Zoran Milinković (footballer)

Zoran Milinković (Serbian Cyrillic: Зоран Милинковић; born 18 July 1968) is a Serbian football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Saudi club Al-Ain.

Zoran Milinković
Personal information
Date of birth (1968-07-18) 18 July 1968 (age 55)
Place of birthBelgrade, SFR Yugoslavia
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)Defender
Team information
Current team
Al-Ain (manager)
Youth career
1975–1977TEK Sloga Veliki Crljeni
1977–1987Partizan
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1987–1989Mladost Petrinja
1990Partizan2(0)
1991Vojvodina10(0)
1991–1992Mogren25(6)
1992–1993Borac Banja Luka
1993–1994Radnički Niš31(5)
1994Kispest-Honvéd13(1)
1995Tosu Futures25(4)
1996Waregem13(1)
1996–1998Nice63(2)
1998–1999Hansa Rostock6(0)
1999–2001Anorthosis Famagusta40(3)
2001–2002Doxa Katokopia8(0)
Managerial career
2004Obilić
2005–2008BSK Borča
2008Kolubara
2009Srem
2009–2010Spartak Subotica
2010–2011Vojvodina
2012Spartak Subotica
2012–2013OFK Beograd
2013Aris Thessaloniki
2014–2015Voždovac
2015Partizan
2016Anorthosis
2017Borac Banja Luka
2018Rad
2019–2020Kolubara
2020–2021Kolubara
2021Borac Banja Luka
2021–2022Radnički 1923
2022Napredak Kruševac
2022–2023Al-Nasr Benghazi
2023–Al-Ain
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career edit

Milinković came through the youth system of Partizan, before starting his senior career at lower league club Mladost Petrinja. He returned to Partizan and made two league appearances during the first part of the 1990–91 season, before moving to Vojvodina. Milinković also played for Mogren, Borac Banja Luka, Radnički Niš, Kispest-Honvéd, Tosu Futures, Waregem, Nice, Hansa Rostock, Anorthosis Famagusta and Doxa Katokopia.

Managerial career edit

Milinković started his managerial career as an assistant manager to Ratko Dostanić at Obilić during the 2002–03 season, before they both left and took up identical roles at Sartid Smederevo ahead of the 2003–04 season. He was appointed as the manager of Obilić in August 2004,[1] but was released after only two months.[2] He then became the manager of BSK Borča, having a lot of success in the following three seasons. He left the club before they made their Serbian SuperLiga debut. After leaving BSK Borča, Milinković had unassuming brief spells at Kolubara and Srem.[3]

In the summer of 2009, he was appointed manager of newly promoted SuperLiga club Spartak Subotica. He also worked at Vojvodina, OFK Beograd, Aris Thessaloniki and Voždovac.

Partizan edit

On 25 March 2015, Milinković was named manager of FK Partizan after Marko Nikolić was sacked.[4] On 4 April 2015, he made his debut on the bench of Partizan in a 2–1 home win against Radnički Kragujevac. In the spring part of the 2014–15 season, Milinković has returned the title of champion of Serbia to Partizan, which was last season won by Red Star Belgrade. Milinković enrolled 7 wins with Partizan in the Serbian SuperLiga in the spring part of the 2014–15 season and three draws, while in the Serbian Cup he enrolled one win and one defeat.

He began the 2015–16 season in a win over Dila Gori in the second qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League on 14 July 2015. In the Serbian SuperLiga he also had a great start, defeating Metalac Gornji Milanovac 4–0, while in the second round Partizan won against Jagodina 6–0. On 5 August 2015, Milinković and his squad won against Romanian champions Steaua București in the second leg of the third qualifying round for the Champions League and so qualified Partizan to the Champions League qualifying play-off. The last time that Partizan qualified to the Champions League play-off was when it was led by Aleksandar Stanojević in the summer of 2010.

On 26 August 2015, Milinković's Partizan was defeated by BATE Borisov and as a result entered the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.

Al-Ain edit

On 9 November 2023, Milinković was appointed as head coach of Saudi club Al-Ain.[5]

Honours edit

Manager edit

Partizan

References edit

  1. ^ "Bozovic bows out at Obilic". uefa.com. 8 August 2004. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Milinković napustio Obilić" (in Serbian). b92.net. 23 October 2004. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  3. ^ PLS: Srem brzo našao novog trenera
  4. ^ Soccer-Partizan name Milinkovic as coach to replace Nikolic
  5. ^ "إدارة نادي #العين تنهي إجراءات التعاقد مع المدرب الصربي زوران ميلينكوفيتش".

External links edit