Ante Milicic

The son of Croatian immigrants, Milicic grew up in Strathfield, a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney. Milicic was largely brought up by his father after his mother died when he was 17. At 16, he was selected to train at the Australian Institute of Sport.[2]

He played for a variety of sides in two stints in the National Soccer League. The first stint was played almost entirely for Sydney United, for whom he played as a junior, and which culminated in playing in their runner-up 1996/97 side. After that season he moved to NAC Breda in the Netherlands, and after 2 seasons there went to Croatia's NK Rijeka, where he was the club's top scorer in 2000/01 with 10 goals. On his return to the NSL in season 2001/02, he rejoined Sydney United for a brief stay, before moving to city rival Sydney Olympic during the same season. He would spend the rest of the season and the next playing there, including scoring the only goal of the 2001/02 Grand Final against Perth Glory. In the final he was awarded the Joe Marston Medal, delivering Sydney Olympic their second NSL title, as well as playing in the runner up side the following season against Perth Glory.

In the last season of the NSL in 2003–04 season, he moved to Parramatta Power, where he would again experience Grand Final defeat against the Perth Glory. After the NSL was disbanded, Milicic played in the Malaysian League for Pahang. It was widely felt that with the $1.5 million salary caps imposed on all A-League clubs, Milicic would not be able to be brought back to Australia. However, he joined the Newcastle United Jets, who finished 4th on the A-League ladder in 2005/2006, also joining close friends Labinot Haliti, Ned Zelic.

Ante Milicic was the first player in the A-League to score a Hat-Trick in the game Newcastle Jets v New Zealand Knights on 4 November 2005 in round 11. In May 2006 Ante signed to transfer to rival A-League team Queensland Roar, where he played in 44 matches scoring 11 goals. On 8 December 2007, Milicic had his contract terminated by mutual consent and joining Malaysian Premier League Shahzan Muda FC, citing that "It wasn't quite happening for me at Queensland Roar."[3]

[4]

Milicic returned home to his club Sydney United as player/coach for season 2009 and 2010 in the NSW Premier League. It is his first venture as coach and currently boasts a record of 9 wins (8 in Premier League 1 Tiger Turf Cup), 2 Draws and 1 Loss.

He was also called up as an assistant coach to the Under 20s Young Socceroos team for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt and Assistant in Under 20s World Cup in Colombia 2011.

On 18 November 2009, it was announced that he would be joining Jesper Olsen as an assistant coach at new A-League franchise Melbourne Heart.

After being passed over for the vacant manager position at Melbourne Heart, he joined his close friend Tony Popovic as the inaugural assistant coach of Western Sydney Wanderers FC.[5]

At the end of the 2013/14 A-League season, Milicic joined Ange Postecoglou as assistant coach of the Socceroos, Australia's national men’s football team.[6]

On 18 February 2019, Milicic was announced by the FFA as the interim head coach of the Australia Women's team,[7] resigning from this position on 19 July 2020.[8]

On 15 May 2019, Milicic was announced as the inaugural head coach for new A-League club Macarthur FC.[9] He is set to begin following his spell with Australia (Matildas).

With Australia:

• OFC Nations Cup: 2004

With Sydney Olympic:

• NSL Championship: 2001–2002

With Trinity Grammar 4th XI:

• Cassen Cup- Most Outstanding Opens Team: 2009

Personal Honours:

• Joe Marston Medal: 2001–2002 with Sydney Olympic
• Johnny Warren Medal: 2003–2004 with Parramatta Power
• NSL Top Scorer: 2003–2004 with Parramatta Power – 20 goals

• Oz Football profile