Coach
Radomir Antic
22.11.1948
Coach since August 2008
He had a solid career as player. He was left back with Partizan, Fenerbahce, Zaragoza and Luton Town. As coach he spent his whole career in Spain, where he guided also top clubs Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. His greatest success was the 1996 league title and cup triumph with Atletico. Was appointed Serbia’s national coach in August 2008. The general feeling in Serbia is that the experienced and charismatic Antic has the biggest merits for the successes of the national team.
Goalkeepers
Andjelko Djuricic
21.11.80
União Leiria
A late call-up to the squad, who only made his debut for the Serbian national team against New Zealand on 29 May 2010.
Bojan Isailovic
25.03.1980
Zaglebie Lubin
3/0
Learned the trade in Red Star’s youth-school, but played later with several smaller clubs. Voted as best goalkeeper of Serbia’s top flight in 2008, while with Cukaricki Belgrade. Put in flawless performances in friendly games against Sweden (2-0) and Northern Ireland (1-0). Graduated at faculty of Sports Management in 2005.
Vladimir Stojkovic
28.07.1983
Wigan Athletic
30/0
While some say that Stojkovic is an outstanding goalkeeper, who so far had just bad luck at his foreign clubs, others claim that he is the weak point and a big risk-factor. Fact is that Stojkovic, who in previous four seasons had hapless spells with Nantes, Vitesse, Sporting Lisbon and Getafe, always plays well for the national team and that he enjoys the trust of national coach Antic.
Defenders
Branislav Ivanovic
22.02.1984
Chelsea
29/4
Right back who can play equally well as central defender. Matured after becoming a regular at Chelsea. Strong in the air and dangerous in front of the opponent’s goal at set pieces. Scored three goals in World Cup qualifications. Just like Vidic, he too made the jump to the English Premier League via Russia (Lokomotiv Moscow).
Aleksandar Kolarov
10.11.1985
Lazio
10/0
In-form left back who is reportedly set to move this summer to a European top club. One of his biggest strong points are powerful long-range shots and free-kicks. Derives from Red Star’s youth-school, but made the way to Serie A via smaller Belgrade clubs Cukaricki and OFK.
Aleksandar Lukovic
23.10.1982
Udinese
18/0
Left-footed central defender, who while with Red Star played as left back. Comfortable with the ball, plays with big self-confidence and calmness and is strong in duels. When he was 21 years old, he experienced a big set-back, after Red Star sent him on loan to 2nd league club Jedinstvo Ub, but he bounced back, returned to Red Star and moved two years later to Serie A.
Ivan Obradovic
25.07.1988
Real Zaragoza
10/1
Left back who put in impressive performances in the qualifications, but missed practically the whole season due to a knee-injury.
Antonio Rukavina
26.01.1984
1860 Munich
19/0
Speedy and offensive right back who had a meteoric rise from small club Bezanija via Partizan, Serbia U-21 and Serbia national team to German Bundesliga in the space of only two years. Started well at Borussia Dortmund, but is now on loan at 2nd league 1860 Munich.
Neven Subotic
10.12.1988
Borussia Dortmund
10/1
Central defender who made the grade in Bundesliga, but who puts in shaky displays in national team; most likely due to stage fright and due to the fact that he didn’t yet fully adapt to the team. Left native Bosnia with his parents at age of six, first for Germany, then USA. Played for USA U-17 team, was legible to play for various national teams (Bosnia-Herzegovina, USA, Germany) but decided to play for Serbia (his parents are Serbs).
Nemanja Vidic
21.10.1981
Manchester United
44/2
World class central defender. Key-figure in Serbia’s defense. Received only one yellow card in eight World Cup qualifiers. Had bad luck to miss out Germany 2006 due to an injury. With Vidic the then Serbia & Montenegro team conceded only one goal in ten qualifiers. Without him they conceded ten goals in three World Cup group-games.
Midfielders
Milan Jovanovic
18.04.1981
Standard Liege
24/9
Quick and technically strong left winger. One of the heroes of Standard’s back to back title wins in 2008 and 2009. With five goals in eight games Serbia’s top scorer in the World Cup qualifications. Reportedly signed a pre-contract to join Liverpool after the World Cup. Born and brought up in Bajina Basta, hometown of Bora Milutinovic. During his childhood and youth Jovanovic was an exceptionally ambitious pupil and always got highest school-marks.
Gojko Kacar
26.01.1987
Hertha Berlin
15/0)
A player with amazing versatility. Made his name at Vojvodina as central defender, but later played on various positions in midfield. Once he scored five goals for Serbia U-21 in a Euro-qualifier against Hungary. Made the grade also in Bundesliga. Kacar’s uncles Slobodan and Tadija Kacar were world-class boxers.
Milos Krasic
01.11.1984
CSKA Moscow
29/2
Fast and technically excellent right winger. The only man who played in all ten matches in qualifications. Scored two goals and had seven assists. Serbia’s Player of the Year 2009. Born and brought up in Kosovska Mitrovica, where he spent two months during Nato air-strikes in spring 1999. In his hometown they still call him Jackson, a nickname he got while playing football for his school-team. People who watched him, said that he played like Michael Jackson was dancing. It is as good as certain that next season Krasic will play for a top club in England, Spain or Italy.
Zdravko Kuzmanovic
22.09.1987
Stuttgart
25/4
Skillful, versatile midfielder, with great work-rate and powerful shot. Born and brought up in Switzerland, where he played for all youth selections, but then decided to play for the country of his parents, who are Bosnian Serbs. Had an impressive debut for Serbia in a 2-0 away-victory over Finland in a Euro 2008 qualifier. Also his father and grandfather were football players.
Nenad Milijas
30.04.1983
Wolverhampton
15/3
Left footed central midfielder with a good eye for the final pass. Good balls from set-pieces. Converted two penalty-kicks in the qualifications in home games against Austria (1-0) and France (1-1). Usually runs out of power in the middle of second half. Started pretty well at Wolves, but was recently only reserve.
Milos Ninkovic
25.12.1984
Dynamo Kyiv
7/0
Left Cukaricki Belgrade as teenager and made the grade with Ukraine’s top club. The only classic playmaker in the squad. Still, also because of injuries, has only the status of back-up player. Turned down an offer to become Ukraine international and preferred to wait for a chance to play for his home-country.
Radosav Petrovic
08.03.1989
Partizan Belgrade
5/0
Tall, mobile and skillful holding midfielder, whose style of play reminds a lot of former Yugoslavia international Slavisa Jokanovic. Many were stunned when Antic picked him, given that Petrovic isn’t a regular at his club. Born in Ub, the birth-place of the legendary Dragan Dzajic.
Dejan Stankovic
11.09.1978
Internazionale
86/13
Captain and leader of the team. Versatile midfielder of high international class. Plays already 12 years on top level in Serie A. His attitude and fighting spirit can serve always as an example. Has an outstanding shooting technique. South Africa 2010 will be his third World Cup. Owner of a top Italian restaurant in Belgrade. Owner of a company which deals with sales of Italian fashion line Sweet Years.
Zoran Tosic
28.04.1987
Koln
18/4
Short, technically excellent attacking midfielder with a sweet left foot. Great dribble-skills and shooting technique. Didn’t get a real chance at Old Trafford and left on a loan-deal to Cologne, where he settled quite well. His nickname is Bambi, but it has nothing to do with the Walt Disney cartoon, but with the brand of biscuits he always took with him at youth-training.
Forwards
Marko Pantelic
15.09.1978
Ajax
29/5
Technically brilliant, prolific striker, who went abroad already at the age of 14, later became a journey-man (Iraklis, PSG, Lausanne, Celta Vigo, Sturm Graz, Obilic Belgrade, Smederevo) and matured only after his comeback to Red Star at the age of 25. Afterwards he played four great seasons with Hertha Berlin, is now with Ajax, but reportedly will leave Amsterdam in summer as he has offers from Premier League clubs. Put in good performances in World Cup qualifications, but scored only one goal in nine matches.
Danko Lazovic
17.05.1983
Zenit St Petersburg
34/10
Technically gifted striker who is very useful in the build-up of attacks and who at PSV often made assists. Celebrated his debut in the national team back in March 2002, but is still a back-up player or super-sub. Made only four appearances (132 minutes) in the World Cup qualifiers, didn’t score, but received a red card in the home game against France, for referee insult.
Dejan Lekic
07.06.1985
Red Star Belgrade
2/0
Powerful and mobile attacker, who yet last season played in the 3rd Division, scored 26 goals and helped Zemun winning promotion to 2nd tier. Strong performances and goals for league-leaders Red Star catapulted him into the national team squad.
Dragan Mrdja
23.01.1984
Vojvodina Novi Sad
2/0
Former Red Star-striker, who after hapless spells in Belgium and Russia, signed with Vojvodina. Currently the league’s top scorer.
Nikola Zigic
25.09.1980
Valencia
42/16
In contrast to his club situation, where he plays an episode role, in the national team he is one of the key-players. Thanks to his height (2,02 m), Zigic is superior in the air, but also his work-rate and sense for team-play is impressive. Scored three goals in World Cup qualifications. Scored also one goal in Serbia & Montenegro’s hapless participation in Germany 2006.
