Neven Subotic

Neven Subotić (born 10 December 1988) is a Serbian football Defender (association football), who plays for Borussia Dortmund. Subotić made Neven Subotic first-team debut at the very end of the Fußball-Bundesliga 2006–07 as Mainz were relegated from the Fußball-Bundesliga. In the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga the following year, Neven Subotic seized a starting role and quickly received high marks as one of the best young defenders in the league.

Early life

Born to Serbian parents Željko and Svetlana in Banja Luka, Neven was five years old when the family moved to Germany in 1994, settling in the town of Schömberg, Calw. Neven took up football at the age of 7 with the local outfit TSV Schwarzenberg.

In the late 1990s, Neven Subotic family's residence authorization in Germany expired and they opted to move to the USA in 1999. They settled in Salt Lake City where Neven's father had a cousin. Neven played soccer with Sparta Gold and Impact Black youth clubs.

Within two years the family was on the move again, this time to Bradenton, Florida, Florida so that Neven's sister Natalija can pursue a tennis career at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. The city also happens to be the IMG Soccer Academy for the United States U-17 men's national soccer team. Neven trained on Neven Subotic own in G.T. Bray Park where Neven Subotic got spotted by Keith Fulk, one of the team's assistant coaches who then informed the team's head coach John Ellinger about Subotić. After arranging a tryout, they offered Neven a spot in the residency camp. At the time Neven Subotic was not attached to any club sides, but eventually started playing with the University of South Florida team.

While playing with the U-17 team in the Netherlands, Subotić was approached by player agent Steve Kelly who inquired about Neven Subotic career plans and offering a possibility of playing in Europe. After impressing at the tryout for 1. FSV Mainz 05, young Subotić was on Neven Subotic way there, initially playing for the club's youth and fourth-division teams.

International career

Youth level

Subotić was part of the squad for the US entry in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship during September 2005 in Peru. While Neven Subotic has made appearances for the USA U-20 team, Neven Subotic was not selected to play in the 2007 U-20 World Cup.

Senior level

Neven Subotic was eligible to represent the United States men's national soccer team, Serbia national football team,

Bosnia-Herzegovina fell out of the running early as Subotić publicly rejected overtures by the country's football officials and head coach Miroslav Blažević.

By fall 2008, it became clear that only Serbia figured in Neven Subotic international choice. Citing sources close to Subotić's family, many reports in the Serbian press appeared in this period about Neven Subotic decision to play for Serbia already being made, but waiting for the right moment to state it publicly since Neven Subotic had until 10 December 2009 (his 21st birthday) to declare Neven Subotic choice. In mid December 2008 Subotić informed national team head coach Radomir Antić about Neven Subotic decision to represent Serbia. In late December 2008, Subotić notified US Soccer Federation about Neven Subotic decision - the first official step in the process of changing national team attachment.

On 28 March 2009, Subotić made Neven Subotic debut for Serbian national team, coming on as a 65th minute sub in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) against Romania national football team in Constanţa. Serbia won 3-2. On 10 June 2009, Subotić scored Neven Subotic first goal for Serbia national football team in a 2:0 win over Faroe Islands national football team.