Milan Ivanović
NSL Career: Adelaide City 300 (2) / 1989 - 1999/00
Socceroos Career: 59 (0) A Internationals / 12 (0) B Internationals
Milan Ivanović was arguably the greatest defender to play in the NSL, and possibly, the history of the national league. Ivanović became known as "The Doctor" for his ability to cut out opposition attacks with skill and composure and start his own team's attack. Combining silk with grit, Ivanović's ability to read the play saw him make key interceptions and brought attackers to ground if they dared to get past him.
Born in Sivac, Serbia (then Yugoslavia) - Ivanović grew up playing street football before joining his first club side Polet Sivac at the age of 15. Ivanović later joined Yugoslav Second League side Crvenka where he made his first team debut at the age of 17 before moving to lower division side Rudar Kostolac in search of regular game time.
Following his stint with Kostolac, Ivanović joined Yugoslav First League side OFK Belgrade where he became a regular despite the club getting relegated in his first season. After three seasons at OFK, Ivanović joined Yugoslav giants Red Star Belgrade, but struggled to cement his spot in the side as Red Star missed out on the 1985/86 First League Championship on goal difference.
Ivanović was loaned out to fellow First League side Radnički Niš, becoming a key player in the side before returning to Red Star for the 1988/89 season. Red Star qualified for the European Cup following their 1987/88 First League title in which Ivanović played in both legs of their round of 16 loss to AC Milan.
Coach of NSL club Adelaide City Zoran Matić asked a contact of his in Yugoslavia to help him find a sweeper who could read the play to compliment City's sturdy defence and recommended Ivanović. The Yugoslav sweeper moved to Adelaide during the 1989 NSL season and quickly established himself in the side as club legend Bugsy Nyskohus neared retirement.
Ivanović helped City win their second NSL Cup in his first season, defeating Sydney Olympic two-nil in the final. During the 1989/90 season, Matić's ideal back four was starting to take shape with veteran stopper Neville Flounders now vying for his spot with left-back Alex Tobin, as promising full-back Tony Vidmar was looking to cement his spot in the side.
Ivanović helped City reach the finals series for the first time since 1986 where they lost two-one to Sydney Olympic in the elimination final. With Flounders playing his final NSL game in round two of the 1990/91 season, the Ivanović/Tobin central defensive partnership was settled and the sweeper took his game to another level, missing just two games during the regular season as City conceded just 24 goals in 26 league games (the league's best defensive record).
Ivanović's performances for City earned him an international cap for Australia during the season before helping City reach the preliminary final where they lost one-nil to South Melbourne. Ivanović's ability to stamp out the best forwards in the league and start his own team's attacks earned him the Johnny Warren Medal.
The 1991/92 season saw City field one of the greatest Australian club sides in history with their defence consisting of internationals Ivanović, Tobin, Vidmar and keeper Robert Zabica, as well as the experienced Sergio Melta and Paul Shillabeer. City completed the first ever NSL Double, defeating Marconi two-nil via a late goal by Vidmar to win the cup before young striker Carl Veart scored in every finals match for City on the way to the grand final.
City faced Melbourne Croatia in what would be the first of many finals encounters over the next few years between the two sides. Ivanović nullified prolific scorer Francis Awaritefe as the game finished in a penalty shoot-out, which City won four-two. Another consistent season followed in 1992/93 as City reached the grand final for the third time in a row.
Despite City losing the grand final to Marconi via a controversial penalty, Ivanović limited the influence of Marconi stars Andy Harper and Kimon Taliadoros with his ability to read the play and carry the ball in to midfield and was awarded the Joe Marston Medal.
During the 1993/94 season, Ivanović played in both legs of Australia's World Cup qualifying play-off against Argentina and in one of the rare instances that Ivanović was beaten, Argentine captain Diego Maradona completed a cross that would give the South Americans an away goal going in to the second leg. Australia lost the second leg and missed out on the World Cup for the fifth consecutive qualifying campaign.
Following Australia's failed qualifying campaign, Ivanović continued to perform in the NSL as City progressed to a third consecutive grand final where Ivanović and Tobin were tasked with marking the league's best player in Mark Viduka. The experience of the defensive duo kept the teenage sensation quiet as City won the grand final courtesy of a wonder strike from striker Damian Mori. Western Australian keeper Jason Petkovic's transition in to Zabica's role in the 1994/95 season was made seamless with the help of the City's Socceroos defence as the side conceded just 20 goals in 24 games during the regular season.
City once again reached the grand final, facing Knights (formerly Croatia) for a third time and despite Viduka's influence again being hampered by Ivanović and Tobin, Knights proved too good on the day (winning two-nil). Long-time City coach Zoran Matić was replaced by City legend John Perin for the 1995/96 season, who narrowly guided the club to a seventh consecutive finals series campaign where they were defeated four-one in the preliminary final by Marconi.
Despite Perin winning the NSL Coach of the Year award, he was replaced by another City legend in John Nyskohus for the 1996/97 season in which Ivanović scored just his second goal in the NSL via a free kick against Collingwood in round 24. The evergreen Ivanović was instrumental in City maintaining the league's best defensive record before the side overturned a three-nil first leg defeat in the elimination final against Marconi to win four-three on aggregate and progress to the minor semi-final where City conceded a last minute goal to South Melbourne.
During the 1997/98 season, Ivanović was surprisingly kept on the bench during Australia's two-legged World Cup play-off against Iran in which Australia conceded two late goals in the second leg to miss out on another World Cup. Despite controversy over his non-selection, Ivanović played in all but one game during Australia's first FIFA Confederations Cup campaign.
Australia shocked the world by defeating Uruguay to reach the final against Brazil where they lost six-nil courtesy of hat-tricks by global superstars Ronaldo and Romário. Following the tournament, Ivanović made his last Socceroos appearance in a three-nil defeat to Japan before again helping City reach the finals series where they lost their elimination final to Wollongong.
Matić returned to the club for the 1998/99 season in which Ivanović played in his tenth NSL Finals Series. Following City's two-one loss to Brisbane Strikers during the 1999/00 season, Ivanović hung up the boots just two months shy of his 39th birthday. Ivanović went on to coach Enfield City and White City in the South Australian Super League and briefly came out of retirement to play for SA Premier League side Northern Demons at the age of 46. Ivanović was selected in FFA's Socceroos Team of the 1990s.
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