.jpg) Matić playing forSerbia at the2018 FIFA World Cup | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nemanja Matić[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1988-08-01)1 August 1988 (age 37)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Šabac, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sassuolo | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993–1997 | Vrelo | ||
| 1997–2000 | Obrenovac 1905 | ||
| 2000–2004 | Red Star Belgrade | ||
| 2004–2005 | Partizan | ||
| 2005–2006 | Jedinstvo Ub | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2007 | Kolubara | 16 | (2) |
| 2007–2009 | Košice | 70 | (4) |
| 2009–2011 | Chelsea | 2 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | →Vitesse (loan) | 28 | (2) |
| 2011–2014 | Benfica | 56 | (6) |
| 2014–2017 | Chelsea | 121 | (4) |
| 2017–2022 | Manchester United | 128 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | Roma | 35 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | Rennes | 14 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Lyon | 44 | (0) |
| 2025– | Sassuolo | 8 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2008–2010 | Serbia U21 | 12 | (2) |
| 2008–2019 | Serbia | 48 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:54, 24 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Nemanja Matić (Serbian Cyrillic:Немања Матић,pronounced[němaɲamǎːtitɕ]; born 1 August 1988) is a Serbian professionalfootballer who plays as adefensive midfielder forSerie A clubSassuolo.
Matić began his senior career atKolubara, before joining Slovak sideKošice in 2007. He moved to English clubChelsea for £1.5 million in 2009. Used sparingly during his first spell at the club, he spent the2010–11 season on loan at Dutch clubVitesse, and in the summer of 2011, he moved to Benfica as part of a swap deal involvingDavid Luiz. He won thePrimeira Liga Player of the Year award for his performances in the2012–13 season.[4]
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 thePFA Team of the Year for the 2014–15 season. In July 2017, he was reunited with former Chelsea managerJosé Mourinho after signing forManchester United. He played with Manchester United until 2022 when he again was reunited with Mourinho atRoma. After one season with Roma, he joinedRennes in 2023.[5]
Matić represented his nation Serbia atunder-21 level. He made hissenior international debut in 2008 and scored more than once in 48 appearances. He was part of Serbia's squad at the2018 FIFA World Cup.[6]
Matić was born inŠabac, SR Serbia.[7] He began playing football at age five with FK Vrelo from the eponymousvillage, coached by his own father.[8] He began his senior career atKolubara, before signing for Slovak clubKošice in 2007.[9] While living in the country, he also receivedSlovak citizenship.[10]
On 18 August 2009, Matić signed forChelsea from Košice for a fee of around £1.5 million on a four-year contract, having been on trial atMiddlesbrough.[11][12] He was given the number 24 shirt by Chelsea but was not able to make his debut immediately due to the injury he picked up at the2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. He was on the bench for Chelsea'sLeague Cup match againstQueens Park Rangers on 23 September 2009, but did not take any part in the 1–0 victory. Matić made hisPremier League debut for Chelsea on 21 November, coming on as a substitute forFlorent Malouda in the 69th minute in a 4–0 win overWolverhampton Wanderers.[13]
On 23 August 2010, Matić transferred toEredivisie clubVitesse on a one-year loan, together with teammatesSlobodan Rajković andMatej Delač.[14]
On 31 January 2011, Matić agreed to join Portuguese clubBenfica in the summer of 2011, as part of a deal for Chelsea to sign Brazilian centre-backDavid Luiz.[15] Under Benfica managerJorge Jesus, Matić was converted from aplaymaker into a defensive midfielder.[16]
On 14 April 2012, Matić started for Benfica in the2012 Taça da Liga Final againstGil Vicente, where he won his first trophy with theLisbon-based club.[16]
On 13 January 2013, Matić scored Benfica's first goal in a 2–2 draw withO Clássico rivalsPorto[citation needed] The next day, he was awarded with a contract extension lasting until 2018, with the buyout clause set at €45 million.[17]
In the second leg of Benfica'sEuropa League round of 32 tie againstBayer Leverkusen, Matić headed in a late goal after a cross fromLima to seal a 3–1 aggregate victory.[18] Matić was an integral member throughout the2012–13 Primeira Liga campaign as Benfica looked to claim the club's first league championship since2010. Going into the penultimate game of the season against Porto, both teams were undefeated in league play,[19] but a stoppage-time winner from substituteKelvin gave Porto a 2–1 victory.[20]
On 15 May, Matić faced former employers Chelsea in theEuropa League final in Amsterdam but was on the losing side as Benfica fell to a 2–1 defeat, courtesy of a last minuteBranislav Ivanović header.[21] On 4 July 2013, he was namedPrimeira Liga Player of the Year after having won the monthly award three times over the course of the season.[22][4]
In the2013–14 season, Matić played half of the season, with 22 matches and 3 goals, he helped Benfica to win thePrimeira Liga andTaça de Portugal.[23][24] On 13 January 2014, Matić placed second in the 2013FIFA Puskás Award.[25]
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On 15 January 2014, Matić rejoined Chelsea for a fee of £21 million (€25M),[26][27] on a five-and-a-half-year contract.[28] He made his second debut for the club four days later, replacingWillian in a 3–1 win againstManchester United.[29]
On 3 February, Matić made his firstPremier League start in Chelsea's fixture away at championship rivalsManchester City.[30] He was namedman of the match bySky Sports as Chelsea ended City's unbeaten run at theCity of Manchester Stadium with a 1–0 win.[31]
Matić scored his first Premier League goal on 30 August 2014, in a 6–3 win atEverton.[32] A month later, Matić scored the only goal as Chelsea won away atSporting CP in the group stage of theChampions League;[33] on 5 November in the same competition, his goal earned Chelsea a 1–1 draw atMaribor.[34]
Matić was given a straight red card in Chelsea's 1–1 home draw againstBurnley on 21 February 2015, for pushing overAshley Barnes following a high tackle by him, which resulted in the bending of Matić's shin.[35] On appeal, his suspension was shortened to two matches, including theLeague Cup Final.[36]
On 26 April 2015, Matić was named as one of four midfielders in thePFA Team of the Year, alongside teammateEden Hazard. Four more Chelsea players were included in the selection.[37]
On 12 September 2015, Matić scored his first goal of the2015–16 Premier League season against Everton, but it was not enough to save Chelsea from a 3–1 loss.[38] Matić was sent off for two yellow cards in the first half of Chelsea's 2–1 loss atWest Ham United on 24 October 2015.[39]
For the majority of the2016–17 Premier League season, Matić played as a central midfielder in a 3–4–3 formation. He scored the 4th goal in Chelsea's 4–2 FA Cup semi-final win over Tottenham Hotspur on 22 April 2017.[40] On 8 May 2017, he scored his first ever goal at Stamford Bridge, in a 3–0 victory overMiddlesbrough.[41]
On 30 July 2017, a photo was leaked of Matić wearing a Manchester United training kit printed with the number 31 vacated byBastian Schweinsteiger the previous March, fuelling rumours that Matić was on the verge of a reunion with former Chelsea managerJosé Mourinho.[42] Manchester United confirmed the deal the next day, with Matić signing a three-year contract with an option for an extra year,[43] for a fee reported to be in the region of £40 million.[44]
Two days after signing, he made his first appearance in a friendly againstSampdoria, finishing in a 2–1 win over the Italian side.[45] On 13 August 2017, Matić made his league debut in a 4–0 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford, in which he was named Man of the Match.[46] On 5 March 2018, Matić scored his first goal for the club with a half-volley in a 3–2 comeback win overCrystal Palace after being 2–0 down.[47] The goal was later voted Manchester United goal of the season.[48]
During the boxing day matches of the2018–19 Premier League, Matić scored his first goal of the season and his second for Manchester United in a 3–1 win overHuddersfield Town.[49]
On 29 January 2020, Matić scored the only goal in a 1–0derby win; however he was alsosent off during the game which United lost 3–2 on aggregate.[50]
On 17 March 2020, Manchester United announced that they would be triggering a clause in Matić's contract to extend it by another year rather than allowing it to expire in the summer of 2020, keeping him at the club for a fourth year.[51] On 6 July 2020, Matić signed a new three-year contract with the club, securing his future until 2023.[52]
On 15 April 2022, Matić announced he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.[53]
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On 14 June 2022, it was announced that Matić had agreed to joinRoma on a one-year contract, following the expiry of his Manchester United contract.[54] He joined on a free transfer. This was his third reunion with manager José Mourinho, having also played under him for Chelsea and Manchester United. "I already worked with him, we have a good connection and he is one of the reasons why I came here," Matić commented on Mourinho.[55] On 14 August, he made his debut for the club, as a substitute, in a 1–0 away win againstSalernitana in the Serie A.[56] He started in theEuropa League final, but would later be substituted in extra time as Roma went on to lose the match on penalties.[57]
_47.jpg)
On 14 August 2023, Matić joinedLigue 1 clubRennes on a two-year deal for a reported transfer fee of €3 million.[58][5] Matić played in 13Ligue 1 games and received 7 yellow cards, incurring 2 yellow-card suspensions. Rennes won 2 games that he played in. He was left out of the squad after 18 December 2023, with Rennes winning all 5 games from then until his departure. However, Matić played in all 6 Europa League group stage games, providing an assist in all three home games as Rennes advanced from their group.[59]
On 27 January 2024, Matić joined fellow Ligue 1 clubLyon on a two-and-a-half-year contract, for a transfer fee of €2.6 million.[60] On 17 May 2025, Matić played in a Ligue 1 game against Angers SCO with a white tape on the sleeve of his jersey coveringLigue 1's anti-homophobia badge. He was given a two-game ban for his action.[61] On 14 August 2025, his contract with Lyon was terminated by mutual consent.[62]
On 26 August 2025, Matić signed for newly promoted Serie A sideSassuolo until 2026.[63]
In August 2008, while playing forMFK Košice in SlovakCorgoň Liga, Matić received Slovak citizenship. Initially, he expressed an interest in playing for Slovakia internationally, explicitly refusing to play for his country of birth: "They can lure me into the A-team or the U21 [team], but I don't want to [play for Serbia] any more. I've already decided."[64]
However, on 11 October 2008, he debuted for theSerbia under-21 team in a match againstDenmark.[65] After three matches and two goals for the Serbia under-21 squad, he was called up to thesenior squad and made his debut in a friendly againstPoland on 14 December 2008, in a 1–0 loss.[66]
He played in theCyprus International Football Tournament in 2009 where Serbia made it to the final.[67][68]
Matić took part in the 2009 UEFA Euro Under-21 Championship, where he played 85 minutes in the first group match againstItaly in a 0–0 draw. Matić, however, injured himself after contact with Italian forwardSebastian Giovinco. He broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot and was forced to undergo surgery.[69]
In December 2012, Matić announced he would not play for the Serbia national team whileSiniša Mihajlović was the coach. The reason he gave for this decision is that he felt he was not given the right opportunity by the coach not playing a single minute in his last five call-ups.[70][71] On 6 September 2013, Matić returned to his national team on a2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match againstCroatia, beingsent off in the 75th minute.[72][73]
He scored his first international goal on 29 March 2015, in aUEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match away toPortugal at theEstádio da Luz, equalising via anoverhead kick, albeit in a 2–1 defeat.[74] On 11 October, in a loss against the same opponents by the same score at thePartizan Stadium, Matić received a straight red card within a minute of teammateAleksandar Kolarov's dismissal.[75]
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In June 2018, he was selected in the Serbian squad for the2018 World Cup,[6] playing all three group stage matches.[76][77][78]
On 28 August 2020, theFootball Association of Serbia announced that he had retired from international football; he made 48 appearances and scored two goals for Serbia.[79] He earned his final cap againstLuxembourg on 10 September 2019.[80]
A left-footeddefensive midfielder, Matić's poise and power, in addition to his in-game intelligence and tactical awareness, have enabled his attacking teammates to flourish. He is often used at a holding position and screens the defence while providing cover for attacking movements. Just before he joined Manchester United, he had a tackle success rate of 75% in 123 Premier League appearances, a higher rate thanN'Golo Kante,Ander Herrera,Fernandinho andJordan Henderson.[81]José Mourinho commented on Matić, "At this moment, he is a giant, not for his size but for the way he plays."[82] Matić's qualities have led to comparison to his ex-teammate at Manchester United,Michael Carrick.[83] Prior to joining Benfica, he played as anattacking midfielder, before being shifted to aholding midfield role.[84]
Matić's maternal grandfather is fromVolkovija,North Macedonia.[85][86] His younger brother,Uroš, is a former professionalfootballer, currently coachingJedinstvo Ub in Serbia.[87] He has three children with his wife, Aleksandra.[88]
Matić has admired former Manchester United midfielderRoy Keane from an early age.[89]
In November 2018, Matić refused to wear aremembrance poppy on his shirt for a match against Bournemouth.[90] After the match, he was castigated and got threats by a number of people via social networks for not respecting servicemen who have died in war.[91] He stated that he will not wear a poppy because his village ofVrelo was hit by theNATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999.[90] On 17 May 2025, theInternational Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, Matić played in Lyon's match againstAngers with ananti-homophobia logo on his shirt appearing to be covered.[92]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Košice | 2006–07[93] | Slovak Superliga | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2007–08[93] | Slovak Superliga | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 26 | 1 | ||||
| 2008–09[93] | Slovak Superliga | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 2 | ||||
| 2009–10[93] | Slovak Superliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 70 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 70 | 4 | ||||
| Chelsea | 2009–10[94] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010–11[95] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Vitesse (loan) | 2010–11[93] | Eredivisie | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 2 | |||
| Benfica | 2011–12[96] | Primeira Liga | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10[c] | 0 | — | 30 | 1 | |
| 2012–13[96] | Primeira Liga | 26 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13[d] | 1 | — | 47 | 5 | ||
| 2013–14[96] | Primeira Liga | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[c] | 1 | — | 22 | 3 | ||
| Total | 56 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 2 | — | 99 | 9 | |||
| Chelsea | 2013–14[97] | Premier League | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15[98] | Premier League | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8[c] | 2 | — | 49 | 3 | ||
| 2015–16[99] | Premier League | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[c] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
| 2016–17[100] | Premier League | 35 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 2 | |||
| Total | 121 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 151 | 7 | ||
| Manchester United | 2017–18[101] | Premier League | 36 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7[c] | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 49 | 2 |
| 2018–19[102] | Premier League | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[c] | 0 | — | 38 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20[103] | Premier League | 21 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5[g] | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21[104] | Premier League | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11[h] | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[105] | Premier League | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8[c] | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | ||
| Total | 128 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 189 | 4 | ||
| Roma | 2022–23[106] | Serie A | 35 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 13[g] | 0 | — | 50 | 2 | ||
| Rennes | 2023–24[107] | Ligue 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[g] | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | ||
| Lyon | 2023–24[107] | Ligue 1 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25[108] | Ligue 1 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 5[g] | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | |||
| Total | 44 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 5 | 0 | — | 55 | 1 | ||||
| Sassuolo | 2025–26[109] | Serie A | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 520 | 23 | 45 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 103 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 689 | 32 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia | 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 48 | 2 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 March 2015 | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal | 19 |  Portugal | 1–1 | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 2 | 6 October 2017 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | 35 |  Austria | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Košice
Chelsea
Benfica
Individual
