Matija Nastasić facts for kids
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Nastasić with Schalke 04 in 2018
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 March 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Valjevo, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.88 m | ||
| Playing position | Centre-back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Leganés | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2008 | ZSK Valjevo | ||
| 2008–2010 | Partizan | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2010–2011 | Partizan | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Teleoptik (loan) | 21 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Fiorentina | 26 | (2) |
| 2012–2014 | Manchester City | 34 | (0) |
| 2015–2021 | Schalke 04 | 122 | (1) |
| 2021–2022 | Fiorentina | 5 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Mallorca | 40 | (2) |
| 2024– | Leganés | 15 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2009–2010 | Serbia U17 | 9 | (2) |
| 2010–2011 | Serbia U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | Serbia U21 | 6 | (1) |
| 2012–2022 | Serbia | 34 | (0) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Matija Nastasić (born on March 28, 1993) is a professional footballer from Serbia. He plays as a centre-back for the Spanish team Leganés and also for the Serbian national team.
He started his football journey at Partizan in Serbia. After a loan spell at Teleoptik, he moved to Italy to play for Fiorentina in 2011. A year later, he joined Manchester City in England. There, he helped his team win the Premier League title in 2014.
In 2015, Matija moved to Germany to play for Schalke 04, where he stayed for seven years. He later returned to Fiorentina in 2021. He made his first appearance for the Serbian national team in 2012 and has played many games for them since.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Early Career in Serbia
Matija Nastasić grew up playing football in the youth academy of Partizan, a well-known club in Serbia. He was a talented young player. Since it was hard for him to get a spot in Partizan's main team, he was loaned to FK Teleoptik, another Serbian club.
At Teleoptik, Matija played 21 games. His strong performances as a left-footed centre-back caught the attention of Fiorentina, an Italian team. They decided to sign him, bringing him to play in Italy.
Time in Italy with Fiorentina
When Matija first joined Fiorentina, he spent some time with their youth squad. However, because the main team needed more good centre-backs, he often trained with them. He got his first chance to play in Italy's top league, Serie A, on September 11, 2011. This was in a game against Bologna, which Fiorentina won 2–0.
He played 25 more games that season. One game, against Milan, really showed off his skills. He was great at tackling, comfortable with the ball, and smart about his positioning. These qualities made a big impression. Soon after, he moved to the English club Manchester City.
Joining Manchester City
Matija Nastasić signed a five-year contract with Manchester City. He made his first appearance for the club on September 18, 2012, in a Champions League game against Real Madrid. His first game in the Premier League was on September 29, when Manchester City beat Fulham 2–1.
He quickly became a regular player in the team. His excellent form earned him the club's Player of the Month award in November. He even became a fan favorite. In May 2013, he was named Manchester City's Young Player of the Season.
The next season, 2013–14, was tougher for Matija because of injuries. Despite this, he played in 13 league games, and Manchester City went on to win the Premier League title that year.
Playing for Schalke 04
On January 13, 2015, Matija was loaned to the German club Schalke 04. He had not played for Manchester City that season. He made his debut for Schalke on January 31 in a 1–0 win against Hannover 96.
On March 11, 2015, Schalke 04 made his move permanent, and Matija signed a four-year contract with the German club. On August 8, 2015, he scored his first goal for Schalke in a big 5–0 win against MSV Duisburg in a cup game. In June 2018, Matija extended his contract with Schalke, agreeing to stay with the club until the summer of 2022.
Back to Fiorentina
In August 2021, Matija Nastasić signed with Fiorentina again. This happened after Schalke 04 was moved down to a lower league in Germany. He returned to his former Italian club.
Time in Spain with Mallorca
On September 1, 2022, Matija signed a one-year contract with Mallorca in Spain. He had an option to extend his stay. On April 26, 2023, he scored his first goal for Mallorca against Atlético Madrid. It was a header from a corner kick.
He returned to Mallorca again on September 1, 2023, signing another one-year deal.
Joining Leganés
On August 30, 2024, Matija Nastasić joined another Spanish top-tier team, Leganés. He signed a two-year contract with them. On January 18, 2025, Matija scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Atletico Madrid.
Playing for Serbia
Matija Nastasić played for various Serbian youth football teams as he grew up. He made his first appearance for the senior national team on February 29, 2012. This was in a friendly game against Cyprus.
He was considered for Serbia's team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. However, he was not part of the final 23-man squad that went to the tournament.
Awards and Achievements
Team Awards
- Premier League: 2013–14 (with Manchester City)
Individual Awards
- Manchester City Young Player of the Year: 2012–13
Images for kids
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Nastasić with Manchester City in 2013
See also
In Spanish: Matija Nastasić para niños
