Матеја Кежман

Mateja Kežman (Serbian Cyrillic: Матеја Кежман) (born 12 April 1979 in Zemun, Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Serbian footballer, playing predominantly as a striker. Kežman is currently playing for French club Paris Saint-Germain. Club career : Kežman made his name at FK Partizan in his homeland before moving to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven for €10.5 million in 2000. He was the top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie, scoring 24 goals in 33 games. He also picked up the nickname 'Batman'; the famous theme song was played at the Philips Stadion every time he scored. Kezman and Arjen Robben gained the epithet 'Batman and Robben', a play on 'Batman and Robin'. Kežman proceeded to score 81 goals over the following three seasons with PSV, achieving the record of being the first Dutch league player to score more league goals than games played in consecutive seasons, before finally moving for £5,3 million to English side Chelsea in the summer of 2004. He scored the winning goal in the Carling Cup final against Liverpool when Chelsea had won 3-2 after extra time. He failed to make an impact with the London club and only started 14 games. He left for Atlético de Madrid after just one season with Chelsea who made a minor profit on this transfer. After a short spell in Madrid, he was transferred to Fenerbahçe SK for $9.75m in August 2006 on a four year contract. He won the Turkish Super League with Fenerbahçe in their centennial year. On 19th August, 2008 Kezman agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain on loan with a purchase option of €4 million + €1 million that the player himself would have to pay to Fenerbahçe upon leaving. International career : Kezman marked his international debut for FR Yugoslavia with a goal against China in a March 2000 friendly as part of the preparations for Euro 2000. Head coach Vujadin Boškov included him in the final 23-man roster that he took to Belgium and Holland. Despite being the fourth attacking option behind Savo Milošević, Darko Kovačević and Predrag Mijatović, 21-year-old Kežman got his chance as substitute late in the group match versus Norway. However, after being on the pitch for about 90 seconds, he was sent off following a rash tackle on Erik Mykland. Kežman led Serbia and Montenegro's scoring during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifications with 5 goals, including the only goal in the final game against Bosnia and Herzegovina which in turn allowed Serbia and Montenegro to qualify directly, having come first in their group. During the competition, he was sent off in a group match against Argentina by referee Roberto Rosetti. Despite being such a prolific striker for PSV he never reached the same heights for Serbia. He has managed 17 goals in 49 caps for Serbia and Montenegro. Since his sending off against Argentina in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he has not been called up to any of Serbia's friendlies nor has he participated in any of the qualification games for the Euro 2008, Due to him playing in a Turkish club Serbian Football Officials feel as if its a betrayal to Serbia. His views on that were very vocal during 2007/08 because he was not called up for the Euro, he said that they were very prejudice and not fair because he was at a Turkish club. Since then he retired from international football in 2008, but said he will come back if they let him for the 2010 world cup qualifications if there is a new manager for Serbia. Honours : Club * Flag of Serbia Partizan o Serbia-Montenegro First League: 1 (1998-99) * Flag of the Netherlands PSV Eindhoven o Dutch Eredivisie: 2 (2000-01, 2002-03) o Dutch Supercup: 3 (2000), (2001), (2003) * Flag of England Chelsea o Premier League: 1 (2004-05) o Football League Cup: 1 (2005) * Flag of Turkey Fenerbahçe o Turkish Super League: 1 (2006-