In a career built on effort, discipline, and a deep love for the game, Nemanja Radoja never forgets his roots. Although today he is an important part of Sporting Kansas City and speaks three languages fluently, his story remains grounded in family, Serbian traditions, and the value of the friendships he has cultivated on and off the pitch.
“Yes, we get along very well,” he says with a smile when speaking about his older brother, three years his senior. Like many older siblings, Nemanja’s brother helped spark that love for the game even when young and even when he was having to dodge soccer balls flying right at him.
“He put me in goal many times, because he wanted to shoot, shoot, shoot.”
Nemanja did not end up in goal, a position he played often with his brother but rather it was a training session with a friend that helped lead Nemanja down an exciting path.
“I started when I was eight, nine years old… I went, a friend took me to train, and well, that was my first training day. I remember it was raining that day.” That detail, seemingly minor, became a key part of the memory. “It stayed in my head as a different kind of memory.”
Family is at the center of his life. Despite the distance (over 5362 miles from Kansas City to Novi Sad, Serbia), he keeps in regular contact with his loved ones.
“In the morning, especially before I go to training, I call the family, and then again when I’m done. But after that, they’re already asleep. The time difference is strange.”
During season breaks, Nemanja returns home. And if there’s one date, he looks forward to most, it’s Christmas. Not December 25th, but January 7th. And the traditions that come with it are deep and symbolic.
“One day before you wake up very early, like at four or five, and you go to the mountain. And you have to get the tree... you have to bring it to your house and place it there at the entrance.”
The tree, also known as the badnjak бадњак or veseljak весељак, plays a key role in the Christmas tradition as it symbolizes prosperity for the family. The Christmas celebration begins with attending church early on January 7, followed by a family meal. For Nemanja, these traditions and time spent with family and friends are his favorite.
That sense of belonging and connection also follows him into his professional life. On the team, Nemanja has become a solid and approachable presence. Whether it’s training, game days, or off the pitch, Nemanja has formed close friendships on the team.
“Lately, I’m mostly with Jake, Jake Davis.” He speaks fondly of him. “He’s a very always cheerful guy, very positive, with a lot of energy, very young, and likes to learn things. Also, to ask questions if he doesn’t understand something.” The friendships formed naturally, through simple moments. “We’d hang out, and we’d also play cards. Me, Tim, Thommy, and Jake. Playing cards, we spent a lot of time together, and we’re good.”
Inside the locker room, his role has evolved. With a young, constantly changing squad, his experience and calm demeanor are more valuable than ever. “Now we’re a much younger team. But they’re young guys, eager, full of energy, and they want to learn. So, I’m sure it will go well, we just need a little time.”
On the pitch, his talent goes beyond the technical. His ability to move between languages makes him a bridge between teammates, though sometimes moving between those languages is harder than it seems.
“What happens to me sometimes is that I speak Spanish to someone who speaks English, because sometimes in a match everything happens fast and without realizing it, I speak Spanish when I should be speaking English or the other way around.”
Off the field, he’s reserved, disciplined, and mindful of his well-being. “I’m more into reading. I have seasons where I read a lot for a few months, and then three months where I don’t read at all.”
One book that left a strong impression was a deep story he read in Serbian called The Serbian Heart of Johann.
“It was during the war, in Serbia, in Kosovo… he got someone else’s heart, and they put it in him. And he like felt everything, adapted to the other person’s emotions.”
A story blending war, organized crime, inherited emotions, and a profound reflection on identity. “For me, it was very interesting, talking about the tradition… interesting how he felt everything that the other person lived.”
His free days reflect that same balance. “For sure, I go out walking or grab a coffee... I like being outside sometimes, not inside. So, I always try to do something outside the house.”
He admits he occasionally enjoys a pizza but rarely strays from his healthy habits. Rather than a chore, it’s a lifestyle for him. “I like eating healthy, I like working out, I like taking care of myself.”
With musical tastes ranging from Serbian music to some reggaetón, Nemanja is a player who holds onto the best of his roots while adapting to the world around him. His present is on the pitch, but his heart, that same one tied to memories of rain, Serbian Christmas, and card games in the locker room beats just as strongly for everything he loves beyond the game.