Matilda’s Cup coach is Milicic
FOOTBALL Federation Australia has given perennial right-hand man Ante Milicic the job of restoring unity within the Matildas and winning this year’s World Cup.
The 44-year-old, who has no experience in charge of a women’s side, has been appointed as interim national team coach until the end of Australia’s campaign at the Word Cup, which starts on June 7.
He succeeds deposed boss Alen Stajcic, fired by FFA last month after surveys and investigations suggested a toxic culture had spread under his leadership.
While Stajcic fights in the court of public opinion against reputational damage, Milicic will take up the coveted reins. He faces a baptism of fire with a friendly series against World Cup-bound trio New Zealand, South Korea and Argentina beginning on February 28. Australia, the world No. 6, is expected to perform well in the home matches, running off muscle memory from the Stajcic era.
It remains to be seen whether the Matildas will take to Milicic given his lack of background in the women’s game.
But with the Australia’s best generation of talent little more than 100 days out from a World Cup, they have little choice.
After an initial report of Milicic’s appointment broke on Friday, FFA chiefs confirmed the move to players on a conference call yesterday morning. He beat out applicants from Europe, the United States and from home for the much-coveted role, given the close proximity to a World Cup in which the Australians are contenders.
Milicic has a low public profile but is well known and exceptionally well regarded by insiders, despite never holding a major senior position. He was briefly considered for the Socceroos top job after Ange Postecoglou’s departure in late 2017.
Milicic and Stajcic played together as teenagers in NSW state teams and, while they aren’t close, have a high regard for each other.
Milicic won a sprinkling of national team caps as a forward across a long playing career which included stints in the Netherlands, Croatia, Malaysia and at home.
He made the transition to coaching and returned to the A-League as an assistant coach to John van ‘t Schip at Melbourne Heart.
The Dutchman’s exit left Heart bosses with a choice between Milicic and John Aloisi for the senior job; they chose the latter. Milicic then linked up with Western Sydney as an assistant to Tony Popovic. After two seasons at the Wanderers he moved into a fulltime role with FFA. Milicic was on the sidelines at Brazil under Postecoglou and Russia under Bert van Marwijk, and led the Australian under-23 men’s side to a inglorious group stage exit at the underage Asian championship last year. next year he will be able to ask for a significant wage rise as long as he continues his excellent form.
Last year he gathered 526 possessions and kicked 26 goals.
As a first-year player under the AFL CBA he earned $189,000 — a base wage of $85,000 plus $4000 a match and a games-based bonus of $12,000.
This year his base salary will be $120,000 plus $5000 match payments, with another $12,000 bonus for 11 of more matches, meaning he can earn $242,000 for a 22game season.
West Coast last year offered picks 20, 22 and a future-second rounder for Kelly but the Cats wanted a future first-rounder as well as those mid-20s picks.
Eagles list manager Brady Rawlings said posttrade the Eagles would not relent in their interest for Kelly.