Top 5 Balkan Midfielders

#4 Nemanja Matić

'The Beast' spotting his prey

The towering Serbian, who plays as a defensive midfielder for Manchester United, is everything a team can ask for. The multifaceted Matic can double up as a centre-back during opposition counters and can almost equally effectively turn into a striker during offence with pinpoint passes and powerful headers being an important aspect of his game. He brings a calming influence to the team and can effectively neutralize opposition attacks thereby acting as a reliable shield for his team's defence. He helped Chelsea to the Premier League title last season before joining United last year.

Replacing Micheal Carrick, Matic has effectively sealed United's voids in the midfield and has also provided defensive backup for the likes of Paul Pogba and the newly arrived Alexis Sanchez. He is the fulcrum to Mourinho's much-debated style of play called 'Bus Parking', one which he often employs against fast-paced oppositions. Matic's complexly simple style of play is central to gel the attack and defence of a rejuvenated United side.

Most times it is the more attacking players that get the appraisals and adulation, with his efforts going unnoticed and unappreciated from a layman's perspective. But he would surely be one of the first to get the coach's pat on the back for thwarting in numerous counter attacks from the opposition and for his superlative work-rate.