Serbian · Sabac, Serbia · Born 1 August 1988Commanding Serbian midfielder whose physical presence and tactical intelligence anchored the midfields of Chelsea and Manchester United.
Nemanja Matić was born in Sabac, Serbia on 1 August 1988. He began his career at FK Kolubara before joining Kosšice in Slovakia and then Chelsea in 2009. After a loan spell at Vitesse, he was sold to Benfica in 2011 where he won the Primeira Liga. Chelsea re-signed him in January 2014 and he became integral to their Premier League title wins in 2015 and 2017, forming a formidable partnership with N'Golo Kanté. He joined Manchester United in 2017 for £40 million and spent five seasons at Old Trafford before moving to Roma in 2022 under José Mourinho. He later played for Rennes and Lyon. Internationally, Matic earned over 50 caps for Serbia.
Key role in Chelsea's Premier League title wins and Serbia's World Cup campaigns
Chelsea sold him to Benfica in 2011 as part of the David Luiz deal, then bought him back for £21 million just three years later.
Did You Know?How They Played
Physical defensive midfielder with excellent ball-winning ability, aerial strength, and tactical discipline
Lasting Impact
Reliable defensive midfielder who played at the highest level for over a decade
Career Honours
- Premier League 2x
- Primeira Liga 1x
- League Cup 1x
- Premier League 2015
- Premier League 2017
- FA Cup 2018
- Europa League 2017
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FK Kolubara | 2003–2006 | 16 | 1 | #21 |
| Košice | 2006–2009 | 79 | 4 | #31 |
| Chelsea | 2009–2011 | 2 | 6 | #31 |
| Vitesse | 2009–2010 | 29 | 3 | #31 |
| Benfica | 2011–2014 | 103 | 7 | — |
| Manchester United | 2017–2022 | 190 | 4 | — |
| Roma | 2022–2023 | 31 | 1 | — |
| Rennes | 2023–2024 | 26 | 0 | — |
| Lyon | 2024–2024 | 12 | 0 | — |
 Serbia | — | 52 | 2 | — |
Serbian Athletes