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Champions build on strength with Socceroo signing
Tuesday, 20 February, 2007 - 3:08PM
Ljubo Milicevic in action for FC Thun against Arsenal.Melbourne Victory has moved immediately to bolster its Hyundai A-League Championship winning squad for the 2007/08 season, today announcing the capture of highly rated Qantas Socceroo Ljubo Milicevic.
Having spent five years abroad after scoring for Perth Glory in the 2000 NSL Grand Final, Milicevic will now rejoin his former coach at the VIS, Ernie Merrick. Merrick had hinted at a signing during Grand Final week, speaking of the need to continually improve.
“If you’re not improving, you’re going backwards,” Merrick said. “Ljubo is an outstanding player with excellent technical ability who will be a terrific addition to our squad. He’s a modern player with enough versatility to play in a variety of positions.”
Merrick was also quick to highlight Milicevic’s leadership qualities as a major factor in the decision to sign the 26-year-old.
“Ljubo has captained virtually every side he’s played with. He was set to captain Australia in the Olympics before he suffered an injury, and was the captain of his Swiss side BSC Young Boys before joining us. He is a composed and assured player who brings a level head, as well as an imposing physique, to our team.
“The opportunity to play in front of crowds of over 50,000 at Telstra Dome and to play in the Asian Champions League is certainly proving to be a great incentive for Australians overseas to consider a move back home.
"It’s such an exciting time for Australian football, and our ability to bring back a player of Ljubo’s calibre is a real feather in the cap, not just for Melbourne Victory, but for the Hyundai A-League.”
Milicevic has already experienced Champions League and UEFA Cup football in Europe, facing top sides Arsenal, Sparta Prague, Ajax Amsterdam, Dinamo Kiev and Malmo in his time at Swiss Superleague team FC Thun and Young Boys, marking the likes of Denis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry along the way.
Milicevic had been courted by a number of English Premier League teams before committing to Victory, but was unable to gain a work permit.
Tuesday, 20 February, 2007 - 3:08PM
Ljubo Milicevic in action for FC Thun against Arsenal.Melbourne Victory has moved immediately to bolster its Hyundai A-League Championship winning squad for the 2007/08 season, today announcing the capture of highly rated Qantas Socceroo Ljubo Milicevic.
Having spent five years abroad after scoring for Perth Glory in the 2000 NSL Grand Final, Milicevic will now rejoin his former coach at the VIS, Ernie Merrick. Merrick had hinted at a signing during Grand Final week, speaking of the need to continually improve.
“If you’re not improving, you’re going backwards,” Merrick said. “Ljubo is an outstanding player with excellent technical ability who will be a terrific addition to our squad. He’s a modern player with enough versatility to play in a variety of positions.”
Merrick was also quick to highlight Milicevic’s leadership qualities as a major factor in the decision to sign the 26-year-old.
“Ljubo has captained virtually every side he’s played with. He was set to captain Australia in the Olympics before he suffered an injury, and was the captain of his Swiss side BSC Young Boys before joining us. He is a composed and assured player who brings a level head, as well as an imposing physique, to our team.
“The opportunity to play in front of crowds of over 50,000 at Telstra Dome and to play in the Asian Champions League is certainly proving to be a great incentive for Australians overseas to consider a move back home.
"It’s such an exciting time for Australian football, and our ability to bring back a player of Ljubo’s calibre is a real feather in the cap, not just for Melbourne Victory, but for the Hyundai A-League.”
Milicevic has already experienced Champions League and UEFA Cup football in Europe, facing top sides Arsenal, Sparta Prague, Ajax Amsterdam, Dinamo Kiev and Malmo in his time at Swiss Superleague team FC Thun and Young Boys, marking the likes of Denis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry along the way.
Milicevic had been courted by a number of English Premier League teams before committing to Victory, but was unable to gain a work permit.
