthy game-reading expertise, has made a huge impact on European soccer.
Throughout his time enjoying for Chelsea in England, Matić skilled a substantial amount of success. His contributions to Chelsea changing into Premier League titles in 2014/15 and 2016/17 have been essential, changing into one of many league’s finest defensive midfielders in consequence.
He then moved to Manchester United in 2017, the place he saved showcasing his midfield skills and helped the Crimson Devils attain the Europa League remaining in 2021, in addition to end second within the 2017/18 Premier League season.
Matić has been an important member of Serbia’s nationwide crew, that includes on the 2018 World Cup, which contributed in direction of his 48 caps.
8
Rajko Mitić
1940-1958
Rajko Mitić is a extremely regarded determine within the historical past of soccer in Serbia and Yugoslavia. Distinguished for his dedication, aptitude and steerage, Mitić’s skilled life is especially linked to Crimson Star Belgrade, the place he made a long-lasting impression as a supervisor and participant.
As a participant, Mitić had an unimaginable profession at Crimson Star Belgrade, profitable a number of nationwide cups and Yugoslav First League championships within the Nineteen Forties and Fifties. His efforts have been essential in making Crimson Star the undisputed energy in Yugoslavian soccer.
Mitić was acknowledged for his management on the pitch when he was appointed as the primary captain of the Yugoslavian nationwide crew, amassing 58 caps, scoring 32 objectives and competing in two FIFA World Cups (1950 and 1954).
If that wasn’t sufficient, Crimson Star Belgrade opened the Rajko Mitić Stadium in his honour in 1963.
7
Aleksandar Mitrović
2011-present
Aleksandar Mitrović has made a reputation for himself as a robust striker who possesses aerial ability, bodily energy and an innate expertise to attain objectives.
All through his profession, Mitrović has gone from being a possible expertise at Partizan Belgrade to being an essential participant for golf equipment all throughout Europe and an important member of the Serbian nationwide crew.
The 29-year-old moved to Newcastle United within the Premier League after having a breakout season at Anderlecht, when he completed because the Belgian league’s prime scorer. Though he had inconsistent outcomes throughout his time in England, he proved that he was a robust ahead with the power to play on the highest stage.
A transfer to Fulham triggered a totally new Mitrović, as he bagged 111 objectives and assisted 21 throughout his time in west London, earlier than securing a transfer to Saudi Arabia, the place he at the moment has 33 objectives in 35 video games for Al-Hilal.
He is additionally been an important member of Serbia’s worldwide crew, making large contributions in European Championship and World Cup qualifying, together with scoring the objective that took them to the 2022 World Cup. This has led to him being the nation’s prime scorer of all time with 57 objectives to his title in 89 caps.
6
Branislav Ivanović
2002-2021
Branislav Ivanović’s profession has been distinguished by notable successes with Serbia and Chelsea within the Premier League. After becoming a member of the Blues in January 2008, he developed into one of many league’s most reliable and well-respected defenders over the course of the next 9 years.
His versatility as a centre-back and full-back allowed him to positively impression Chelsea’s offensive set-pieces and defensive stability, which helped the west London membership win quite a few Premier League crowns, FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League.
With 105 caps for Serbia, Ivanović is the second-most-capped participant for his nation. He was an actual chief on the worldwide stage, competing within the 2010 World Cup and a number of European Championship qualification campaigns.
5
Predrag Mijatović
1987-2003
Predrag Mijatović gained widespread recognition for his capacity as a ahead, resulting from his substantial contributions for membership and nation. His time at membership sides Valencia, Actual Madrid and Fiorentina, collectively along with his accomplishments with the nationwide groups of Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro, are notably noteworthy.
Probably the most memorable second of Mijatović’s Actual Madrid profession was his game-winning objective in opposition to Juventus within the 1998 Champions League remaining, which sealed Actual Madrid’s first European Cup in 32 years and cemented his place within the membership’s historical past. This excessive level got here from a profession during which he was profitable in each Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga, scoring 115 objectives in complete.
As a ahead, Mijatović additional cemented his place as top-of-the-line in Europe by representing Yugoslavia in essential worldwide competitions such because the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He was at all times a menace to defenders due to his technical prowess and penchant for being in the suitable place on the proper time.
4
Nemanja Vidić
2000-2016
There is not any doubting that Nemanja Vidić is thought to be one of the formidable defenders of his time. His tenure at Manchester United, the place he and Rio Ferdinand created a famend defensive partnership, is what most defines his profession.
Vidić joined Manchester United in January 2006, and his aerial ability, aggressive defending, and management skills helped him develop into an on the spot mainstay. His abilities have been important to Manchester United profitable the Champions League in 2008 and several other Premier League titles, notably three in a row from 2007 to 2009. Vidić’s excellence was acknowledged on a person foundation with different honours, equivalent to being awarded the Premier League Participant of the Season two occasions.
Within the international area, Vidić amassed 56 worldwide caps, which included 19 for Serbia & Montenegro and a pleasant look for Yugoslavia. He was a key member of his nation’s sides, as they certified for 2 World Cups in 2006 and 2010.
3
Dragan Stojković
1981-2001
Dragan Stojković is taken into account one of the gifted soccer gamers to come back out of Yugoslavia and a key participant within the historical past of Serbian soccer. All through his good profession, Stojković, who was famend for his distinctive technical skills, imaginative and prescient and inventiveness, flourished as a midfield participant.
At Crimson Star Belgrade, the place he gained nationwide championships and demonstrated his extraordinary potential, his membership profession took off, resulting in a switch to Europe’s extra aggressive leagues. His time at Marseille in France was particularly noteworthy as he helped his facet win the French league title and go to the UEFA Champions League remaining in 1991, satirically in opposition to Crimson Star.
He later secured a transfer to Japan, the place he made 225 appearances for Nagoya Grampus, scoring 68 objectives earlier than retiring.
He performed for Yugoslavia in various main worldwide competitions, such because the World Cup in 1990, the place he was a standout performer that helped his facet advance to the quarter-finals.
2
Blagoje Marjanović
1920-1951
Blagoje Marjanović was a notable Yugoslavian soccer participant who was identified for his extraordinary goalscoring capacity. As one of the productive forwards of his day in Yugoslavia and all through Europe, he spent nearly all of his profession at BSK Belgrade (now OFK Belgrade).
BSK Belgrade gained a number of Yugoslav First League titles whereas he was a member of the squad from 1926 to 1941, with Marjanović main the league in scoring for a number of seasons. His objective complete continues to be among the many highest within the crew’s and the league’s historical past, and it is easy to grasp why, as he performed 566 matches for BSK, scoring 575 objectives.
The striker was additionally one of many biggest goalscorers in Yugoslavia’s historical past, reaching 58 caps and scoring 37 objectives. His participation within the 1928 Summer time Olympics and the 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay allowed him to exhibit his expertise away from residence and solidified his status as one of many biggest soccer gamers of all time.
1
Dejan Stanković
1995-2013
Dejan Stanković is thought to be top-of-the-line midfield gamers of his time due to his selection, energy of shot, and excellent management. All through his good profession, which noticed him play in a few of Europe’s prime leagues, Stanković made a huge impact for the Serbian nationwide crew, in addition to the likes of Lazio and Inter.
He began his skilled profession at Crimson Star Belgrade, the place he turned an important member of the squad and helped them win a number of home titles. His achievements in Serbia led to him becoming a member of Lazio in Serie A, the place he continued to indicate off his expertise, serving to the crew to win the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, Coppa Italia, and Italian Tremendous Cup.
Nonetheless, it was at Inter that he solidified his legacy. He turned an important a part of Inter’s heyday after becoming a member of the crew in 2004, serving to his facet win a number of league titles and home cups. His most notable accomplishment was in 2010, when he assisted Inter in profitable the Champions League, the Coppa Italia, and the Serie A title.
On the worldwide stage, he participated in three World Cups (1998, 2006, 2010), changing into famous for doing so for 3 completely different international locations. Additionally a participant at Euro 2000, Stankovic earned over 100 caps throughout his glittering worldwide profession.