Ante Milicic

Ante Milicic ( ; ; (born 4 April 1974) is an Australian soccer manager and former professional player who currently is the head coach of the China women's national football team.

Personal life 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.

Playing career Milicic played for a variety of sides in two stints in the National Soccer League (NSL). 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 two 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 Malaysia Super League for Pahang. He score a brace for Pahang in his debut against Perlis. He scored nine goals for Pahang as they were crowned as the league champions of the 2004 season. 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 2005–06, also joining close friends Labinot Haliti, Ned Zelic.

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."

Coaching career 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 nine wins (eight in Premier, League one Tiger Turf Cup), two draws and one loss.

He was also called up as an assistant coach to the Australia men's national under-20 soccer team for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt and 2011 Under 20s World Cup in Colombia.

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

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

On 18 February 2019, Milicic was announced by the FFA as the interim head coach of the Australia women's national team, the Matildas, managing the Matildas to a round of 16 finish at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. He resigned from this position on 19 July 2020.

On 15 May 2019, Milicic was announced as the inaugural head coach for new A-League club Macarthur FC. He began following his spell with the Matildas.

After two seasons with Macarthur, on 26 April 2022, Milicic informed the club that the 2021–22 season would be his last, choosing to return to Croatia for family reasons.

On 11 May 2024, Milicic was appointed as the head coach of China Women.

Playing statistics

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 10 July 2002 Auckland, New Zealand 1–0 8–0 2002 OFC Nations Cup 2. 9 October 2004 Honiara, Solomon Islands 2–0 5–1 2004 OFC Nations Cup 3. 12 October 2004 Sydney, Australia 1–0 6–0 4. 29 March 2005 Perth, Australia 1–0 3–0 Friendly 5. 2–0

Managerial statistics

Honours With Australia: OFC Nations Cup: 2004 With Sydney Olympic: NSL Championship: 2001–02 With Pahang: Malaysia Super League: 2004 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