Ante Milicic joins Socceroos

FFA has today announced former Socceroo Ante Milicic as an Assistant Coach to Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou for the next three years.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) has today announced former Socceroo Ante Milicic as an Assistant Coach to Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou for the next three years.

Milicic joins Postecoglou-s staff after stints as an assistant coach with the Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Heart in the Hyundai A-League, the Australian Institute of Sport and as Head Coach of Sydney United in the NSW Premier League.

“I-m honoured to have been handed such a tremendous opportunity to work as an assistant coach with the Socceroos,” Milicic said. “As a former Socceroo I am passionate about the National team and I look forward to the challenge.

“I-m excited to be able to work with Ange, especially with the World Cup coming up as well as the Asian Cup in Australia and with so many talented players starting to break through.

“I-ve had a good apprenticeship under John van-t Schip and Poppa (Tony Popovic) as well as the 2009 and 2011 U20 World Cups as an assistant to Jan Versleijen and I-m looking forward to continuing that under Ange.

“I-d also like to thank the Western Sydney Wanderers for allowing me to take this opportunity and I am determined to finish the A-League season with the same passion and dedication I will take to the National Team.”

Milicic will remain with the Western Sydney Wanderers through until the end of the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season but will join Postecoglou for the Socceroos clash with Ecuador in London on March 5.

“I-m delighted that Ante Milicic will be coming on board as an assistant coach with the Socceroos,” Postecoglou said. “One of my priorities after becoming National Team Head Coach was to secure quality staff to help drive the Socceroos and Ante is a driven coach who will fit into our environment.

“I wanted the best people to come in and contribute to the growth and success of the National Team and I-m confident Ante will add further expertise to our existing staff.

“Ante has experience at domestic (Hyundai A-League) level and International level with both senior and junior National teams and will play a part in an exciting new era as we look to build the next golden generation of Australian footballers.

“I-d like to take this opportunity to thank Western Sydney Wanderers for their cooperation to ensure I was able to appoint the people I thought were best for the job.”

Western Sydney Wanderers Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman supported Milicic in his decision and wished him well: “Our club is fully supportive and excited about Ante-s appointment to this prestigious role,” Gorman said.

“A part of our commitment at the Wanderers is to provide an environment that fosters ambition for everyone associated with the club and that encourages and supports each individual to maximize their career aspirations and opportunities.

“The role of assistant coach of the Socceroos is a tremendous professional and career development opportunity for Ante and we wish him well, safe in the knowledge that should the time come in the future for him to return to a coaching role in the Hyundai A-League it will be with our club.”

Aurelio Vidmar will also remain as Assistant Coach for the Socceroos and continue with his duties as Head Coach of the Olyroos (National U23 team).

The Socceroos v Ecuador match kicks off at 8pm (7am AEDT on 6 March) and will be broadcast LIVE and Exclusive on Fox Sports 3, including a 30-minute pre match show from 6.30am.