Ante Milicic

NSL Career: Sydney United, Sydney Olympic, Parramatta Power 200 (96) / 1992/93 - 2003/04

Socceroos Career: 6 (5) A Internationals

During the early 2000s, most of Australia's best footballers were plying their trade overseas, looking to earn more money and climb the ladder of professional football. Ante Milicic returned from Europe during this period and became one of the most dominant players in the NSL, having the best goals-per-game ratio between the 2000/01 and 2003/04 seasons (0.73). A brilliant link-up player and technician, Milicic was simply devastating at the peak of his career.

Playing his junior football at Croatian-heritage clubs in Sydney, Hurtsville Zagreb and Sydney Croatia, Milicic joined the AIS Soccer Program in 1990. Milicic trained at the AIS before being selected for Sydney Croatia's NSL squad and made his NSL debut as an 18 year old in Croatia's three-one win over Preston in the third round of the 1992/93 season. 

The raw striker played for Canberra Deakin in the NSW Super League during 1993 to gain more experience before returning to Sydney United (formerly Croatia) where he began what would become an impressive attacking partnership with David Zdrilic (who was born just 9 days apart).

After helping United reach the finals series in the 1993/94 season, their first finals series since 1988, the duo continued to improve during the 1994/95 season under new coach Branko Culina - scoring a combined 13 league goals (including finals) as United reached the minor semi-final. During the 1995/96 season, the dangerous duo missed just one game each as United reached consecutive minor semi-finals and scored a combined 16 goals (including finals). 

The Milicic-Zdrilic partnership reached it's peak in the 1996/97 season where they scored a combined 40 goals (including finals) playing in front of midfield maestro Krešimir Marušić. Milicic scored 18 goals during the season, second only to Zdrilic who won the NSL Golden Boot. United reached the grand final for the first time since 1988 in the last game Milicic and Zdrilic would play together at club level as United went down two-nil to Brisbane Strikers.

Milicic signed his first overseas contract with NAC Breda in Netherland's Eredivisie for $100,000, while Zdrilic moved to FC Aarau in Switzerland's Nationalliga A. Milicic spent two seasons at NAC, scoring 10 goals in 47 league games before moving to Croatian First Football League side Rijeka following NAC's relegation to the Eerste Divisie. 

The Australian striker's first season at Rijeka saw him play mostly off the bench (scoring five league goals) as the club finished fourth in the league. In his second (and last) season at Rijeka, Milicic was the club's top scorer and helped them avoid relegation. Milicic returned to the NSL for the 2001/02 season, rejoining Sydney United where scored eight goals in 14 games before breaking the NSL transfer record (between clubs), signing for Sydney Olympic for $110,000. 

Milicic proved he was worth every dollar as he scored seven goals in six regular season appearances, including four against Football Kingz, before leading Olympic to the grand final after scoring the winner in the preliminary final. Milicic scored one of the greatest NSL Grand Final goals to claim his first championship trophy and was awarded the Joe Marston Medal.

Following the 2001/02 season, the dangerous forward made his full international debut and continued to perform for Olympic during the 2002/03 season, scoring 11 goals in 19 regular season games before adding another eight in eight during the league's 10-round Championship Series on his way to playing in consecutive grand finals. 

Olympic lost two-nil to Perth Glory before Milicic moved to Parramatta Power for the last season of the NSL. Milicic made the most of his time left in the NSL, outscoring goal scoring rival Damian Mori to claim the NSL Golden Boot, as well as winning the Johnny Warren Medal. Milicic once again faced Perth in the grand final but couldn't go out a winner, with Perth scoring in extra time to win the last ever NSL Championship. 

Following the demise of the NSL, Milicic signed for Pahang in the Malaysian Super League and won the championship in his one season at the club before returning to Australia to join Newcastle for the inaugural A-League season. The veteran striker would add 11 goals and 44 appearances to his NSL tally playing for Newcastle and Queensland Roar (later Brisbane Roar), before returning to Malaysia to play for Premier League club Shahzan Muda.

After a season with Shahzan, Milicic returned to Australia and became player-coach of former club Sydney United in the NSW Premier League where he hung up his boots at the age of 35. Milicic was selected in Sydney United's 50th Anniversary All Stars team in 2008.