Serbian centre-back Nemanja Calasan reached 33.7 km/h to finish second in the Uzbekistan Super League’s Round 27 sprint-speed rankings, just 0.3 km/h behind the fastest player.
The 30-year-old Andijon defender, who stands 1.88 metres tall, was outpaced only by his teammate Doniyor Abdumannopov, a right winger who reached 34.0 km/h. The figures were released by the Uzbekistan Professional Football League.
Calasan was not the only experienced centre-back among the five quickest players. Georgian defender Giorgi Jgerenaia, 32, of Navbahor, reached 33.0 km/h and took fourth place. At 1.90 metres tall, he was faster than his teammate, wide player Ruslan Jiyanov.
The complete Round 27 speed ranking: 1st — Doniyor Abdumannopov (Andijon), 34.0 km/h; 2nd — Nemanja Calasan (Andijon), 33.7 km/h; 3rd — Ivan Peshich (AGMK), 33.4 km/h; 4th — Giorgi Jgerenaia (Navbahor), 33.0 km/h; 5th — Ruslan Jiyanov (Navbahor), 32.3 km/h.
The numbers reflect each player’s recorded peak speed, rather than average pace or total distance covered. Calasan and Jgerenaia’s presence in the top five stands out because both are centre-backs in their thirties, competing with younger, attack-minded wide players.
Calasan joined Andijon in 2026 after playing for Kazakhstan’s Yelimay. Before moving to Central Asia, he captained Spartak Subotica in Serbia and spent several seasons in Portugal. In an earlier interview with Eurasia Football, the defender discussed the differences between playing in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, including the influence of pitch quality on passing football.