Playing football in the country of football – Brazil – in front of fans among the most passionate in the world and becoming a football icon where every child is born with a ball as their first toy – that is the pure, boyish dream of thousands of young players around the globe. Few manage to achieve it, and among them is one of our own, Dejan “Rambo” Petković. In this article, we introduce all Serbian footballers who have ever played in the Brazilian league – Serie A.
DEJAN OSMANOVIC
One of the best Serbian footballers of Romani descent is undoubtedly the renowned goal-scorer of the 1990s, Dejan Osmanović. His brilliant performances and instinct for goal at Hajduk from Kula recommended him to the Brazilian club Vitória from Bahia, where in the 2001-02 season he scored 2 goals in 11 appearances. In one interview, the popular “Kaleja” admitted that he regretted not being able to handle the grueling training and match schedule in Brazil, and despite a good salary, he decided to leave Brazil after just one season and return to Hajduk.
Dejan Osmanović Kaleja, tatko na fudbal.. pic.twitter.com/CQFBSTm2ko
— Lucifer Morning✶ (@Lazy_Luzifer) August 4, 2019
NIKOLA DAMJANAC
The first Serbian goalkeeper to play in Brazil was Nikola Damjanac, born in Mostar. After playing for Partizan and Turkish club Antalyaspor, Damjanac moved to Fluminense in 2001, where he made only two appearances before returning to OFK Beograd. Today, he works as a football agent and collaborator of the better-known Falli Ramadani.
Nikola Damjanac
Roda 1997-98 pic.twitter.com/hGDLAAyqfI— Stickerpedia (@Stickerpedia1) August 9, 2021
VLADIMIR PETKOVIC
One of the most unusual players to have played for Brazil’s Botafogo was Vladimir Petković. Born in the former Yugoslavia (modern-day Serbia), “Vlad” arrived at Botafogo in 2001, at a time when the Brazilian league had several Serbian players in major clubs, including goalkeeper Nikola Damjanac and striker Miodrag Anđelković from Fluminense, as well as the famous Dejan Petković, who played for Flamengo. The defensive midfielder, who came up through OFK Beograd in Serbia, arrived with high expectations among Botafogo fans, but played only four league matches in 2001, scoring no goals, and was released after that season.
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After being released from Botafogo, Vlad Petković disappeared from football. There are no further records of his career on any website, and some statistical platforms consider his career ended after leaving Botafogo in 2001 at only 25 years old. Some reports suggest he later signed for Beograd’s Rad, but that remains uncertain.
MIODRAG ANDJELKOVIC
Developed at Trepča from Kosovska Mitrovica and OFK Beograd, Miodrag Anđelković played for European and Asian clubs and also for Brazilian clubs Fluminense (2001) and Coritiba (2002). He scored three goals for Fluminense, and after Brazil, his career took him to OFK Beograd, then Poland, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, China, Romania, Canada, and finally Mladenovac, where he retired in 2011. Before Brazil, he also played in Spain, Germany, Israel, and Turkey.
Andjel
Na onda do sucesso que o sérvio Petkovic fazia no time da Globo, o Fluminense trazia para o elenco para a disputa do Brasileirão 2001 o compatriota dele, Miodrag Andjelkovic, então com 23 anos.
Numa época em que os clubes normalmente tinham esquemas com dois + pic.twitter.com/cWBYXJUVXz— ⚽ 🇭🇺 Flu Vintage Classic 🇭🇺 ⚽ (@FluClassic) August 18, 2023
VLADIMIR DJORDJEVIC
One of the players whose path to Brazilian football was opened by Rambo Petković was defender Vladimir Đorđević. This Niš native joined Petković’s former club Fluminense in 2006, making only three appearances before transferring to Red Star Belgrade.
Vladimir Djordjevic- SER
Fluminense
2006 pic.twitter.com/KCTJpd46NP— Esquecíveis FC (@esqueciveis) April 10, 2019
DEJAN “RAMBO” PETKOVIC
Beginnings in Europe
Finally, we arrive at the true legend of Brazilian Serie A, Dejan Petković – “Rambo.” He is one of the most respected foreign players in the history of Brazilian Serie A. Born on September 10, 1972, in Majdanpek, he started his professional career at Radnički Niš, then played for Red Star Belgrade, where he earned his name and reputation that led him to the famous Real Madrid.
Here you can read more on that subject:
A brief unsuccessful spell in Real Madrid played a decisive role in shaping the Brazilian football legend, later nicknamed “Peć” by fans. During a friendly tournament with Real, Flamengo, and Vitória from Bahia, the Brazilian club officials were impressed by Rambo’s football skills. His arrival in Brazil in 1997 was due to an invitation from Vitória’s president, Teo Fonseca, who personally traveled to Europe to convince him to join Salvador. Petković accepted the offer, though later he discovered that the club was actually the Bahia state champion, not the national champion. His time at Vitória was impressive – 59 goals and 16 assists in 90 matches, laying a solid foundation.
Petkovic com a camisa do Vitória:
🏟 90 jogos
⚽️ 59 gols
🅰️ 16 assistências
🏆 4 títulosBicampeão da Copa do Nordeste e do Estadual. pic.twitter.com/OlA1T7XOuI
— Sala12 (@OficialSala12) December 28, 2023
Rambo and Flamengo – the perfect combination
After a short spell at Italy’s Venezia, Petković played for Flamengo from 2000 to 2002 for the first time. In 120 matches, he scored 42 goals and helped the team win the Campeonato Carioca twice (2000, 2001) and the Copa dos Campeões (2001). During this period, Flamengo fans gave him the nickname Peć (Pet).
He then moved to Vasco da Gama, playing from 2002 to 2004, including a brief stint in China. For Vasco, he scored 28 goals in 66 matches and helped the team win the Campeonato Carioca in 2003.
Muitos lembram dele como carrasco, mas Petkovic jogou muito no @VascodaGama.
Nostálgico! pic.twitter.com/jrc5kER4gu
— Futebol Nostálgico! (@futnostalgico) April 16, 2024
Next, Rambo played for Fluminense (61 matches, 19 goals), Goiás (9 matches, 1 goal), the famous Santos (21 matches, 1 goal), and Atlético Mineiro (32 matches, 5 goals). In 2009, he returned to Flamengo, confirming his legendary status in the land of coffee and football.
13 anos atrás, 05/06/2011 O ídolo Dejan Petkovic, nosso querido Pet se despedia dos gramados com o Manto Sagrado.
Obrigado por tudo @dejanpetkovicoficial 🇷🇸🔴⚫#URUBUZADA#DefensoresdoManto#CulturadeArquibancada pic.twitter.com/YzoANkmME3
— TORCIDA URUBUZADA (@ubzoficial) June 5, 2024
During his second spell at Flamengo, “Peć” scored 14 goals in 77 matches. He is especially remembered for his goals from corners and his key role in Flamengo’s 2009 Serie A title, becoming the first Serbian to win the Brazilian football championship. 🏆
Video: Petković’s free-kick goal for Flamengo’s Serie A title
Awards and life after football
While playing in Brazil, Petković won the Bola de Prata award (for the best player in the Brazilian league) three times – 2004, 2005, and 2009.
In 2010, he became the honorary consul of Serbia in Brazil, further cementing his role as a sports and cultural ambassador between the two countries. He remains extremely popular in Brazil, recognized on the streets and celebrated in songs and films, including the documentary O Gringo.
After retiring as a player, Petković moved into coaching, managing clubs including Criciúma, Sampaio Corrêa, and Vitória, with his last engagement at Atlético Paranaense. He also worked as a sports commentator on Brazilian TV channel SporTV.
Although retired from professional football, Petković still lives in Brazil, deeply embedded in its social and sporting life. His story continues to inspire young footballers, and his impact on Brazilian football remains unforgettable.
