Gudelj: Sevilla's Foreign Legion Stalwart Keeps Climbing the History Books
Serbian veteran Nemanja Gudelj reaches milestone appearance figures at Sevilla, equalling Julien Escudé's record and eyeing Dani Alves next on the foreign players list.
Nemanja Gudelj continues to cement his legacy at the Nervión club, quietly becoming one of Sevilla’s most dependable foreign servants while potentially facing his final season in Andalusia.
Record-Breaking Serbian
After his recent appearance against Oviedo, Gudelj has reached a proper milestone in his Sevilla career. The Serbian international has now surpassed Argentine legend Éver Banega and drawn level with Frenchman Julien Escudé as the sixth foreign player with most official appearances for Los Nervionenses with 239 matches to his name.
The numbers don’t lie - Gudelj is now just ten appearances away from catching Brazilian superstar Dani Alves, who sits fifth in this exclusive club. The road gets steeper from there though, with several Sevilla icons still well ahead:
- Ignacio Achúcarro (280)
- Renato (286)
- Frédéric Kanouté (290)
- Ivan Rakitic (323)
In La Liga appearances specifically, Gudelj has already matched Dani Alves with both players on 175 league matches. Climbing further up this particular ladder looks a tall order, with Paraguayan legend Achúcarro leading the way on 240 league appearances.
Captain’s Last Dance?
With his contract set to expire on June 30th, this could potentially be Gudelj’s final season at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. The captain has already secured his place in Sevilla folklore with two Europa League triumphs and multiple Champions League qualifications during his tenure.
This campaign has seen the 33-year-old feature in 15 matches across all competitions, starting nine and even finding the back of the onion bag against Real Sociedad. Despite his uncertain future, Gudelj continues to deliver when called upon.
Amid Sevilla’s injury crisis, manager Matías Almeyda’s switch to a back five has benefited Gudelj, who’s established himself at the heart of defence. His leadership qualities have proven crucial in organizing the backline, with the team’s improved results coinciding with his regular inclusion.
As the season progresses, this old soldier is determined to give one final service to the Sevilla cause before potentially moving on to new challenges. For now though, he’s still making history in red and white.