Milicic draws up blueprint of Macarthur FC’s ideal marquee player

Inaugural Macarthur FC head coach Ante Milicic has outlined what he wants from the Bulls’ first marquee signing.

The current Westfield Matildas coach, who will take over the expansion club when the team from Sydney’s southwest enter the Hyundai A-League in 2020/21, is already laying out his plans.

The competition’s 12th club do not have any players under contract but Milicic, and assistant coach Ivan Jolic, are making progress in their pursuit of Macarthur FC’s foundation squad.

And Milicic described the kind of impact he would expect from the first star name that pulls on a black, white and ocre jersey.

“We have to look into what will attract interest, but for the right reasons,” Milicic told the club’s official Facebook page.

“We’ll speak with board when the time is right and we see what is available.

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“We have to look back over the history of the A-League and do our research on what works and what didn’t.

“That’s something as a club we’ll decide. It’s something that we won’t rush into.

“It’s something that we’re excited to add to the squad.

“Not only on the field, but developing young players, setting the culture.”

“[It needs to be] someone we can all learn from as a community, and a football club that is at the start.”

Macarthur FC chairman Rabieh Krayem has already promised to bring the noise to the Hyundai A-League when the newcomers run out at the Campbelltown Stadium to the clanging of cowbells.

And Milicic hinted that he will be seeking to forge a team in the image of ex-coaching ally and former Caltex Socceroos chief Ange Postecoglou’s aggressive, attacking playing style.

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“People that have followed my career as a coach understand the way I see the game, the way I like football to be played,” Milicic said.

“[I’m] heavily influenced from my time working with Ange [Postecoglu].

“I really want to be a possession-based team, fairly aggressive, playing with an attacking style of football.

“At the same time, we have to find the balance, looking to win games and going to games well prepared.

“More importantly, [we need] to have a team that the community is proud of. A team that they want to support, that they want to follow.

“They understand how much it means to have a professional club in their area. 

“We have to work together to maximise this opportunity.”

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Before you can game-plan to take on the other 11 teams in the Hyundai A-League, of course, first you need players.

With the clock ticking and less than 12 months until the start of the 2020/21 campaign, Milicic is confident that it is all coming together.

“We’ve already started identifying players,” Milicic said.

“With the technology that is available, [we’re] watching games, getting in touch with players and meeting, looking at what kind of players will fit into our playing style.

“It is slightly early days but we really want to be prepared in this department because it’s very important for us.

“That process has already begun both here domestically and abroad so we’re well advanced.”