Nemanja Matić

Nemanja Matić (Serbian Cyrillic: Немања Матић, pronounced [němaɲa mǎːtitɕ]; born 1 August 1988) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Serie A club Sassuolo.

Matić began his senior career at Kolubara, before joining Slovak side Košice in 2007. He moved to English club Chelsea for £1.5 million in 2009. Used sparingly during his first spell at the club, he spent the 2010–11 season on loan at Dutch club Vitesse, and in the summer of 2011, he moved to Benfica as part of a swap deal involving David Luiz. He won the Primeira Liga Player of the Year award for his performances in the 2012–13 season.

Matić returned to Chelsea in January 2014, for £21 million. He was an integral part of a Chelsea team that won two Premier League titles. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2014–15 season. In July 2017, he was reunited with former Chelsea manager José Mourinho after signing for Manchester United. He played with Manchester United until 2022 when he again was reunited with Mourinho at Roma. After one season with Roma, he joined Rennes in 2023.

Matić represented his nation Serbia at under-21 level. He made his senior international debut in 2008 and scored more than once in 48 appearances. He was part of Serbia's squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Matić was born in Šabac, SR Serbia. He began playing football at age five with FK Vrelo from the eponymous village, coached by his own father. He began his senior career at Kolubara, before signing for Slovak club Košice in 2007. While living in the country, he also received Slovak citizenship.