While the world praises Ajax or La Masia, and we recently explored the incredible Dinamo Zagreb academy, there is another football mine in the Balkans that operates in the shadows but produces pure gold.
Welcome to Partizan Belgrade of Serbia. Home to FK Partizan and their legendary youth academy, widely known as “Zemunelo” (a nod to AC Milan’s Milanello due to its state-of-the-art facilities).
If Dinamo Zagreb produces technical midfielders like Modric, Partizan Belgrade specializes in creating warriors and clinical strikers. According to CIES Football Observatory, Partizan is consistently ranked as one of the most productive training grounds in Europe, having supplied players to Manchester City, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Liverpool.
Partizan Belgrade is not just an academy; it is a master of scouting. They have a unique ability to spot talent early, polish them for 1-2 seasons, and sell them to Europe’s elite for massive profits.
From Chelsea cult heroes to Juventus superstars, here are the Top 10 stars who were made in Partizan Belgrade, ranked from 10 to 1.
READ MORE:
- The Marakana Factory: 10 World-Class Stars Forged at Red Star Belgrade
- Dinamo Zagreb Academy: The Factory That Made Modric, Gvardiol & Kovacic
10. Matija Nastasić
Matija Nastasić is a unique case in the Zemunelo history books.
While most stars on this list made their name at the Partizan Stadium, Nastasić’s talent was so obvious that he was snatched away before even playing a senior minute for Partizan’s first team. Instead, he proved his worth at Teleoptik – Partizan’s legendary affiliate club – where he dominated the senior second division as a mere teenager.
Fiorentina saw enough in his Teleoptik performances to sign him at 18, and just one year later, Manchester City paid €15 million to bring him to the Etihad.
At just 19, he became a regular starter alongside Vincent Kompany, winning the Premier League title in 2014 and earning the club’s Young Player of the Season award.
After leaving Manchester City in 2015, Nastasić continued his journey across Europe’s top leagues. He became a defensive pillar at Schalke 04 for seven seasons and then returned to Fiorentina.
In the later stages of his career, Nastasić moved La Liga, becoming a vital leader for Mallorca and Leganés.
Unlike the rugged “warrior” defenders Serbia usually produces, Nastasić was an elegant, “Rolls-Royce” type of center-back, known for his superb reading of the game. He remains the only academy graduate on this list to have a Premier League winner’s medal around his neck.
9. Lazar Marković
Liverpool fans might wince at the name, remembering the £20 million price tag that never quite paid off at Anfield. However, to judge Marković solely on his Premier League spell would be unfair. Before the injuries and loss of confidence, he was widely considered one of the most electric teenagers in world football.
Breaking through at Partizan at just 17, Marković possessed blistering speed and dribbling ability that terrified defenders. His talent exploded at Benfica, where he was instrumental in their 2014 treble-winning season and run to the Europa League final.
While his time in England is often cited as a cautionary tale, for Partizan Belgrade, he remains a massive success story – a raw gem developed for nothing and sold for millions, proving the academy’s ability to create elite attacking talent.
8. Nikola Milenković
If Nemanja Vidić is the gold standard for Serbian defenders, Nikola Milenković is the modern prototype. Standing at a towering 1.95m, he is an absolute monster in the air. While many academy graduates leave early and fade away, Milenković took the path of consistency.
He didn’t just pass through Italy; he conquered it. Spending seven loyal seasons at Fiorentina, he racked up over 260 appearances, often wearing the captain’s armband and leading the team to two UEFA Conference League finals.
He established himself as one of the most reliable center-backs in Serie A for nearly a decade before finally making his long-awaited move to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.
A true warrior who proves that Partizan produces “steel” as well as “silk.”
7. Strahinja Pavlović
The latest defensive jewel from the Zemunelo production line. While many young defenders focus on passing, Strahinja Pavlović plays with pure aggression and heart. A left-footed center-back – the rarest commodity in modern football – he was so impressive at Partizan that AS Monaco bought him as a teenager for €10 million.
After refining his game at RB Salzburg and shining at the 2022 World Cup, he earned a massive move to AC Milan in 2024 to follow in the footsteps of legendary defenders.
With his towering physique and fearless tackling, Pavlović is already being hailed as the natural heir to Nemanja Vidić in the national team. He proves that the academy doesn’t just produce talent; it produces leaders.
6. Adem Ljajić
Adem Ljajić represents the ultimate “what if” story in Serbian football. Back in 2009, he was famously pictured holding a Manchester United shirt alongside Zoran Tošić, dubbed the “Little Kaka” by scouts. The deal was done, but collapsed at the last minute due to work permit issues (and arguably Sir Alex Ferguson changing his mind).
Despite the heartbreak, Ljajić proved his class in Serie A. He carved out a highly respectable career with Fiorentina and AS Roma, scoring stunning free-kicks and showcasing magical vision.
While his inconsistency prevented him from reaching the very top, Ljajić remains the archetype of the “Balkan Number 10” – immensely talented, technically gifted, and capable of moments of pure genius that few others can produce.
5. Stefan Savić
Stefan Savić spent only one season at Partizan (2010-11) after arriving from BSK Borča, but that single year was enough to convince Manchester City to pay £6 million for him. While he was too young for the physical demands of the Premier League back then, his talent was undeniable.
After leaving England, Savić didn’t fade away; he evolved. He became a titan in Serie A with Fiorentina before cementing his legacy at Atletico Madrid.
Under Diego Simeone, he transformed into one of the world’s best defenders – a master of the “dark arts” and a warrior who would put his head where others wouldn’t put their feet. He is the ultimate proof that Partizan is the perfect launchpad for defenders destined for greatness.
4. Mateja Kežman
Before he became a cult hero (and arguably a Premier League flop) at Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, Mateja Kežman was statistically the deadliest striker in Europe. He joined Partizan at just 19 years old and immediately exploded, scoring 33 goals in 54 games.
His form at Partizan earned him a move to PSV Eindhoven, where he formed the legendary “Batman & Robin” partnership with Arjen Robben. He was unstoppable in the Eredivisie, scoring more goals than games played in some seasons.
Although his time at Stamford Bridge was tough, he still won the Premier League title and scored the winning goal in a League Cup final. To this day, Kežman represents the pure “Partizan Spirit”: aggressive, passionate, and possessing a killer instinct inside the box that few can match.
3. Stevan Jovetić
A true prodigy, Jovetic became Partizan captain at just 18 years old – the youngest in the club’s history at the time – before Fiorentina snatched him up for €8 million.
While injuries plagued his time at Manchester City, “Montenegrin Baggio” remains one of the most naturally gifted players to ever emerge from the Balkans. He possesses a unique distinction in football history: he has scored goals in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1.
He wasn’t just a goalscorer; he was a creator who played with a silkiness that is rare in modern football. For purists who love technical excellence, “Jo-Jo” is the ultimate Partizan masterpiece.
2. Aleksandar Mitrović (The Cult Hero)
“Mitro’s on fire!”
We know the chant now, but his path to glory wasn’t a straight line.
Mitrovic made his senior debut for Partizan in 2012 and immediately won the Serbian SuperLiga as a teenager. Known for his physical dominance and fiery temper, he plays every game as if he is going to war.
When Mitrović joined Newcastle United in 2015, he was a raw, aggressive talent. And his time at St James’ Park was a mixture of red cards and an inability to save the club from relegation. Rafa Benítez didn’t fully trust him, and he eventually left the club for Fulham.
In fact, he then became an absolute icon at Craven Cottage, where he shattered the English Championship scoring record with 43 goals in a single season – a feat that defined his legacy as the king of the second tier.
For years, critics labeled him a “Yo-Yo striker” – too good for the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League. He took that criticism personally, scoring 14 goals in the 2022/23 season for Fulham.
Now Serbia’s all-time leading goalscorer, Mitrović is the ultimate embodiment of the Partizan spirit: aggressive, passionate, and completely unplayable on his day.
1. Dušan Vlahović (The €80M Superstar)
“Black and white stripes? It feels just like home.”
Long before he was battling defenders in Serie A, Dušan Vlahović was rewriting history books in Belgrade. He joined Partizan’s academy at a young age and was such a prodigy that he made his senior debut at just 16 years and 24 days old, becoming the youngest player in the club’s history.
Partizan actually sold him too early (for just about €2 million to Fiorentina), a decision that looks crazy now. In Italy, he evolved into a monster. With a lethal left foot, a 1.90m frame, and the technical ability of a winger, he scored 49 goals in 108 games for Fiorentina.
His blockbuster move to Juventus for over €80 million – famously snubbing a massive approach from Arsenal – proved that the boy from Zemunelo had become one of the world’s most coveted strikers.
He is the modern prototype of a No.9 that Mikel Arteta was desperate to sign: powerful, fast, and possessing a killer instinct inside the box.
