Neven was born on December 10th, 1988 in Banja Luka, a town in the northwestern part of Bosnia & Herzegovina (former Yugoslavia ).

1990 - 1999 : Germany : First steps on the field
In 1990, the Subotic family moved to Schömberg, in the Black Forest region, near the city of Pforzheim, where they would settle for the next nine years. Neven, along with his sister and parents, quickly integrated into their new German life. During this time, Neven would develop his very competitive spirit, first by trying to beat his sister Natalija at Legos, putting the parts together as fast as possible.

He loved it so much that all his pocket money was spent buying Lego boxes and puzzles. Neven’s father Zeljko, a former professional Football player himself, would take him every weekend to watch him train or play matches. Neven tried to follow in his dad’s footsteps, often playing friendly games with other kids and had the knack for scoring goals.
At the age of eight, his father decided to enrol him at the TSV Schwarzenberg’s club, detecting young Neven’s aptitudes to play Football.
One thing was quite obvious in his four years with the club, whether in practices or games, the youngster didn’t like to lose.

1999 - 2006 : USA : Soccer player in Football country ! 
In 1999, the Subotic family leaves Germany for Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States. Neven leaves behind his newfound friends and childhood memories to discover a new language and a new culture. As soon as they arrived in the USA, Neven’s parents started to seek a new Football club to enrol him. But, in the nation known for the other, egg-shaped version of football, Football isn’t nearly as popular! After a real quest, Neven would find and play for Football Club Sparta from 1999 to 2000, and then Football Club Black Impact from 2000 to 2001, where he continued to score a lot of goals.
>> VIEW MORE ...

Neven was not the only budding athletic in the family, as his sister was a bright young tennis talent. The family ultimately decided to move to Bradenton, Florida, to give her and Neven the means to break through as talented athletes. She trained at the famed Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. Neven enjoyed watching his sister on the tennis courts and also played a few games with her, but Football will remain his only true addiction! He played two successive seasons for two Football clubs in the Sunshine state: Manatee Magic (2002-2003) and Braden River Rage (2003-2004).

From Bradenton Park to the field of Mainz
In 2005 however, rather than play club Football anymore, Neven began a daily ritual of training with his father at GT Bray Park. That work ethic and constant improvement paid off heavy dividends when he was spotted in that very park by the Under-17 USA National Team assistant coach, whose training base was in the same city. Neven was invited to come and train with the Under-17 squad and would ultimately live his own American Dream. Once he obtained his American citizenship, he joined the team and started playing initially as a striker, until his coach, aware of Neven’s assets on defence, decided to place him at centre back.
He has cemented his spot at that position ever since then! >> VIEW MORE ...

A year later, Neven started his collegiate Football career at the University of South Florida, while simultaneously having the opportunity to travel with the U-17 National Team to several countries, like Peru, Argentina and Holland. It was during the game against Holland that he would be noticed. One year later, he had his opportunity with a trial at FSV Mainz 05 of the German Bundesliga and their coach Jürgen Klopp. Klopp was immediately convinced of Neven’s potential and offered him his first professional contract.
 
Now it seems so long ago, when Neven’s teachers used to say : “Football ? That’s not a job !”
Perhaps because Neven was good at mathematics and sciences, his professors advised him to focus on his studies, instead of playing Football. Little did they know at that time.

June 2006 : Return to Germany : Time to play for real !
At just 17 years of age, Neven’s life would come full circle with his move back to Germany, where he would see his childhood dream come true. He would not just play two seasons at the FSV Mainz 05 from 2006 to 2008, but become one of the best young defender of the Bundesliga ... [READ MORE]
 
In 2008, coach Jürgen Klopp would leave Mainz and sign a contract with Borussia Dortmund. Klopp would immediately make Neven his priority in recruiting new talent for BVB’s 2009 season and their need for a centre back. Neven would eventually leave FSV Mainz 05 for Dortmund to fit that role ... [READ MORE]
 
December 2008 : Serbian Team, back to the roots !
After having an outstanding debut season with Dortmund, which saw Neven score 6 goals in 33 Bundesliga matches, Neven would be involved in more jostling for his talents. Because of his unique background and residency in several nations, he is solicited by several countries for their senior national teams. From that point, Neven had to make the most important sporting decision of his life. Conscious that Germany and USA had given him so much up to that point, he still couldn’t forget his roots, which still belonged to Serbia. The proposal of the newly installed coach Radomir Antic to join the Serbian National Team seemed then to be icing on the cake.  

Neven was ready for the South Africa’s World Cup 2010 qualification ! [READ MORE]