The Making of Djordje Petrovic: A Journey of Sacrifice and Success

Djordje Petrovic, the son of former Serbian Goalkeeper Gordana Petrovic, rose from a small mining town in Serbia to become Chelsea FC’s first choice. Behind his success came great sacrifices and tough decisions made by his parents, Gordana and Zlatan. Today, the Goalkeeper, whose name is his country’s history Leader, “Black Djordje” also speaks of his success off the pitch, as he is married to a beauty queen who owns the title “Miss Earth”

This article on Djordje Petrovic’s Biography tells you Facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents – Gordana Petrovic (Mother), Zlatan Petrovic (Father), Sister (Katarina Petrovic), Family Background, Wife (Dina Petrovic), etc.

This article about Dorde also provides details of his family origin, hometown, ethnicity, home town, religion, education, etc. Our article also provides details of Dorde Petrovic’s lifestyle and personal and salary breakdown, up to what he makes every second with Chelsea.

Djordje Petrovic: From Serbian Mining Town to Chelsea Star - A Journey of Sacrifice and Success

Djordje Petrovic: From Serbian Mining Town to Chelsea Star – A Journey of Sacrifice and Success

We begin Djordje Petrovic’s Biography by telling you about the notable events of his boyhood years. Next, we’ll take you through his early football beginnings in Kostolac, Serbia. Our article then goes on to tell you how he made MLS history by being the fastest to make a whooping five penalty saves, and no goalkeeper has beaten that record.

This memoir hopes to whet your taste for autobiographies by engaging you with reading Djordje Petrovic’s story. To begin right away, let’s unveil this photo gallery that tells his story – from being that little goalkeeper to the moment he became a football celebrity. Without a doubt, Djordje has indeed come a long way in his amazing life journey.

The Journey of Djordje Petrovic from Early Days in Serbia to his Meteoric Rise - A Tale of Ambition, Dedication, and Record-Breaking Triumphs! Image: Alexander Saric/B1 Academy, Novosti, ChelseaFC.

The Journey of Djordje Petrovic from Early Days in Serbia to his Meteoric Rise – A Tale of Ambition, Dedication, and Record-Breaking Triumphs! Image: Alexander Saric/B1 Academy, Novosti, ChelseaFC.

Yes, most football fans got to know him when he became Chelsea’s new starter following Robert Sánchez’s injury. Djordje Petrovic is a goalie who knows how to lead and has that extra quality in him. The former MLS All-Star busted into fame when he became the fastest player in MLS history to record five penalty saves. Petrovic isn’t just a master of penalty saves. He is capable of making multiple saves at a given instance when being bombarded with shots.

In our long history of telling you the stories of goalkeepers, we found that not many have read Djordje Petrovic’s Biography. Because of our love for the beautiful game, we have taken that bold step to research and tell you his story. Now, without further ado, let’s get started.

Djordje Petrovic Childhood Story:

For starters, in his Biography reading, he bears the nickname ‘The Octopus’. People from his Serbian homeland started calling him this nickname, thanks to Djordje’s long limbs and lightning reflexes. Djordje Petrovic was born on the 8th day of October 1999 to his Mother, Gordana Petrovic and Father, Zlatan Petrovic. His birthplace is Požarevac, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia.

From what we’ve gathered, Djordje Petrovic is one among two children, himself and a sister, born to his parents’ blissful marital union. Now, let’s introduce you to Gordana and Zlatan. Djordje Petrovic’s Parents see themselves as persons who now live a fulfilled life, thanks to the sacrifice and hard work they put in to get their son to where he is today.

Meet Djordje Petrovic's parents - Gordana (his mother) and Zlatan (his father). Image Credit: Novosti.

Meet Djordje Petrovic’s parents – Gordana (his mother) and Zlatan (his father). Image Credit: Novosti.

Growing-Up Years:

Djordje spent his childhood years in Kostolac, Serbia – which is a 16-minute or 11.9 km drive to his birthplace, Požarevac. He wasn’t the only child to Gordana and Zlatan, as he grew up alongside another sibling- a Sister, who goes by the name Katarina Petrovic.

Similar to Julio Enciso, Andrey Santos and Marcos Acuna, Đorđe was chubby during his early childhood ages. The decision to go into sports, where he had regular exercises, helped him reduce those weights. Aside from his chubby looks, Djordje Petrovic was also a very quiet kid during his early years.

Djordje Petrovic Early Life:

Zlatan (Djordje’s Dad), a former goalkeeper, made it a point of duty to lay a good career foundation for him. Interestingly, he was never a goalkeeper during those early years (6 to 7) but a central defender. Before changing his position to a goalkeeper, young Djordje had to seek permission from his Dad, who happened to be his first coach. The seven-year-old kid, back then, often went to training with his dad by his side.

When Djordje told his Dad that he wanted to be a goalkeeper, Zlatan just looked at his son and quickly approved his decision. Throughout Djordje’s early childhood, his Dad remained his coach, and the youngster learned about his career projections, including family values. Zlatan Petrovic was the type of Dad who dedicated plenty of his time to volunteering in his son’s club to be a trainer.

Petrovic converted into a full-time goalkeeper when he was ten years old. At that time, he played his football with FC Presing in Požarevac, his birthplace. Because of how Djordje Petrovic’s Dadd was dedicated to his expert goalkeeper training duties, the coaches of the club agreed to leave Đorđe’s training to his father, Zlatan, who himself used to be a goalkeeper. Now, let’s tell you more about the close-knit household headed by Zlatan.

Djordje Petrovic Family Background:

For eight years, his Dad, Zlatan, was the coach of Kostola gymnasts. He incorporated in his son’s (through training) intense and persistent work, which he holds the view that it can bring success. As a former goalkeeper who wants his son to succeed no matter the challenge on his way, Zlatan ensured his son didn’t miss his four times-a-day training, even when the youngster played his football in Belgrade.

As Djordje Petrovic’s Father concentrated his might on training his son and looking after his career, there once came a need for the family to keep up with their cost of living. It was not possible for Zlatan to pull back from giving his time to his son, considering he knew it was for the greater good. This, of course, saw the family seeking means to have their income increase. This was when Djordje’s Mum stepped in. Similar to the Mum of Lyle Foster and Marcus Rashford, Gordana Petrovic had to work two jobs.

Taking multiple jobs to support her husband was no doubt a great sacrifice, especially for a middle-class family. Djordje Petrovic’s Dad didn’t work much as he was more focused on taking him on a long-distance trip to training. Zlatan, the goalkeeping Dad, drove Djordje to Belgrade every day for his training and on match days. Much later, because the cost of making those trips (fuel and other expenses) became higher, Petrovic’s Dad decided to buy him a monthly bus ticket. It was because of the rising cost of living crisis that made Đorđe’s Mum, Gordana, take up two jobs at one time.

Djordje Petrovic Family Origin:

Starting off, both of the athletes’ parents (Gordana and Zlatan) are from Serbia. Djordje was born in Serbia, and that makes him a citizen of the country. Our findings reveal that  Petrovic’s family have their roots in Požarevac. Pictured below in the map, this mining town, which is 1 hr 8 min (81.2 km) from Serbia’s capital (Belgrade), is the administrative centre of the Braničevo District in eastern Serbia.

Map showcasing Požarevac, a mining town and the administrative centre of Braničevo District in eastern Serbia, marking the ancestral roots and birthplace of athlete Djordje Petrovic

Map showcasing Požarevac, a mining town and the administrative centre of Braničevo District in eastern Serbia, marking the ancestral roots and birthplace of athlete Djordje Petrovic

Ethnicity:

Djordje Petrovic’s family are Serbians. The same goes for the households of Dusan Tadic and Luka Jovic. Petrovic identifies with the Serbian ethnic group, which is the majority ethnic group in the country. There are smaller ethnic living in Požarevac (where he comes from), including Bulgarians, Roma, Vlachs, and others.

Djordje Petrovic Education:

At the required entry ages, the Serbian attended his preschool and primary schooling. In fact, Gordana Petrovic (Djordje’s mum) ensured her son graduated from high school and didn’t drop out because of his career. Also, Gordana ensured her son didn’t go to school just for the sake of it but that he became an excellent student in his class.

Zlatan Petrovic encouraged his son to attend goalkeeper schools in Belgrade After finishing elementary school. Djordje listened to his dad and attended a Belgrade goalkeeping school before he went on to play for Čukarički. Zlatan revealed that his son’s decision to attend a goalkeeping school was excellent for his development as a young footballer.

Djordje Petrovic Biography – Football Story:

At the start of his career, the youngster played as a central defender in a team (FC Presing) that had three goalkeepers. So, one day, to the surprise of the youth coach, these three goalkeepers all missed a match at the same time. The reason for their absence was that all three goalkeepers were engaged in different shifts at their schools. Because they couldn’t get them together at the same time, Djordje Petrovic got picked to play to play the goalkeeping role. In the words of the team’s coach, Vlajović,

Because no goalkeeper appeared, I suggested to Đorđe to defend the goalpost instead of them, and that’s how it all started.

Petrovic did well, and from that day, he noticed he had goal-keeping talent in him. Zlatan Petrovic accepted and supported his son’s decision to make a full switch to become a goalkeeper.

At the age of 10, while playing for FC Presing in his hometown, Požarevac, Djordje Petrovic started his goalkeeping career on a full scale. He was lucky to have his Dad, a former goalkeeper, volunteering to be a goalkeeping trainer with the academy. Because Zlatan Petrovic knew his job so well, the coaches at FC Presing approved him to work with them. These coaches left Djordje’s training to his father, a man they trusted would do a good job.

Apart from the family, there are people who are proud of Đorđe’s success in FC Pressing, which is the club where his goalkeeping story started. Among these persons are his two coaches, Vladimir Svilenković and Vladimir Vlajović. To this day, they don’t hide their support for Djordje, and they are not surprised about his success, considering they knew he would go far.

Accepting greater challenges:

From the moment he agreed to become a goalkeeper, Petrovic had a change in mentality. From that early age, he began a quest to work fanatically, persistently and conscientiously towards his career advancement. That saw Petrovic move to Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, to attend a goalkeeping school. While at the school, the youngster worked with experienced coaches, including the famous Aleksandar Sarić, a retired Yugoslavia goalkeeper.

It wasn’t easy for Djordje Petrovic’s parents to allow their son to travel alone to Belgrade every day for training. Now, imagine a small boy of 11 who leaves his hometown and then travels to a big city every day. Indeed, not every kid can do that; only those who are not only hardworking but also very responsible in the pursuit of their goals can.

Djordje Petrovic Bio – Road to Fame:

The approval to attend a goalkeeping school in Belgrade came after the completion of his elementary education. After allowing his son to finish elementary school, Zlatan made plans to enrol him on any initiative that would be excellent for his development as a young goalkeeper. Training four times a day, coupled with intense and persistent work, brought him success. In Belgrade, Djordje further enrolled with Čukarički, a football club that was excellent for his development.

Petrovic joined Čukarički in the FIFA World Cup year of 2014. Before reaching 17 years old, his height exploded – about 190 centimetres tall. To the joy of Djordje Petrovic’s parents, their celebrity goalkeeper turned professional on the 1st of January 2018. On that day, he successfully transferred from Čukarički U19 to FK Cukaricki’s senior team.

As expected, everything went smoothly for him in his first year of being a senior footballer.  Petrovic broke into the Serbian SuperLiga as a promising athlete in 2019. A loan move to IMT Belgrad gave him the needed experience. Djordje Petrovic would go on to make 78 league appearances for Čukarički, participating in the Serbian club, league and the UEFA Europa Conference League.

At the end of the 2021/2022 season, there came a lot of transfer interest abroad for him. Shortly after the season, at the start of April 2022, the United States MSL club, New England Revolution, presented him with an offer. Because they were always focused on Europe, Djordje Petrovic’s family debated whether to accept or not. The young goalkeeper, now a man, made his choice and decided he would leave Europe for another continent.

Djordje Petrovic Bio – Rise to Fame:

On the 11th of February 2022, it was announced that US goalkeeper Matt Turner had agreed to Premier League club Arsenal. Following the sale, a question was inevitable: how would the New England Revolution fare without such a crucial player? Thankfully, Djordje Petrovic became the chosen one to replace Matt Turner. Before Turner’s departure, he was one of the best ‘keepers in league history, an athlete who won the 2021 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Before Petrovic was discovered, the club knew they needed a high-quality replacement and expected that recruiting a new goalkeeper would take months. When then-New England Revolution head coach Bruce Arena saw clips of Djordje Petrovic, he was blown away. From that moment, he knew he had found the goalkeeper he was looking for. The Serbian was 22 years old at that time and was still relatively raw, unproven and unknown on the world stage. While some fans were of the view that signing him would look like a risk, Bruce Arena accepted that Petrovic was a sure thing.

Record-breaking achievement in the US:

When Petrovic moved to MLS in April 2022, he initially arrived as a backup to Marr Turner, who was about to bid his farewell. It didn’t take long before New England Revolution fans knew that the Serbian was capable of adequately replacing Matt Turner. In fact, many fans believed their club may have found someone even better.

Petrovic made 48 appearances in two seasons for New England and made record-breaking achievements. The young Goalie finished the 2022 season as a finalist for both the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award and the MLS Newcomer of the Year Award. Next, Petrović became the fastest player in MLS soccer history to record a whooping five penalty saves. These efforts, as presented in the video below, earned him a spot on the list of 2023 MLS All-Stars.

Transfer to Chelsea:

In August of 2023, a fast-rising Goalkeeping sensation agreed to a seven-year contract with the London giants. By signing for Chelsea, Petrović achieved an MLS record for the club’s most expensive goalkeeper, beating the £12m Chelsea paid Gabriel Slonina. Although the first few months in London were tough, the Serbian Goalkeeper was able to adapt to the environment.

Djordje Petrovic knows where he came from and that he would do his best to fulfil the expectations of Stamford Bridge. Upon joining the club, he was patient enough to put up an open fight for the (first-choice) spot. Petrovic knew the spot was open to be Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper. Many who knew his capabilities were of the view that Robert Sanchez didn’t have a huge advantage over the Serbian.

When Robert Sanchez got injured in December 2023, Djordje Petrovic got his chance as a starter. His first start as a goalkeeper began on solid footings as he kept his first clean sheet in a 2–0 victory against Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United. Bearly a week later, Petrovic made a heroic performance when he saved Matt Ritchie’s penalty in a Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.

Indeed, Chelsea fans are on the verge of witnessing their own Edwin van der Sar rising to be their first-choice goalkeeper. The Serbian is a leader, one who knows how to lead and has extra quality. From the look of things, he, who is rising like Diogo Costa would definitely join the Serbians, the likes of Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matić, who have become Legends of the club. The rest, as we say, is now history.

Getting to know Djordje Petrovic’s Wife:

Behind the success of the Serbian Goalkeeper comes a glamorous woman who goes by the name Đina Petrović.

Đina Petrović’s Occupation:

Djordje Petrovic’s Wife is a beauty queen, and as a matter of fact, she is a former Miss Earth. Đina, in 2019, won the title of Miss Photogenicity of Srem with pride. According to the beauty queen, the night which she was handed the title was unforgettable and would remain forever in her heart.

Research also has it that Đina is the founder of Fashion Djins. This company has the Instagram handle @fashion_djins/. Đina’s company, Fashion Djins, specializes in the Sale of women’s wardrobe.

Children:

A few months just after he signed his Chelsea deal, Djordje revealed that he was going to become a father. What this means is that Đina Petrović, his wife, was already pregnant at the time she lived with her husband in the Greater Boston area of the US. The goalkeeper broke the news to his fans a day after Christmas, precisely on the 26th of December 2023, at about 6:12 p.m.

Personality:

Who is Djordje?

Starting off, there are two types of goalkeepers. The first is mastery-orientated, and the second is ego-orientated. Djordje is the type of goalkeeper who thinks about his technique and his moves. The Požarevac native always thinks that there is something that he can do better. The most fantastic thing about Petrovic is his personality, which he has built from an early age. Since he was a child, the goalkeeper worked persistently, conscientiously and fanatically about his advancement. This is because Petrovic has always enjoyed a great support system. Zlatan, his Dad, always insists that he should relax and should not stay at the same level but make an attempt to become better every time.

Starting off, he is a Goalkeeper who never stops learning. Djordje revealed that goalkeepers at Chelsea learn from each other, and they believe that it is the only way to progress. Before his Chelsea debut, Djordje had a meeting with Sanchez, seeking advice. The former Brighton Goalkeeper told him to keep calm and not to feel any pressure. Both goalkeepers have a great relationship, and they talk a lot about football, including getting to know each other personally.

About his Name:

Djordje’s name has a historical meaning in Serbia. His namesake is a historical figure for Serbia, and that person is Karadjordje (“Black Djordje”), who led a 19th-century revolt that brought independence to Serbia. Dorđe Petrović OSA OSV, better known by the sobriquet Karađorđe, is known by Historians as a Serbian revolutionary.

During the first Serbian Uprising of 1804–1813, Black Djordje led the struggle for his country’s independence from the Ottoman Empire. For some football fans, Djordje Petrovic was truly destined to play for a team called the Revolution. When asked about his name, the Goalkeeper once said,

“My parents named after Karadjordje. He definitely was an important figure for the Serbian people. I’m trying to be Djordje Petrovic, the Serbian goalkeeper who would try to match the importance and influence of Karadjordje.”

Lifestyle:

Djordje Petrović is someone who prefers being around his family, including living in Serbia. Unfortunately, his career took him out of his comfort zone in the month of April 2022. Petrović once revealed that he didn’t find it easy when he went abroad for the first time. It took the goalkeeper some time before he got used to the different culture, language and way of life. In his words,

It was not easy at all. The hardest thing is because I went to another country for a long time for the first time and left my family. I was in a hotel for the first month until I found an apartment.

It was strange for Djordje because he had to decorate his new home and furnish the apartment by himself. He moved in empty and unfurnished, and that meant he had to buy the furniture with his own money. When he finished all his purchases, he submitted the invoices; then, the MLS League reimbursed him for all the money.

Coping with the American Culture:

A happy Petrović, with time, acclimatized with the American culture. Usually, when people hear of the MLS, we usually think of some famous footballers who came to that league. Persons like Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, the Man United Legendary David Beckham. Djordje loved the league and the American people. He is proud to have played in the USA, which helped him develop further as a player.

While in the US, Djordje learned a lot about the relationship between the US and Mexico. He is of the view that people have a wrong notion about the rivalry between the US and Mexico. The Serbian goalkeeper believes that there is no problem at all between the two countries. During his time at New England Revolution, Petrovic enjoyed a great time in Boston, which he refers to as a student city with many schools, colleges, and universities.

If I could compare Boston to another city, it would be Belgrade, except that Boston has a smaller population. Before I arrived there, people told me that the winters in Boston are very harsh and that it can often be a big minus.

Djordje Petrovic’s Family Life:

The Serbian goalkeeper from the small mining town of Požarevac rose to the very top in his career not because he has always played with a great team. It is because Djordje, who is the most expensive goalkeeper in his country, has a good family support system. Now, let’s tell you more about his household.

Djordje Petrovic’s Father:

Zlatan is the reason why his son transformed from being a defender to a goalkeeper. As a former goalkeeper himself, he never forced his playing position on his son. All Zlatan did was to utilize an opportunity as soon as it presented itself. When the three goalkeepers of Djordje’s team didn’t come for a match, destiny decided to find him. After replacing the absent goalkeepers and doing well on the goalpost, Zlatan knew his son was ready to accept his true calling.

Regarding his personality, Zlatan is someone who loves intense and persistent work, which he strongly believes can bring success. Hence, football fans aren’t surprised to know that his son’s youth coach once approved him to be their colleague, hence making Zlatan a goalkeeping coach. Thanks to the huge career and the fatherly support he rendered to his son, Djordje learnt how to become a man quickly. As a young teenager, he would move to Belgrade alone, attending goalkeeping training four times a week. The confidence Zlatan built in his son is what has enabled him to become successful in football clubs so far away from his Serbian home.

Djordje Petrovic’s Mother:

If you ask the footballer, he will tell you that Gordana Petrovic, his mum, is a superwoman. She was responsible for ensuring Djordje finished his elementary school, which came at a time when her son attended goalkeeper schools in Belgrade. He could have easily dropped out of school, considering his training schedules were super tight. Gordana motivated her son, ensuring he graduated from high school. She is a strong proponent of the cause that education should not be neglected by sporting athletes, no matter how busy their sports careers make them become.

Judging from her role in Djordje’s life, it is obvious that Gordana is a virtuous woman. By doing two jobs, she once stepped in to help in catering for her family. It happened at the time her husband was busy driving Djordje to Belgrade every day for his training and school. Observing the cost of taking him by car to Belgrade was too expensive, Gordana and her husband took the option of using the bus ticket. By having Zlatan around, her work pressure was reduced.

Djordje Petrovic’s Sister:

Katarina is the Goalkeeper’s sister. She, alongside her parents, Gordana and Zlatan, were the happiest upon realizing their family breadwinner, joined Chelsea, one of the best clubs, for a Serbian record transfer fee. Much earlier in Katarina’s brother’s career, her whole family debated whether to accept or not his transfer to the New England Revolution. In the end, what matters is the fact that her brother’s decision paid off.

Untold Facts:

In the final section of Djordje Petrovic’s Biography, we’ll tell you more truths you might not know about him. Without further ado, let’s get started.

No Chelsea Goalkeeper is his Idol:

Long before he joined Chelsea, Djordje Petrovic was well aware of the club’s previous goalkeepers. Among them are Thibaut Courtois and Peter Cech, who’re still in his memory. However, none of these goalkeepers is Djordje Petrovic’s idol. If he had someone to tell him ten years ago that he would be a Chelsea goalkeeper, he wouldn’t have believed such a person. This is despite the fact that it would he had quality and could handle goalkeeping pressure.

He is the third Serbian to play for Chelsea:

Many Blues fans don’t know that Djordje Petrovic is not the first Serbian to have played for the great London club. In fact, the first Serbian wasn’t even Nemanja Matic. And Branislav Ivanovic isn’t either. He is no other than the legendary Borota, whom some die-hard Chelsea fans still remember. Petar Borota played for Chelsea between 1979 and 1982. The most recent contributions.

Do you know?… Slaviša Jokanović and Mateja Kežman also wore the blue jersey. So far, Branislav Ivanović is the most successful Serbian to have ever played for Chelsea. He won three Premier League titles (2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17) as well as the memorable UEFA Champions League in 2012. Next on the line is Nemanja Matić, who won two EPL titles for the giant London club.

Djordje Petrovic FIFA:

It is quite easy to know when a young goalkeeper has great prospects. According to SOFIFA, Petrovic (at the age of 23) has a potential of 81 and an overall rating of 74. His best goalkeeping attributes are reactions, strength and reflexes. The Serbian shot-stopper very much reminds football fans of a young Unai Simon and Mike Maignan.

Rising Star in the Net: At 23, Djordje Petrovic boasts a promising future in goalkeeping with a potential rating of 81 and an overall score of 74 on SOFIFA.

Rising Star in the Net: At 23, Djordje Petrovic boasts a promising future in goalkeeping with a potential rating of 81 and an overall score of 74 on SOFIFA.

Djordje Petrovic Salary:

The contract he signed with Chelsea sees him meaning a whooping sum of £1,302,000 per year. When Petrovic’s salary is converted into his native currency, research has it that he earns 177,242,023 din annually.

When Djordje’s salary is compared to other footballers research has it that he earns significantly less. The likes of Ian Maatsen, Andrey Santos and Deivid Washington earn lesser wages than him. On the other hand, Axel Disasi, Lesley Ugochukwu and Romeo Lavia earn significantly more. Here is a table that compares the earnings of some football players in Chelsea.

According to a report by Capology, Djordje is listed as one of the lowest earners at Chelsea as of 2023.

According to a report by Capology, Djordje is listed as one of the lowest earners at Chelsea as of 2023.

Comparing his earnings with the average Serbian?

Where Djordje Petrovic comes from, the average Serbian earns around 1,680,000 Serbian dinars a year. Do you know?… it will take such a person more than a lifetime, that is, 105 years, to earn 177,242,023 din. This is Djordje Petrovic’s annual salary with Chelsea when converted to Serbian dinar.

Djordje Petrovic’s Religion:

Religion in his country is predominantly characterized by Eastern Orthodoxy. Therefore, our odds are in favour of Djordje being a Serbian Orthodox Christian. The Serbian Orthodox Church has a deep historical and cultural significance in the country. Many churches and monasteries dotting the landscape are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

EndNote:

Djordje was born to his parents – Gordana Petrovic (his Mum) and Zlatan (his Dad). He grew up alongside his sister, Katarina Petrovic, in the Serbian mining town of Požarevac. The Serbian goalkeeper is not married to Đina Petrović, his beautiful wife. Dina is a fashion model and a proud winner of Miss Earth.

Little Djordje was seven years old when he pushed himself into the football field with his hometown team, Rudar Kostolac. To progress further, he enrolled at another team, Presing Požarevac. In one tournament with teams of six players, three Presing goalkeepers were absent and young Djordje took the responsibility.

Petrovic was very big and tall at that time when he first played as a goalkeeper on small goals. After that, his father asked him if he wanted to be a goalkeeper. Djordje responded yes, and that’s how his career journey started just after he accepted his true calling.

As a seven-year-old kid, Djordje went to training with his Dad for the first time. After the training, Zlatan’s son told him that he wanted to be a goalkeeper. Without hesitation, he approved the boy’s request and became his first goalkeeping coach. As a goalkeeper himself, Zlatan taught his son many things from the beginning of his goalkeeping journey.

Đorđe’s career progressed, and he also attended school, which was not easy to combine. Gordana, his Mum responsible for the fact that her son graduated from high school. Because of the demands of his early career years, Zlatan dedicated himself to driving his son to Belgrade every day for training. In order to support the family, Djordje’s mum had to take up two jobs. Gordana Petrovic did that to support her husband with the large family expenses.

On the 6th of April 2022, Petrović signed with the MLS club, New England Revolution. He achieved a meteoric rise, breaking records and earning a transfer to a big London club. Chelsea paid 14,000,000 euros to sign the Serbian goalkeeper in 2023. The price was quite high considering the fact that they were buying a shot-stopper who broke records and saved uncountable penalties in the MLS.

Petrović joined Mauricio Pochetinno’s Chelsea on the 26th of August, 2023, signing a seven-year contract. Djordje Petrovic made his debut for Chelsea at a time when the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, got injured in late 2023. As expected, he stood out, especially at his first EFL Cup match against Newcastle, when he saved a penalty from Richie.

Truth be told, Sanchez hasn’t played many games and still hasn’t fully claimed the first-place choice at Chelsea. Again, he doesn’t have a huge advantage over Petrovic. Many Blues fans believe that Gabriel Slonina and Petrovic will be the future of the club.

Appreciation Note:

Thank you for taking the time to read this version of Djordje Petrovic’s History. We care about accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver Serbian Football stories. Our article on Petrović is part of our wider collection of European football stories.

Kindly let us know if you find anything that doesn’t look right in this memoir about Đorđe. Also, tell us via the comment section what you think about the Goalie who is set to put up a goalkeeping challenge to Ederson and Alison in his quest to become one of the Premier League’s best.

Aside from Djordje Petrovic’s bio, we’ve got other interesting Serbian stories for you to read. The life stories of Dusan Vlahovic and Nikola Milenkovic are interesting to read. From a Goalkeeping and Chelsea viewpoint, our articles on Jordan Pickford and Malo Gusto will surely whet your quest for soccer autobiographies.

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