A Krasic case of talent
Krasic started his career with hometown side FK Rudar Kosovska Mitrovica, but was spotted by Serbian giants FK Vojvodina in 1999 and moved north at the tender age of fourteen.
Krasic started his career with hometown side FK Rudar Kosovska Mitrovica, but was spotted by Serbian giants FK Vojvodina in 1999 and moved north at the tender age of fourteen. He spent the next four and a half seasons in Novi Sad, where he became captain, but was not considered a truly great player. Krasic’s big break came in 2004, with a move to CSKA Moscow.
He moved to Moscow at a great time, with the Army club going on to win the UEFA Cup that season. Krasic’s cameo in the final was his first major European outing and the hunger to move on to bigger things was there for all to see. He has helped CSKA to the Russian premier league title in 2005 and 2006, the Russian Cup in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009, and the Russian Super Cup in 2006, 2007 and 2009.
Krasic is the poster boy of a new generation of Serbian football that has a bright future. He was part of the Serbia-Montenegro under-21 squad during the last two European U-21 championships, as well as at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Krasic received his first senior call up for Serbia for their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. On the road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he was the only player to feature in all 10 of Serbia's qualifiers, contributing a great deal to the team's campaign, wehre they finished top of their group ahead of favourites France. He scored a goal against Lithuania, another in the game against Austria and set up three in the game against Romania, sealing top spot and qualification for the Serbs.
This quick and creative right-winger or attacking midfielder bears an uncanny resemblance to Czech Republic and Juventus star, Pavel Nedved. But for Serbia's opponents, it will not be the similarity in appearance that will be cause for concern. Krasic brings to the field similar energy, creativity and vision, and though he is still young, his experience at the top level with CSKA could make him a key man in a strong Serbian squad.