Milan Ivanović

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Milan Ivanović
Personal information
Full name	Milan Ivanović
Date of birth	December 21, 1960 (1960-12-21) (age 47)
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 0(2) 000 (16)
National team
1991-1998	Australia	060 0(0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 June 2007. * Appearances (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 1 Club career 2 International career 3 Managerial career 4 Honours 5 External links

[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