By Adam Marshall
Nemanja Matic gave
an insightful interview to Inside United, the official club magazine, about
growing up in Serbia, his commitment to local football in his homeland and
having a street named after him!
an insightful interview to Inside United, the official club magazine, about
growing up in Serbia, his commitment to local football in his homeland and
having a street named after him!
Firstly, what was it like growing up in
Serbia – can you describe your home town?
Yeah, I grew up in a small village with only one-and-a-half thousand people. It
was good, good for me and I enjoyed that time with my friends. We were playing
football most of the time and it was really nice.
Serbia – can you describe your home town?
Yeah, I grew up in a small village with only one-and-a-half thousand people. It
was good, good for me and I enjoyed that time with my friends. We were playing
football most of the time and it was really nice.
Was your father the
coach of your kids’ team growing up – Vrelo?
Yes, my father was my coach when I was seven or eight years old. It was
difficult for me because he always wanted me to do better and better. If I
scored two or three goals sometimes in a game, he said it was still not good
enough! So there were hard times for me! [Laughs]
coach of your kids’ team growing up – Vrelo?
Yes, my father was my coach when I was seven or eight years old. It was
difficult for me because he always wanted me to do better and better. If I
scored two or three goals sometimes in a game, he said it was still not good
enough! So there were hard times for me! [Laughs]
And then you spent some time with both Red
Star and Partizan Belgrade as a youngster…
I played in Red Star for four years and then Partizan for one-and-a-half years.
I spent some nice times there. Partizan and Red Star are two of the best clubs
in Serbia and I learned a lot there. I really enjoyed the experience spent at
both of them.
We
visited Partizan last year as part of the Under-19s’ trip to Belgrade and they
were very welcoming but keen to stress they were big rivals with Red Star…
Yes, they are big rivals. The stadiums are very close to each other, maybe one
kilometre in distance between the grounds. So they are big rivals who always
fight for the title. This year, Partizan played Beskitkas to get into the
Europa League and Red Star faced Red Bull Salzburg for the Champions League.
They both have good teams and are big clubs.
visited Partizan last year as part of the Under-19s’ trip to Belgrade and they
were very welcoming but keen to stress they were big rivals with Red Star…
Yes, they are big rivals. The stadiums are very close to each other, maybe one
kilometre in distance between the grounds. So they are big rivals who always
fight for the title. This year, Partizan played Beskitkas to get into the
Europa League and Red Star faced Red Bull Salzburg for the Champions League.
They both have good teams and are big clubs.
Everybody in Belgrade seemed very proud about the history of the teams
and the Yugoslavia sides of the past as well…
Yes, in the ex-Yugoslavia, we also had a good
league with big clubs. Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, Red Star Belgrade, Partizan
Belgrade, Zeleznicar from Sarajevo. There were many good clubs and the league
was very hard but it was a long time ago. I can’t remember a lot from that
time.
and the Yugoslavia sides of the past as well…
Yes, in the ex-Yugoslavia, we also had a good
league with big clubs. Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, Red Star Belgrade, Partizan
Belgrade, Zeleznicar from Sarajevo. There were many good clubs and the league
was very hard but it was a long time ago. I can’t remember a lot from that
time.
Is it correct that you now co-own your local club
in Serbia, Vrelo Sport?
Yeah, I try to help my club, from my town where
I grew up. I like to help young players. I try to make them better and ensure
they have better conditions on the pitch than I had when I started to play. I
enjoy doing that. I think they can improve more [with better pitches] because
if, one day, they play at a high level, they have to know what to expect. So
it’s very important for them.
Do you
watch them very often or is it difficult to get back with your commitments at
United?
I don’t watch a lot but some of them, the ones that are on the internet. If
it’s on there, I’ll watch it. When I am with the national team, sometimes we
have one or two days off before the international game so I can go there and
see them. I watched a couple of games last season.
watch them very often or is it difficult to get back with your commitments at
United?
I don’t watch a lot but some of them, the ones that are on the internet. If
it’s on there, I’ll watch it. When I am with the national team, sometimes we
have one or two days off before the international game so I can go there and
see them. I watched a couple of games last season.
Is watching football and not playing difficult in some respects?
When I am on the pitch, I really enjoy it. When
I’m in the stand, you are a supporter. Sometimes it’s good for me. It’s
difficult to watch Manchester United, when I’m in the stands or on the bench,
because I can’t help. But to watch other clubs from the stands, it’s good and I
enjoy it.
When I am on the pitch, I really enjoy it. When
I’m in the stand, you are a supporter. Sometimes it’s good for me. It’s
difficult to watch Manchester United, when I’m in the stands or on the bench,
because I can’t help. But to watch other clubs from the stands, it’s good and I
enjoy it.
It’s been reported supporters usually nibble on
pumpkin seeds as refreshments during the games – could you ever see that
catching on in England?
I do the same in the summer! Yeah, there were
some guys taking pictures and they saw me in February. It was the Fifth
Division team from my village and I saw the guys filming but it was no problem.
[IU: At least it’s healthy food…] [Laughs]. Yes of
course.
And did the team [Vrelo] win the championship?
Three times in a row! Promotion! We made the
club three years ago so, every year, we’ve been first. We’ve had 80 games and
only lost one game, with a couple of draws. All the other games were wins so
now my club is in the Fourth Division, like League Two in England.
Do you have any family or friends involved with
the team?
Some of them play, my friend is the coach and my
cousin is the sports director. They enjoy this. It isn’t professional, it’s just
for fun.
Do you ever offer advice or do you prefer to leave them to the
running of the team?
No. I know them and some of them understand football really
well. When I go there, I just enjoy it and spend time after the game speaking
about it. [Did you join in the title celebrations?] Of course. I enjoyed it.
I’m always there when they celebrate! [Laughs]
running of the team?
No. I know them and some of them understand football really
well. When I go there, I just enjoy it and spend time after the game speaking
about it. [Did you join in the title celebrations?] Of course. I enjoyed it.
I’m always there when they celebrate! [Laughs]
The newly built Jedinstrvo
stadium near your home town, which you also helped with, is named after Dragan
Djazic, can you tell us more about him?
He’s the best Yugoslavian player ever. He’s our neighbour as he grew up in the
same place I grew up. We’re really proud to have someone from our village play
for Red Star Belgrade and he was the best left-winger, at that time, in the
world. I wasn’t born when he played but I saw some videos and my father and all
the people told me he was, at that time, one of the best players in the world.
Probably with a few Manchester United players, Eusebio and Pele. It was great
that people say this. So, yes, we gave the stadium name to Dragan Djazic
because he deserved it.
stadium near your home town, which you also helped with, is named after Dragan
Djazic, can you tell us more about him?
He’s the best Yugoslavian player ever. He’s our neighbour as he grew up in the
same place I grew up. We’re really proud to have someone from our village play
for Red Star Belgrade and he was the best left-winger, at that time, in the
world. I wasn’t born when he played but I saw some videos and my father and all
the people told me he was, at that time, one of the best players in the world.
Probably with a few Manchester United players, Eusebio and Pele. It was great
that people say this. So, yes, we gave the stadium name to Dragan Djazic
because he deserved it.
There is now a ‘Nemanja Matic
Street’ nearby – have you been there and how humble does that make you feel?
Yes, I’ve been and it’s nice. It’s strange to see my name. The people in the
town wanted to have a street in my name and I asked them: ‘Are you sure?’
because I had to sign that I agreed to give my name to the street. So, first of
all, I checked again if they were sure they wanted to do that and they said
‘yes’. I’m proud of it.
Street’ nearby – have you been there and how humble does that make you feel?
Yes, I’ve been and it’s nice. It’s strange to see my name. The people in the
town wanted to have a street in my name and I asked them: ‘Are you sure?’
because I had to sign that I agreed to give my name to the street. So, first of
all, I checked again if they were sure they wanted to do that and they said
‘yes’. I’m proud of it.
Is it important to you to retain this connection to your roots?
Of course. I always have that connection every day. I’m in touch
with my old friends and family and it’s going to be like this until the end of
my life. I like them and they like me. We are always in touch. They follow my
games and, one day, I will go back to live there.
Of course. I always have that connection every day. I’m in touch
with my old friends and family and it’s going to be like this until the end of
my life. I like them and they like me. We are always in touch. They follow my
games and, one day, I will go back to live there.
Are there any broader aims with
the club, such as developing young talent, throughout Serbia and not just close
to you?
Yeah, I think Serbia always has great talents. The only thing we have missing
are the conditions. We don’t have that many stadiums and they are very, very
old and not modern. But I think, now, the Serbian FA have started to invest in
the stadiums and they are going to be, of course, better for the players,
better for the supporters and help towards the games. They need to invest a lot
if they want the football to improve a fair bit.
the club, such as developing young talent, throughout Serbia and not just close
to you?
Yeah, I think Serbia always has great talents. The only thing we have missing
are the conditions. We don’t have that many stadiums and they are very, very
old and not modern. But I think, now, the Serbian FA have started to invest in
the stadiums and they are going to be, of course, better for the players,
better for the supporters and help towards the games. They need to invest a lot
if they want the football to improve a fair bit.
Clearly playing at the World
Cup was a huge deal for the country – you really showed your passion and pride
out in Russia in the way you performed?
Of course, it was a great experience for me and very important. We did our best
in the first game to help us qualify from the group stage. We did our best, we
won that, but then lost the second and third game. The second game [against
Switzerland], especially, we should have done better. We had a chance to
qualify for the next round but we didn’t have enough experience to do it. I
think, in the future, it’s very important for us to qualify for the Euros and,
with the experience we have from the World Cup, I think we can do more. It was
an amazing experience and there was great organisation from the Russian
Federation. Yes, I was very happy. I enjoyed it and hope Serbia can also be
there at the next World Cup.
Cup was a huge deal for the country – you really showed your passion and pride
out in Russia in the way you performed?
Of course, it was a great experience for me and very important. We did our best
in the first game to help us qualify from the group stage. We did our best, we
won that, but then lost the second and third game. The second game [against
Switzerland], especially, we should have done better. We had a chance to
qualify for the next round but we didn’t have enough experience to do it. I
think, in the future, it’s very important for us to qualify for the Euros and,
with the experience we have from the World Cup, I think we can do more. It was
an amazing experience and there was great organisation from the Russian
Federation. Yes, I was very happy. I enjoyed it and hope Serbia can also be
there at the next World Cup.
The full interview with Nemanja Matic appeared in the October
issue of Inside
United, the official magazine, which features
regular exclusive insights from the players.
issue of Inside
United, the official magazine, which features
regular exclusive insights from the players.
November’s issue is on sale now – featuring Marcus Rashford as
the cover star.
the cover star.
