Matic matters most for Serbia
Veteran midfielder looks to shine in Russia
Deputy Editor Sports
Serbia, who have never made it beyond the group stages at a World Cup, will be looking to one man this time around in Russia to help them break their duck. Midfielder Nemanja Matic has been a solid and dependable presence for Manchester United this season, helping them to their best position in the English Premier League — second — since Sir Alex Ferguson departed Old Trafford in 2013. So impressive have been his performances that he is expected to be wearing the United captain’s armband next season.
He started out as an attacking midfielder for Slovakian side Kolsice, where he caught the attention of Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea, and made the move to the English club for £1.5 million in 2009. However, he failed to break into the first team and was shipped out to Benfica as a makeweight to bring David Luis the other way.
It was while in Portugal that Matic switched to his combative role as a defensive midfielder instead of the more attacking positions earlier in his career. That switch allowed Matic to excel in the middle of the park and he went on to win the 2012-13 Player of the Season award in the Primiera Liga and he began receiving regular call-ups to the national squad.
While he is assured of a place in the Serbian starting line-up in Russia, the 29-year-old has only picked up 38 caps since making his international debut in 2008. This is largely thanks to his decision not to represent his country while Sinisa Mihajlovic was in charge. The player took umbrage at not being given one minute of playing time by the coach in previous matches, despite being called up. His tempestuous relationship with the Serbia national team continued on his return to the fold in 2013, by which time Mihajlovic had moved on to Sampdoria. Matic was sent off in a World Cup qualifier against Croatia in his first match back.
He continued to excel for Benfica in Portugal, and Chelsea eventually admitted they got it wrong by letting him go and resigned him in January 2014 for £21 million and he was named in the PFA Team of the Year that season.
Long-time admirer Jose Mourinho, who was Matic’s boss at Chelsea the first time around managed to persuade his current employers to bring the Serb to Old Trafford during the summer of 2017.
His contributions will not go unnoticed if Serbia manage to progress from a Group E in Russia that contains Switzerland, Costa Rica and some team called Brazil ...
At this moment, he [Matic] is a giant, not for his size but for the way he plays.”
Jose Mourinho | I’m glad United have signed him, he’s from Serbia and called Nemanja — they are very good qualities to have.”
Nemanja Vidic |