Kezman's star on the rise

After scoring 28 goals for FK Partizan Belgrade in 1999/00, the quick and lively Mateja Kezman was targeted as one of the most promising talents in the European game. Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven swooped for the youngster who justified all the plaudits by scoring a total of 55 goals in official matches for PSV and Yugoslavia in 2001.

Brief appearance at EURO 2000™
At EURO 2000™, Kezman featured for just 44 seconds as a substitute before being sent off by Scottish referee Hugh Dallas for a bad tackle in his country's 1-0 win over Norway. The dismissal, which kept Kezman out of the group games, proved to be a blessing in disguise for PSV, as no other teams could check out his true talent. In his first season with PSV Kezman agreed to wear the number nine shirt, the number worn before him by a certain Ronaldo. Kezman finished his first season in the Netherlands' as the league's top scorer and Dutch newspaper Telegraf named him in their team of the season.

Italy ambition
In November 2000, the man trying to follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo and Romario stunned PSV by admitting that he does not intend to stay at the club. "I am giving my best and I want the best," he said. "I am not interested by meritocracy, I have high goals and I intend to reach them. I think the national team problems  have to be solved very soon too, there have been enough  failures. I am at PSV because they can offer me a place in the [UEFA] Champions League, but in two years' time I want to be in Italy. I am Kezman, not Romario or [Ruud] van Nistelrooij. Johan Cruyff recently said that I'm young and I have my own talents. It weighs me down to be constantly compared with players of the past."
 
Superlative sidestep
Kezman is known for his superlative sidestep with which he easily conquers the field. He has superb close control of the ball and scores frequently, mostly from very near the goal because he is nearly always in the right place at the right time.  "Kezman was on our [target] list for a long time," PSV coach Eric Gerets revealed. "He is fast, agile, strong on the ball, finishes well and allows others to score. Initially we were looking for a target man but Kezman is a more mobile player."