Football has rarely seen a playmaker like Dusan Tadic—Europe’s Assist King—who, despite his brilliance, often flew under the radar during the peak of his career. His journey, however, is a story that needs to be told. Born in Serbia with deep family roots tracing back to Hungary, Tadic’s tale is one of perseverance, talent, and the desire to defy the odds.
From Humble Beginnings to Superstar: Dusan Tadic’s Football Journey
In this biography, we unravel the full history of a Serbian football legend, famously nicknamed “The Denigrator.” From his early childhood to his rise in the sport, we dive into his family background, his formative years before fame, and the lesser-known aspects of his personality that shaped his success.
This is the full story of Dusan Tadic, a footballer whose impact has been felt far beyond the pitch. Let’s dive into the fascinating journey that made him one of the game’s most underrated stars.
Dusan Tadic Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
For starters, his biography, Dusan Tadic, arrived in the world on the 20th day of November 1988. He was born to his mother, Marija Tadić, and father, Petar Tadić, in Bačka Topola, Serbia. Below is a photo of his lovely parents.
Meet Dusan Tadic’s Parents. His Dad, Petar Tadić and Mum, Marija Tadić.
Dusan Tadic’s parents; Petar and his beloved wife Marija started life as farmers and were comfortable operating a middle-class family household.
Despite being born in Serbia, Dusan’s family have their ancestors from Hungary. Today, the people of Hungary constitute over half of the population of Bačka Topola in Serbia.
Growing up, Dustan never looked into picking a career in agriculture, forestry, fishing or Mining. He saw football as his escape route. Dusan started out by playing local football with his brother and friends.
As a boy, he idolized Thierry Henry, and he had a soft spot for Arsenal.
Those evenings spent in the local fields clearly paid dividends, as he was among a few selected after a successful trial with his local football team, TSC Bačka Topola.
Dusan Tadic Biography Facts – Early Career Life:
Tadić grew up honing his skills within the youth ranks of his hometown’s club AIK Bačka Topola. He had a pleasant childhood experience at the club and remained their best player throughout the age groups.
Tadić polished his skills in AIK Bačka Topola’s youth ranks, standing out as their top player through the age levels.
It was the wish for every young footballer to dream of playing in bigger clubs, and little Dusan wasn’t an exception.
Like many young players, Dusan aspired for bigger clubs. In 2006, his drive led him to Vojvodina, a prominent club in Serbia’s Novi Sad, near his Bačka hometown.
Dusan’s determination paid off when he was acquired by the youth team Vojvodina in 2006. Vojvodina, based in Novi Sad, the second-largest city in Serbia, became an important stepping stone in his career. Reflecting on his time there, Dusan once said, “Novi Sad is known by many to be a really beautiful city, and the football club is really nice. It is one of the best youth soccer academies in Serbia.”
Dusan Tadic Biography – Road to Fame Story:
Young Dusan soon took the next career step in Vojvodina’s youth development, which saw him earning a professional contract with the club.
Behold the Rising Star, a young Dusan Tadic, during the early stages of his blossoming football career.
While playing for Vojvodina, he gained both national and European recognition, especially when playing for top-flight teams like Atlético Madrid.
Such European exposure showed his impact on his team. In addition, Dusan saw himself leading his team into two Serbian Cup finals in the 2006–07 and 2009–10 seasons. This feat got scouts from Europe, placing him on their watching list.
By the age of 20, Dusan had already scored his first goal in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League. At the end of that season, he made the move to FC Groningen in the Netherlands, marking the next step in his promising career.
Dusan Tadic Bio – Rise to Fame:
Dusan didn’t immediately start scoring goals upon his arrival in the Netherlands; instead, he quickly established himself as an “assist king,” showcasing his exceptional playmaking abilities.
Did you know?… Dusan once got a European award for the third-highest number of assists in Europe in the 2010–11 season. He was behind Lionel Messi (25 assists) and Mesut Özil (26 assists).
This recognition got teams interested in him, and a transfer to Twente came in 2012. While at the club, Dusan aspired to play in the premier league.
Seeing the path taken by Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain moved to his beloved Arsenal, which motivated his choice for Southampton FC. Tadić became the first signing under Ronald Koeman on 8 July 2014.
Ironically, his first goal for Southampton became a winning goal against Arsenal in 2014.
This feat ignited his willingness to see his 4-year contract through with the Saints, whose fans were already in love with him thanks to their Dusan Tadic chant.
National Rise to Fame:
Two years later, Dusan became the most important footballer in his country, and this led to a national award (Best Serbian footballer 2016).
“An Important day for me. A moment to remember”, Dusan once said as he received his Serbian Footballer of the Year award.
Saving the Saints from Relegation:
In addition to his national award, Dusan Tadic became a record-breaker for Southampton, setting the Premier League record for the most assists (4) in a single match. Unfortunately, during the final year of his contract, Dusan and his teammates found themselves battling to keep the club in the Premier League. At that time, he even made a bold promise to wear only pants if they avoided relegation. When they ultimately succeeded, Tadic kept his word, celebrating the victory in style.
In June 2018, Dusan Tadic joined Ajax under the management of Erik ten Hag, a coach he regards as the best Manager he’s ever worked with. Tadic continued to excel and make a significant impact at the club and national team under Dragan Stojkovic‘s command. The rest, as they say, is history.
Dusan Tadic Wife (Dragana Vukanac) and Child:
The Ajax Legend is one of those footballers whose romances escape the scrutiny of the public eye simply because his early love life is drama-free.
Dusan, in the year 2013, got married to his beloved wife, Dragana Vukanac.
Introducing Dragana Vukanac, the wife of Dusan.
As of 2018, the couple has been blessed with three children: Vasily, Veljko, and Tara. Five years later, their marriage remains solid, with no signs of divorce or separation.
The key to their strong marriage is often credited to Dragana Vukanac, who has been described by many as a remarkable woman.
Dragana Vukanac has done everything within her powers to encourage her husband Dusan. She might not be as beautiful as other footballers’ WAG, but she definitely has her self-styled approach to making her man happy. Dusan knows for sure that at least one of his children will ever follow in his footsteps.
Personal Life:
Getting to know Dusan Tadic’s personal life offers a more complete picture of who he is beyond the football field. For starters, Tadic is often described as handsome, with features that resemble the typical Spanish look, similar to that of Álvaro Morata.
Tadic is very relaxed in a way that is almost disarming. He has a placid demeanour which suggests that nothing is big enough to irritate or ruin his mood.
Outside of football, Dusan Tadic enjoys spending time on the basketball court with close friends. He’s a keen follower of the Serbian Basketball League, showing a strong passion for the sport beyond his own football career.
Speaking about the NBA, Dusan is a fan of the Lakers, and his favourite basketball player is LeBron James.
Untold Facts:
The Blood Story:
“It is hard to watch your child lying in a pool of his blood.“Dusan’s mum Marija was crying and screaming at home, “I could not calm her down, in the end, she had to drink Bensedin to relieve her fears”
Tadic’s father, Petar told Serbian newspaper SportBlic. That statement happened after his son received a challenge from Wales’ left-back Taylor.
It was a horrible moment that brought fear to all members of the Dusan Tadic Family, including his parents, who were in their home in Backa Topola watching the match.
“Instead of a “prison sentence” Taylor did not get a yellow card, and Joe Ledley and Garrett Bale even smiled wickedly,” said Dusan’s dad.
Immediately after the incident, Dusan’s father, Petar, and some of his relatives wanted to sit on the first plane flight to Cardiff for a showdown with the Welsh football authorities and possibly beat Taylor.
In fact, as Tadic was treated, his concerns weren’t about the pains or blood gushing down his nose, BUT to his wife and kids, which he continuously looked at him in tears as he watched them.
All the pressure and nerves from Dusan Tadic’s family became calm after his father placed a call two minutes after the match to assess the situation.
– I ask him, “How’s your nose? and told him about my plans for a showdown” And my son said: “Let go dad, don’t come to Wales. My injury will be healed”.
Former Serbia coach Muslin later spoke to calm his dad, saying he had asked Dusan to be taken off the pitch, but he refused, stressing that his warrior son had to continue the game.
“He told me that I have a son who is a real warrior in the field.” said Petar.
Pronouncing his Name:
Had you known?… English people had pronounced his first name incorrectly throughout his stay with the Saints. Tadic himself is not offended by that. Instead, he often laughs and says that “Dushan” is the right way to say his name.
Fact Check:
Thanks for reading our Dusan Tadic Childhood Story plus Untold Biography Facts. We strive for accuracy and fairness in our delivery of Serbian Football Stories. We recommend you read the Life History of Nikola Milenkovic and Filip Kostic.
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