Milan Ivanović

Milan Ivanović
Personal information
Full nameMilan Ivanović
Date of birth21 December 1960
Place of birthSivac, FPR Yugoslavia
Playing positionSweeper
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1978–1982Red Star Belgrade84(2)
1982–1985OFK Belgrade83(1)
1985–1989Red Star Belgrade83(0)
1987–1988→ Radnički Niš (loan)19(1)
1989–2000Adelaide City290(2)
1994→ White City Woodville (loan)1(0)
1996Campbelltown City (loan)9(0)
1998→ White City Woodville (loan)13(0)
2007Northern Demons2(0)
Total584(8)
National team
1991–1998Australia59(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 August 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 June 2007

Milan Ivanović (Serbian Cyrillic: Милан Ивановић, pronounced [mǐlan iʋǎːnoʋit͡ɕ]; born 21 December 1960 in Sivac, SR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia) is a former Serbian Australian football (soccer) player. He also played for Australian national team.

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 South Australian Premier League club, Northern Demons.

International career

He made his first international appearance for Australia in 1991. He captained Australia once, in a match against Japan on 15 February 1998, which also his last appearance for Australia. He made 59 international appearances for Australia.

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 Paul Okon into second place for a position in central defense.

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. Currently Coaching U/19's at Croydon Kings (Polonia) Soccer Club in South Australia.

Honours

With Australia:

With Adelaide City:

With Red Star Belgrade:

Personal Honours:

External links