Nemanja Matic – Serbian Footballer Of The Year 2014

For the third year in a row a Chelsea player has been named the Serbian Footballer of the Year. In 2012 and 2013 the award went to former centre-back now turned fullback, Branislav Ivanovic. This year it was awarded to possibly the most solid central-defensive midfielder in the Chelsea FC squad and maybe even in the Premier League since Claude Makelele.

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Some say Matic may be even better than Makelele because he adds a goal scoring touch and a killer shot from long range that was on display against Everton and in his Puskas nominated goal last year.

Nemanja Matic has secured his spot in Jose Mourinho’s starting XI since he re-joined the team from Benfica and has become a vital part of the club. He was one of the best players in the squad and was a missing piece in the Blues’ Champions League campaign. Before he transferred back to Chelsea FC in the winter transfer window of 2014, Matic played for Benfica and was even named the Portuguese League Player of the Year in the 2012-2013 season.

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Matic is not only a rock in midfield defensively, but he also contributes offensively. The former Benfica star has scored thrice and assisted twice this year in all competitions as Chelsea seek to remain unbeaten across all fronts. Matic’s pass accuracy of 88% is also crucial to the new style of play Mourinho has implemented at the club. Since replacing Mikel in the starting lineup, Matic has changed the way Chelsea defend and attack.

At 26 years of age Matic will look to improve as he is entering his prime and hopefully retain the title of Serbian Footballer of the Year for the upcoming year and hopefully year after that, that is if Serbian captain Branislav Ivanovic, doesn’t try to steal it back.

All stats and data courtesy of the Chelsea FC official website