Milan Ivanović
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| Milan Ivanović | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Milan Ivanović | |
| Date of birth | December 21, 1960 | |
| Place of birth | Sivac, FPR Yugoslavia | |
| Playing position | Sweeper | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1978-1982 1982-1985 1985-1987 1987-1988 1988-1989 1989-2000 2007 |
Red Star Belgrade OFK Belgrade Red Star Belgrade Radnički Niš Red Star Belgrade Adelaide City Force Northern Demons |
290 (2) (16) |
| National team | ||
| 1991-1998 |  Australia |
60 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Milan Ivanović (Serbian: Милан Ивановић) (born December 21, 1960 in Sivac, Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia) is a former captain of the Australian national football (soccer) team and after a long and storied career (71 caps, 60 "A" Internationals) became of one of its most capped players.
Contents |
[edit] Club career
Nicknamed "The Surgeon" for his ability to cut out the opposition's attacks and launch into an incisive midfield run, the classy, composed sweeper started his career with Red Star Belgrade culminating in a European Champions Cup encounter against A.C. Milan.
After stints with OFK Belgrade and Radnički Niš, he emigrated to Australia and on arrival in 1989 he joined Adelaide City in the National Soccer League where he formed a formidable partnership with Alex Tobin that became the mainstay of the Adelaide City and Socceroo defence that resulted in two national titles in 1991/2 and 1993/4, cementing his legendary status.
In 2007, Ivanović came out of retirement to play in the Premier League club, Northern Demons, were he has had a big impact scoring 16 goals at the age of 47.
[edit] International career
But perhaps he will best be remembered for a game he didn't play in, the World Cup qualifying match against Iran in 1997. Having secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg Iran, the Socceroos were leading 2-0 late into the return match when Iran scored 2 goals in quick succession, allowing them to qualify for the World Cup on the away-goals rule.
Many people believe that had Ivanovic been playing, the Socceroos would have qualified instead.
He played his last game for the Socceroos in 1998.
In 2000 he was selected as a member of the Australian "Team of the Century" by respondents to a worldwide Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation vote, beating another former Socceroo captain Paul Okon into second place for the number 4 shirt.
[edit] Managerial career
Ivanović has coached at local level in South Australia, in both Federation and Amateur leagues. He has been in charge at both Enfield City and White City and saved the latter club from relegation in 2006.
[edit] Honours
With Australia:
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997 (Runners-Up)
- OFC Nations Cup: 1996
With Adelaide City:
- NSL Championship: 1991-1992, 1993-1994
- NSL Cup: 1989, 1991-1992
With Red Star Belgrade:
Yugoslav League Championship: 1979-1980, 1980-1981- Yugoslav Cup: 1982
Personal Honours:
- FFA Hall of Champions Inductee - 2003
- Johnny Warren Medal: 1990-1991 with Adelaide City
- Joe Marston Medal: 1992-1993 with Adelaide City
- RSSSF Australian Team of the Century: 2000
[edit] External links
- FFA - Hall of Fame profile
- Oz Football Profile
- The Four Diegos interview
- Australian Team of the Century at RSSSF
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Zeljko Adzic |
Johnny Warren Medallist 1990/91 |
Succeeded by Josip Biskic |
| Preceded by Alex Tobin |
Joe Marston Medalist 1992/93 |
Succeeded by Alex Tobin |
