Milan Ivanovic
Encyclopedia
Milan Ivanović (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.
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
.
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.
and White City
and saved the latter club from relegation in 2006.
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:
Sivac
Sivac is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Kula municipality, in the West Bačka District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 8,992 people .-Ethnic groups :...
, SR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia) is a former Serbian Australian
Serbian Australian
Serbian Australians are citizens of Australia who are of Serbian ancestry. According to the 2006 census, there are 95,364 people in Australia who are of Serbian ancestry. Serbs have migrated to Australia in various waves during the 20th century...
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 BelgradeRed Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
culminating in a European Champions Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
encounter against A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
.
After stints with OFK Belgrade and Radnički Niš
Radnicki Niš
FK Radnički Niš is a football club based in the city of Niš in Serbia. The team is currently playing in the Serbian First League.-History:...
, he emigrated to Australia and on arrival in 1989 he joined Adelaide City
Adelaide City
Adelaide City is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. They are also known as The Zebras. They played in the National Soccer League for 27 Seasons but withdrew just prior to the 2003/2004 season. They now play in the South Australian Super League. City won the inaugural Super League...
in the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
where he formed a formidable partnership with Alex Tobin
Alex Tobin
Alexander Hugh Tobin is a former Australian football player. Tobin is the second most capped player for the Australia national football team with 87 'A' appearances, including many as captain...
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
South Australian Premier League
The South Australian Premier League is now the second-highest state-level football competition in South Australia. It is conducted by the Football Federation of South Australia , the state's governing body. Prior to the 2006 season, this was the highest level competition in South Australia...
club, Northern Demons
Virtus Soccer Club
Virtus Soccer Club, known as Northern Demons are a football club from Port Pirie, South Australia. Northern Demons play in the South Australian State League. Their home ground is Byrne Park. Aside from their senior teams, the club currently have three sides in the Junior Premier League which play...
.
International career
He made his first international appearance for Australia in 1991. He captained Australia once, in a match against JapanJapan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in 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
Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation is an international amateur organization dedicated to collecting statistics about association football...
vote, beating Paul Okon
Paul Okon
Paul Okon is a former Australian football player who retired after playing with Australian side Newcastle United Jets....
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 CityEnfield City Falcons
The Enfield City Falcons are a football club from Adelaide, South Australia. Enfield play in the FFSA South Australian Premier League...
and White City
White City Woodville
White City Woodville are a football club from Adelaide, South Australia. White City Woodville play in the South Australian Premier League formed in 2006. They are based at Frank Mitchell Park in Woodville West in Adelaide's western suburbs. They are a Serbian Australian-backed club and are also...
and saved the latter club from relegation in 2006.
Honours
With Australia:- FIFA Confederations CupFIFA Confederations CupThe FIFA Confederations Cup is an association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years by FIFA. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships , along with the FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, to bring the number of teams...
: 19971997 FIFA Confederations Cup-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Awards:-Top scorers:7 goals Romário5 goals Vladimír Šmicer4 goals Ronaldo-References:...
(Runners-Up) - OFC Nations CupOFC Nations CupThe OFC Nations Cup is an international association football tournament held among the Oceania Football Confederation member nations. It was held every two years from 1996 to 2004; before 1996 there were two other tournaments held at irregular intervals, under the name Oceania Nations Cup...
: 19961996 OFC Nations CupThe 1996 OFC Nations Cup was not held as a cohesive tournament, but consisted of semi-finals and a final played on a two-legged basis, stretched out between November 1995 and November 1996....
With Adelaide City
Adelaide City
Adelaide City is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. They are also known as The Zebras. They played in the National Soccer League for 27 Seasons but withdrew just prior to the 2003/2004 season. They now play in the South Australian Super League. City won the inaugural Super League...
: NSL Championship: 1991-1992, 1993–1994 NSL Cup: 1989, 1991–1992
With Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
: Yugoslav League Championship
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
: 1979-1980, 1980–1981 Yugoslav Cup
Yugoslav Cup
The Yugoslav Cup, officially the Marshal Tito Cup, was one of two major football competitions in the former Yugoslavia, the other one being the Yugoslav League Championship. The Yugoslav Cup took place after the league championships when every competitive league in Yugoslavia had finished, in order...
: 1982
Personal Honours:
- FFA Hall of ChampionsFootball Federation Australia - Football Hall of FameThe Football Federation Australia's Football Hall of Fame was formed in 1996 as the Soccer Hall of Fame to honour outstanding services to association football in Australia....
Inductee - 2003 - Johnny Warren MedalJohnny Warren MedalThe Johnny Warren Medal is the award for best player in the Australian national football club competition. It was first awarded in the National Soccer League in 1990, and upon the NSL's demise in November 2004, was carried forward into the A-League, the competition in Australia...
: 1990-1991 with Adelaide CityAdelaide CityAdelaide City is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. They are also known as The Zebras. They played in the National Soccer League for 27 Seasons but withdrew just prior to the 2003/2004 season. They now play in the South Australian Super League. City won the inaugural Super League... - Joe Marston MedalJoe Marston MedalThe Joe Marston Medal is an A-League award given to the player of the match in the A-League Grand Final each year. Introduced in 1990, previously the award was also given to the best player in the National Soccer League grand final. The medal is named after Joe Marston, who played for Australia...
: 1992-1993 with Adelaide CityAdelaide CityAdelaide City is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. They are also known as The Zebras. They played in the National Soccer League for 27 Seasons but withdrew just prior to the 2003/2004 season. They now play in the South Australian Super League. City won the inaugural Super League... - RSSSF Australian Team of the Century: 2000