Mateja Kežman
A Serbian striker whose explosive goal-scoring form in the Netherlands made him a European sensation before a nomadic career across the continent.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Serbian footballer·Birthday: April 12·Generation X
Biography
Mateja Kežman burst onto the scene with a predator's instinct for goal. At PSV Eindhoven, paired with the young Arjen Robben, he became a scoring phenomenon, terrorizing Eredivisie defenses and capturing the league's golden boot. His powerful runs and clinical finishing made him one of Europe's most sought-after forwards, leading to a high-profile move to Chelsea. While his time in England was less prolific, it yielded a Premier League winner's medal. What followed was a journeyman's tour of top leagues—from Spain to Turkey, and back to his native Serbia—where he remained a respected and often decisive figure. After hanging up his boots, Kežman transitioned into player representation, using his vast network and experience to guide careers from the other side of the negotiating table.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Mateja was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mateja Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Mateja's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Dutch Eredivisie Golden Boot in 2003 after scoring 35 goals in a single season for PSV.
- Secured a Premier League title with Chelsea FC during the 2004-2005 season.
- Scored over 100 goals in all competitions during his four-year stint with PSV Eindhoven.
- Earned 49 caps for the Serbia and Montenegro national team, scoring 17 goals.
Did You Know?
His goal celebration, a front flip, was a trademark during his time at PSV Eindhoven.
Kežman and Arjen Robben were known as 'Batman and Robben' during their prolific partnership at PSV.
He played for eight different clubs in seven countries after leaving PSV, including Fenerbahçe and Paris Saint-Germain.
After retiring, he founded a sports agency representing footballers across Europe.
“I just wanted to score goals, and at PSV, everything clicked.”
