Milan Ivanović

For the Macedonian footballer born 1988, see Milan Ivanović (Macedonian footballer).

Milan Ivanović

Personal information
Full name	Milan Ivanović
Date of birth	(1960-12-21) 21 December 1960
Place of birth	Sivac, FPR Yugoslavia
Position(s)	Sweeper
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1978–1982	Red Star Belgrade	84	(2)
1982–1985	OFK Belgrade	83	(1)
1985–1989	Red Star Belgrade	83	(0)
1987–1988	→ Radnički Niš (loan)	19	(1)
1989–2000	Adelaide City	290	(2)
1994	→ White City Woodville (loan)	1	(0)
1996	→ Campbelltown City (loan)	9	(0)
1998	→ White City Woodville (loan)	13	(0)
2007	Northern Demons	2	(0)
Total		584	(8)
International career‡
1991–1998	Australia	59	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 August 2011 ‡ 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:

• 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

External links

• FFA - Hall of Fame profile
• Oz Football Profile
• The Four Diegos interview
• Australian Team of the Century at RSSSF