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Ljubo Milicevic

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1999–2001
  
Weight
  
88 kg

1997–1998
  
AIS

Name
  
Ljubo Milicevic

Education
  
St James College

Years
  
Team

Role
  
Footballer

1998–1999
  
Melbourne Knights

Height
  
1.93 m


Ljubo Milicevic Ljubo Milicevic released by Perth Glory Goalcom

Date of birth
  
(1981-02-13) 13 February 1981 (age 34)

Place of birth
  
Melbourne, Australia

Playing position
  
Defender, Midfielder

Ljubo milicevic the journey back


Ljubo Milicevic (Croatian: Ljubo Miličević; born 13 February 1981) is an Australian footballer who currently plays for National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 team Dandenong City SC.

Contents

Ljubo Milicevic cdn0theroarcomauwpcontentuploads201310Lju

Ljubo milicevic exclusive


Early career and overseas

Ljubo Milicevic Exclusive interview with Ljubo Milicevic YouTube

Milicevic attended secondary school at St James College in East Bentleigh. His career in football began at the Australian Institute of Sport, where he captained the side to two consecutive National Youth League titles. He then entered professional football with Melbourne Knights in Australia, playing one game in the National Soccer League (NSL) before moving to Perth Glory in 1999, where he scored on his debut and played a major role in getting the Western Australian side to its first ever NSL Grand Final in 2000 where he made a name for himself by being the youngest player to ever score in an Australian grand final. Suffering a serious knee injury in the first game of the World Youth Cup in Argentina hampered his chances of moving to German giants Hertha Berlin. Later that same year he finally went to Europe and went on to play for FC Zurich, FC Basel, FC Thun and BSC Young Boys in Switzerland. The latter two clubs Milicevic captained in the Swiss Super League and European competition at the age of 25. He also captained the Australian under-20 side at the World Youth Cup in 2001 in Argentina and later the Australian Olympic team that qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens; unfortunately, he missed the competition due to a groin injury he sustained during qualification.

Melbourne Victory FC

On 20 February 2007 it was announced that Milicevic had signed for the reigning A-League champions Melbourne Victory. He was not home long before he again drew interest from abroad with Croatian heavyweights Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb both chasing his signature. Milicevic declared the only club he would ever play for in Croatia would be his childhood dream team Hajduk Split, citing both the fanatical Torcida and close friend Josip Skoko as inspirations. His time with the Victory was marred by a long-term knee injury he incurred on the opening day of the season. His contract with Melbourne Victory was "mutually terminated" on 22 February 2008.

Time away from the game

Ljubo Milicevic EXCLUSIVE Ljubo Milicevic opens up about Perth football and life

It was revealed during January 2009 that Milicevic had suffered from depression throughout his time playing overseas. He then started training with Dandenong City in 2009 in a bid to regain fitness and get his personal life back in order.

Newcastle United Jets FC

Ljubo Milicevic Former Socceroo Ljubo Milicevic back playing after two years out of

On 4 February 2009 he signed a one-year deal with the Newcastle Jets. Milicevic surprised coach Gary van Egmond with his level of fitness and immediately set about imposing a sense of drive and vigour on the training paddock, something which many felt that the Jets had distinctly lacked in the course of their disastrous A-League title defence in 2008–09.

Ljubo Milicevic Former Socceroo Ljubo Milicevic back playing after two years out of

His return to competitive football was anticipated by fans and the media alike, and despite the Jets' shaky performance in their opening 2–0 away loss in the Asian Champions League to Beijing Guoan, Milicevic starred in their subsequent game, a 2–0 victory over Korea's Ulsan Hyundai in which he marshalled the defence impressively and, along with some inspired goalkeeping by departing custodian Ante Covic, helped the Jets to their first competitive clean sheet in fourteen games. After joining Newcastle, Milicevic was adopted as a cult hero by the Newcastle fans, something not seen since Milton Rodriguez was at the club. On 18 March 2010, Milicevic signed a one-year contract extension with the Jets until the end of the 2010–11 becoming captain yet again and leading the team to the best defensive record in the league A-League season.

Free agency and South Melbourne FC

Ljubo Milicevic Video Socceroo Ljubo Milicevics story of hitting rock bottom Fox

On 12 January 2011, it was announced that Milicevic was not going to re-sign for the Jets and left for Switzerland, where he trialled with former club FC Basel in the Swiss Super League. However, he did not agree to terms with Basel, nor was another option pursued with German second division club Arminia Bielefeld. He had to wait until the European summer before committing to a new deal. In March 2011, he signed a short-term contract with Victorian Premier League club South Melbourne FC to keep himself fit, intending to return to Europe for the beginning of the 2011–12 season.

Hajduk Split

Ljubo Milicevic Drug use rampant in Australian Football League says Oz defender

On 8 June 2011, it was announced that Milicevic had signed a contract with Croatian club Hajduk Split. After struggling with injuries during the first half-season, Milicevic and Hajduk agreed on contract termination, leaving Milicevic as a free agent.

Perth Glory

On 19 August 2013 he announced that he had agreed to play for A-League club Perth Glory, but by 3 October 2013 had left the club, just before the start of the 2013–14 season.

Dandenong City

After a 3 year absence from the game, Milicevic signed with Dandenong City SC.

International career

Milicevic captained both the Young Socceroos and Olyroos. After being made captain, he went to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina in 2001

Miličević has also been capped for Australia. His senior debut was against Indonesia at Subiaco Oval, Perth in March 2005; he then made three appearances at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup against Germany, Argentina and Tunisia.

References

Ljubo Milicevic Wikipedia


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