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Top 10 Most Famous Football (Soccer) Players from Serbia

Football is the most popular sport in Serbia, and the Football Association of Serbia with 146,845 registered players, is the largest sporting association in the country.

Although Dragan D啪aji膰 was officially recognized as “the best Serbian player of all times”, the country has produced many other great footballers who have made their names on football fields around the world. 

The Serbia national football team has qualified for four of the last five FIFA World Cups, and it’s one of the teams that will be in action in the upcoming FIFA 2022 world cup to be held in Qatar.

Let us look at the Top 10 Most Famous Football Players from Serbia.

1. Aleksandar Kolarov

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Known for his overlapping attacking runs on the wing, his powerful ball-striking ability with his left foot, and his accuracy from free kicks, Kolarov is one of the most capped players in the history of Serbia’s national team.

He began his career at Red Star Belgrade, before moving to Manchester City and AS Roma where he won 2 premier league titles and an Italian league title respectively. 

Kolarov made his senior international debut for Serbia in 2008 and earned 94 caps. Kolarov was a member of Serbia’s squads for the 2008 Olympics, 2010 FIFA World Cup, and 2018 FIFA World Cup.

2. Nemanja Vidi膰

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Best known for his time at Manchester United, Nemanja Vidi膰 is considered one of the greatest defenders in the history of the sport. He is also one of only four players to win the Premier League Player of the Season award twice.

Nemanja started his football career with Red Star Belgrade in the early 2000s but spent most of his playing years at Manchester United. He won 5 premier league titles and 1 UEFA champion league title during his 9 years stay at the club.

Vidic made his senior debut for the Serbian national team on 12 October 2002 against Italy in UEFA Euro 2004 qualification.  He was part of the team that represented Serbia in the 2010 world cup finals in South Africa.

3. Du拧an Tadi膰

The 31-year-old left-winger is still very much active on the football pitch as a member of Ajax, but Tadi膰 was and will be mostly remembered for his performances under Southampton, where he spent four years, from 2014 to 2018.

Tadi膰 is without a doubt one of the best football players Serbia has ever produced, having won the 2016 Serbian footballer of the year award.

Although Tadi膰 never won any title with Southampton, his 24 goals and 35 assists in 162 games he played for the Saints will not be forgotten soon.

4. Nemanja Mati膰

Known for his consistent performances on the pitch and his combative style of play, Nemanja Mati膰 is one of the most successful football players Serbia has ever produced. He currently plays for AS Roma as a defensive midfielder.

Mati膰 began his senior career at Kolubara, before joining Slovak side Ko拧ice in 2007. He moved to the English club Chelsea in 2009, where he won 2 premier league titles and the FA cup.

He has also played for Benfica and Manchester United, amassing 412 league appearances and scoring 18 goals. Mati膰 made his international debut in 2008 and he was selected in the Serbian squad for the 2018 World Cup, playing all three group stage matches.

5. Branislav Ivanovi膰

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A tall, brave, and physical player, Ivanovi膰 is well known for his aerial ability, which when combined with his sheer strength, has seen him score numerous crucial goals during his career.

A prominent member of Chelsea between 2008 and 2017, Branislav Ivanovi膰 is yet another example that proves Serbia is home to some of the best football defenders in the world.

During his stay at Chelsea, Ivanovi膰 has made 377 EPL appearances and scored 34 goals. He also won three EPL league titles, three FA Cups, and the 2011/12 Champions League title.

6. Aleksandar Mitrovi膰

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Known for his prowess in front of the goal, Aleksandar Mitrovi膰 is expected to lead the Serbian national team forward line at the incoming 2022 world cup finals to be held in Qatar.

Mitrovi膰 made his professional career debut for the Partizan club in 2012, before moving to the English premier league where he has played for Newcastle United and Fulham, making 112 appearances and scoring 32 goals in the process.

At the international level, Mitrovi膰 earned his first call-up to the Serbian senior national team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

He also played all the Serbian national team in three group stage matches at the 2018 world cup and he is part of the team expected at the 2022 world cup to be held in Qatar.

7. Luka Milivojevi膰 

Luka Milivojevi膰 is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and captains Premier League club Crystal Palace. He was a member of the Serbian national team until his retirement from international football in March 2021.

Milivojevi膰 began his career with Radni膷ki Kragujevac and then played for Rad before signing for Red Star Belgrade in January 2012. He later joined Olympiacos and won Greece Superleague twice before moving to Crystal Palace in January 2017.

Throughout his club career Milivojevic has made 406 appearances and scored 55 goals in all competitions, he was also capped 38 times and scored I goal for his country’s national team.

8. Dragan Stojkovi膰

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A highly skillful midfield playmaker, Stojkovi膰 is considered to be one of the greatest football players ever to come out of Serbia. He played as a midfielder, and he is the current manager of the Serbia national team.

Stojkovi膰 was a long-time captain of the Yugoslavia national team and Red Star Belgrade. He was also the star player for Yugoslavia at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and 1998 FIFA World Cup.

9. Rajko Miti膰

Miti膰 is considered one of the most important players in the history of Red Star Belgrade as he is the first out of only five players to have been awarded the Zvezdina Zvezda.

Miti膰 started his career in Ko拧utnjak before making the move to Red Star in 1944, where he spent 14 glorious years. He led the team to five Yugoslav championships, and In December 2014, Red Star Stadium was officially renamed after him.               

At the international level, Miti膰 won 59 caps and scored 32 goals for his country’s national team. In his national team career, he scored three hat-tricks.

10. Du拧an Vlahovi膰

Vlahovi膰 is a complete striker, known for his physicality, technique, and eye for goal. He excels at picking up the ball in central areas and is expected to be Serbia’s leading striker at the FIFA 2022 world cup finals. 

He signed his first professional contract with Partizan in 2015, before joining Fiorentina in 2017. Vlahovi膰 moved to Juventus on 28 January 2022 where he plays as the leading striker.

Vlahovi膰 made his senior team debut on 11 October 2020, in a 2020鈥�21 UEFA Nations League game against Hungary. He also proved very crucial in securing Serbia’s qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.