Player Story
"What I learned playing in 15 different countries" – Andrija Kaludjerovic
- Serbian striker Andrija Kaludjerovic reflects on a globe-spanning career that took him to 15 different countries across more than two decades in professional football
- From adapting to new cultures to dealing with contractual disputes and unpaid wages, he shares the realities players can face when moving abroad
- Now working with Serbian player union SPINS, the 38-year-old – who is still playing – is using his experiences to help educate and protect the next generation of footballers
When Andrija Kaludjerovic made his professional debut at 16 for OFK Beograd, then one of the top clubs in Serbian football, the world seemed wide open. But few could have predicted just how much of the world he would cover.
Over the course of a career spanning more than two decades, the Serbian striker played in 15 different countries: China to Spain, Cyprus to Switzerland, Australia to Qatar, Lithuania, Thailand, India and beyond. It is a number that comes loaded with stories and lessons learned about who you can and cannot trust as a footballer.
Kaludjerovic is still playing at 38, back home in Serbia for fifth-tier side FK Rad, while also working as a player advisor with Serbian player union SPINS.
"Football can take you anywhere. But without the right support, it can also take everything from you," says Kaludjerovic.
A career without borders
Like many Serbian footballers of his generation, Kaludjerovic's motivation to move abroad was both sporting and financial. His first overseas move took him to China, after leaving Red Star Belgrade in 2012.
"I got an offer I couldn’t refuse financially," he recalls. "Maybe it wasn’t the best choice for my career, but it made many things in my life easier."
Over time, Kaludjerovic's career took on the quality of an atlas. Spain, when at Racing Santander, was his favourite – "the best conditions as a footballer" – followed closely by Australia, where he says he enjoyed both the lifestyle and the league.
Each country taught him something different and each move tested his adaptability in ways that a single-country career never would. Ask Kaludjerovic to distil what playing in 15 countries gives you and three lessons stand above all:
- "Work harder than everyone else" – Foreign players, he says, must consistently prove themselves beyond expectations.
- "Accept isolation" – Moving abroad often means leaving behind familiar support systems.
- "Embrace discipline" – Professionalism is non-negotiable when adapting to new environments.
"You must work two times harder than domestic players," he explains.
But the reality behind the glamour of playing abroad is often misunderstood. Long hotel stays, constant travel, cultural adjustments and loneliness all form part of the experience, especially for players moving frequently between clubs.
"It was tough," he says. "Every six months, new country, new players… they don’t know your qualities, and you don’t know theirs."
Kaludjerovic’s titles
- x2 Serbian Cup (2012, 2014)
- x2 Lithuanian Champion (2016, 2020)
- x1 Lithuanian Cup (2016)
- x1 Latvian Cup (2019)
- x1 Uzbekistan Cup (2021)
- x1 Serbian Second League Champion (2024)
- x2 League Top Scorer Serbia (2011), Lithuania (2016)
The hidden risks of playing abroad
While Kaludjerovic enjoyed highlights across his global journey, he also faced some of the most serious challenges players encounter, including late payments and contractual disputes.
In Cyprus and Australia, he experienced financial issues with clubs. In one case a trusted intermediary, who had previously helped him secure a move, exploited Kaludjerovic by diverting money owed to him.
"He was acting as both an agent and lawyer. He signed in my name that he could receive my money. The club paid everything they owed me – but they paid it to him. I never received it."
It was a costly lesson and one Kaludjerovic now shares with players to warn them of the dangers. "If I had known more about player unions and what they do at that time, my life would have been easier. I would have got my money."
After understanding the value of his union membership later in his career, Kaludjerovic would send every contract he signed to the union for review. The peace of mind was immediate. "I couldn't sleep worrying about a contract. But once I sent it to them and they confirmed it was safe to sign, I could rest. That feeling is priceless."
From player to mentor
Today, Kaludjerovic is no longer chasing contracts across continents. A licenced coach, Kaludjerovic primarily works as a player advisor with Serbian union SPINS, helping the next generation of the country’s players navigate the very path he once walked.
"I advise all players to join the union," he says. "The monthly cost is symbolic; it's not much money at all. But what you get in return is security. You have people you can trust, people who will look after your interests."
After a career that spanned 15 countries, countless dressing rooms and a lifetime of lessons, his message to younger players is simple but impactful: "have patience".
"If I could go back, I'd tell my younger self: stay at one club longer, fight for your place, and reach out to your player union."
