Nemanja Radoja

Career Summary

Nemanja Radoja signed with Sporting KC ahead of the 2023 campaign, having spent most of the previous decade in the Spanish La Liga with Celta Vigo and Levante. Radoja played nearly 300 matches across the top divisions of Serbia and Spain and also boasts experience in the UEFA Europa League with Vojvodina and Celta Vigo.

Radoja began his professional career with Serbian club Vojvodina before embarking on an eight-year journey in La Liga. He logged 181 La Liga appearances from 2014-2022, playing alongside Sporting defender Andreu Fontas at Celta Vigo from 2014-2018 and spent three seasons with Levante from 2019-2022. Radoja developed in Vojvodina’s youth academy and joined the club’s senior team in 2011 prior to brief loan spells in Serbia. Celta Vigo acquired Radoja via transfer in August 2014 and he took little time settling in as a key figure for Celta, regularly competing in tandem with Fontas for a team that finished eighth in 2014-15. Radoja and Celta improved upon their fortunes in 2015-16 leading to a sixth-place league finish. Celta Vigo’s 2016-17 campaign was highlighted by runs to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey and UEFA Europa League, where they fell to eventual champions Manchester United. Radoja moved to Levante ahead of the 2019-20 campaign. His first year at the club was highlighted by scoring in a 3-1 upset win over European powerhouse FC Barcelona.

On the international stage, Radoja has two caps for the Serbia Men’s National Team. He earned his senior debut in a friendly match at Ukraine in November 2016 and made one appearance in Serbia’s successful qualifying campaign ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. As a youth, Radoja represented Serbia at the U-18 through U-21 levels.

PROFESSIONAL

2023: Signed with Sporting as a free agent on Oct. 26, 2022. Recovered from an injury-plagued start to the season to make 30 appearances across all competitions. MLS Regular Season: Started 21 of 25 appearances and tallied three assists in his first season in MLS. Made his debut as a substitute in the 0-0 home draw with the LA Galaxy on March 11 before making his first start in the 0-0 draw at Philadelphia on April 1. Tallied his first assist in the 2-2 home draw with Real Salt Lake on July 12 before recording a pair of assists in the 3-0 home win over San Jose on Aug 26. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started all four matches and played 358 of 360 available minutes in Sporting's postseason run to the Western Conference Semifinals. Open Cup: Made one appearance, going the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 loss at Houston in the Round of 32. Leagues Cup: Did not feature.

Levante (2019-2022):

Signed with Levante ahead of the 2019-20 La Liga season. His first year at the club was highlighted by a 3-1 upset win over European powerhouse Barcelona in November 2019 that saw Radoja score Levante’s final goal.

In 2020-21, Radoja and Levante enjoyed another major success by reaching the semifinal of the Copa del Rey for the first time in club history before losing to Athletic Bilbao 3-2 on aggregate. Radoja made four starts and six total appearances during the momentous tournament run.

In his final season with Levante, Radoja started 18 of 20 matches in all competitions, including a 90-minute outing in a wild 3-3 draw against eventual La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid in August 2021.

Celta Vigo (2014-2019):

Radoja’s standout season in 2013-14 attracted the attention of La Liga outfit Celta Vigo who he joined in August 2014. He took little time settling in as a key figure for Celta, regularly competing for a team that finished eighth in the 2014-15 La Liga table.

Radoja and Celta improved upon their fortunes in 2015-16 as he played 36 matches in all competitions, spearheading a sixth-place league finish, a semifinal appearance in the Copa del Rey and a berth in the 2016-17 edition of the UEFA Europa League.

Celta Vigo’s 2016-17 campaign was highlighted by admirable runs to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey as well as the UEFA Europa League, where they fell to eventual champions Manchester United in a narrow 2-1 aggregate defeat. Radoja started 45 of 50 matches over the course of the season, including 12 appearances in the Europa League, and scored his first La Liga goal in a 1-0 win over Alaves in January 2017.

Radoja played an additional 29 games for Celta over the next two seasons

Vojvodina (2011-2014):

Radoja developed in Vojvodina’s youth academy and joined the club’s senior team in 2011. He went out on a pair of brief loan spells at fellow Serbian sides CSK Celarevo and Cement Beocin.

After returning to Vojvodina, he became an integral contributor during the 2012-13 campaign as he made 22 league appearances, helping the team to a third-place finish in the Serbian SuperLiga and a run to the 2013 Serbian Cup Final.

The midfielder reached greater heights in the following season, starting in 25 league games and eight UEFA Europa League matches in addition to guiding Vojvodina to the 2014 Serbian Cup title with a 2-0 triumph over Jagodina in the final.

INTERNATIONAL

On the international stage, Radoja has two caps for the Serbia Men’s National Team. He earned his senior debut in a friendly match at Ukraine in November 2016 and made one appearance in Serbia’s successful qualifying campaign ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, featuring in a 3-0 win over Moldova in September 2017.

On the youth international stage, he represented Serbia at the U-18 through U-21 levels, notably playing every minute for his country in the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with games against Paul Pogba and France, Harry Kane and England and Croatia.

YOUTH

Developed in Vojvodina’s youth academy and joined the club’s senior team in 2011 prior to brief loan spells at fellow Serbian sides CSK Celarevo and Cement Beocin.