Dragiša Gudelj

Dragiša Gudelj
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-11-08) 8 November 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Breda, Netherlands
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
2011–2015 NAC Breda
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Jong Ajax 0 (0)
2017–2018 Wohlen 31 (2)
2018–2020 Vitória Guimarães B 17 (2)
2020–2022 Cádiz B 31 (3)
2022–2024 Córdoba 51 (1)
Total 130 (8)
International career
2013 Serbia U16 4 (0)
2013 Serbia U17 1 (0)
2014–2016 Serbia U18 7 (0)
2015–2016 Serbia U19 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dragiša "Dragi" Gudelj (Serbian Cyrillic: Драгиша Гудељ; born 8 November 1997) is a Serbian retired footballer. Mainly a centre-back, he also played as a left-back.[1]

Gudelj also holds Dutch citizenship.[2]

Club career

Born in Breda, Gudelj began his career with hometown side NAC Breda, but never played as a senior for the club. On 6 May 2015, it was announced that he signed his first professional contract with Jong Ajax, moving to the club with his older brother Nemanja who signed a contract with Ajax's first team while their father Nebojša became a scout for the club.[3]

In July 2017, after failing to feature for Ajax, Gudelj moved to Swiss side FC Wohlen. He joined Vitória de Guimarães in the following year, but only played for their B-team.

On 31 August 2020, Gudelj signed a two-year deal with Cádiz CF, being assigned to the reserves in Segunda División B.[4] On 12 January 2022, he moved to fellow Segunda División RFEF side Córdoba CF on a short-term contract.[5]

On 25 March 2023, while playing a league match against Racing de Ferrol, Gudelj collapsed in the 11th minute. Urgent medical assistance arrived, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and was performed. It is said that two defibrillations were needed in order to stabilize the player. After 10 minutes, Gudelj had to be put in an ambulance and taken to Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, in Córdoba. The match was suspended with both teams level at 1–1.[6] Soon after the collapse, it was confirmed by the club that Gudelj had suffered a cardiac arrest, and that he was in stable condition and undergoing tests in an intensive care unit.

Gudelj was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator on 30 March 2023,[7] and subsequently returned to play. On 9 July, he renewed his link with Córdoba until 2025.[8]

Gudelj collapsed again on 3 December 2023, in the first half of a match against UD Melilla; he went down in the 28th minute, before getting up shortly after and looking to the opposite side of the ball. He was later replaced, and the match ended 2–0 for Córdoba.[9] On 16 January 2024, his club confirmed that he would remain sidelined under a medical release for the remainder of the season.[10]

On 24 July 2024, Córdoba announced Gudelj's retirement at the age of 26, due to his health issues.[11]

Personal life

Gudelj is the son of former player Nebojša Gudelj. His older brother Nemanja is also a footballer.

References

  1. ^ "Serbia - D. Gudelj - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Gudelj's UEFA Youth League profile". UEFA. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Ajax sign Serbian brothers and give dad a job in package deal". Channel NewsAsia.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Dragiša Gudelj, altura para la zaga del filial" [Dragiša Gudelj, height for the defense of the reserves] (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Dragiša Gudelj, nuevo jugador del Córdoba CF" [Dragiša Gudelj, new player of Córdoba CF] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Brother of Sevilla's Nemanja Gudelj suffers cardiac arrest during Spanish third-tier game". ESPN. 26 March 2023.
  7. ^ "A Dragi Gudelj se le implantará un DAI y quiere volver a jugar al fútbol" [Dragi Gudelj will receive an ICD and wants to return to play football] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Dragi Gudelj, renovado hasta 2025" [Dragi Gudelj, renewed until 2025] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 9 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Dragisa Gudelj vuelve a dar el susto y se desploma en pleno partido del Córdoba" [Dragisa Gudelj scares again and collapses in the middle of a Córdoba match] (in Spanish). El Confidencial. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Dragi Gudelj, baja médica hasta final de temporada" [Dragi Gudelj, medical release until the end of the season] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Dragisa Gudelj decide dejar el fútbol por sus problemas cardiacos" [Dragisa Gudelj decides to leave football due to his health problems] (in Spanish). Marca. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.