Nenad Milijaš
Serbian footballer (born 1983)
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Nenad Milijaš (Serbian: Ненад Милијаш, pronounced [něnad mîlijaʃ]; born 30 April 1983) is a Serbian former footballer who played as a midfielder. He represented Serbia at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nenad Milijaš | ||
| Date of birth | 30 April 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | TSC (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–2000 | Zemun | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2005 | Zemun | 129 | (17) |
| 2006–2009 | Red Star Belgrade | 97 | (37) |
| 2009–2012 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 62 | (4) |
| 2012–2014 | Red Star Belgrade | 58 | (20) |
| 2014–2015 | Manisaspor | 18 | (7) |
| 2015–2016 | Hebei China Fortune | 29 | (13) |
| 2016–2017 | Nei Mongol Zhongyou | 27 | (3) |
| 2017–2019 | Red Star Belgrade | 46 | (0) |
| Total | 466 | (101) | |
| International career | |||
| 2008–2011 | Serbia | 25 | (4) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2019–2023 | Red Star Belgrade (assistant) | ||
| 2023–2026 | Red Star Belgrade (youth) | ||
| 2026– | TSC | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Milijaš began his career with FK Zemun before moving to Red Star Belgrade, where he won league and cup honours. Having gained individual awards for his performances at Red Star Belgrade, Milijaš broke into the Serbian national side in 2008. He signed for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2009, before returning to his former club twice in 2012 and 2017.
Club career
Early career in Serbia
Milijaš began his playing career in the youth ranks of Belgrade-based FK Zemun, where he progressed through to make it into their first team in 2000. He really began to establish himself in the middle of the park during the 2001–02 season and was a vital player for the club over the following seasons. In the 2005–06 season, he had his best goal-scoring start to a season, netting eight times by Christmas. This attracted attention from the country's biggest club and local rival, Red Star Belgrade.[2]
Following his continuous impressive form for FK Zemun, Milijaš signed for Red Star Belgrade in January 2006. He ended his first season with Belgrade by winning both the Serbian Superliga and Serbian Cup with his new club. Milijaš won both trophies again with Red Star Belgrade the following season. He found appearances restricted by then-coach Dusan Bajević, but gained more playing time with the arrival of Boško Djurovski as the club's then-new coach. Milijaš was later promoted to the first team as a central midfielder for the following seasons, becoming a key member of the team as they went close to more domestic honours and regularly competing in European competitions. In the 2008–09 Serbian Superliga, he became Red Star Belgrade's top goalscorer with 18 league goals, 22 goals in all competitions, making him Serbian football's leading scorer in that season. Milijaš also won the league's Most Valuable Player Award, was voted into the All Star Team, named 2008–09 Serbian Superliga Player of the Year, and broke into the Serbia national football team. This form attracted attention from various clubs in Europe.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
On 15 June 2009, Milijaš signed for newly-promoted Premier League club Wolverhampton Wonderers on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee, approximately £2.6 million.[3] He made his debut in August during the club's 2–0 opening day defeat against West Ham, in which he was voted Sky Sports' man of the match.[4] Milijaš scored his first goal for Wolves with a long-distance strike to earn a 2–1 home victory against Bolton in December 2009;[5] before netting a second and final goal for the season against Burnley two weeks later.[6]
Milijaš made twenty appearances in the Premier League in the 2010–11 season, scoring twice. He also matched that tally in the League Cup, scoring two penalties against Southend and Notts County.[7][8] In a 3–3 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur, Milijaš created two goals by assisting Kevin Doyle's opening goal, and then winning a penalty for a second Doyle goal.[9] He was also featured in the team's victory at Aston Villa as Wolves almost stayed up on the final day of the season.
Milijaš made only sporadic appearances during the next season, but became a starter in November and December. However, this was halted when he was sent off in a 1–1 draw against Arsenal for a challenge on Mikel Arteta in December 2011.[10] Wolves made an appeal to have this red card rescinded, including a unique press conference by then-manager Mick McCarthy who showed slow motion replays from a number of angles, but the appeal was unsuccessful and the three-match ban was upheld.[11] Following this dismissal he only made several substitute appearances in the final months as the club were relegated under caretaker manager Terry Connor.[citation needed]
Following the appointment of Ståle Solbakken as coach of Wolves at the end of season, it was announced that Milijaš was available for transfer, having expressed a desire to play more regularly.[12] On 30 August, his contract was terminated by mutual consent, allowing him to find a new club.[13]
Return to Red Star Belgrade
On 31 August 2012, one day after his departure from Wolves, Milijaš rejoined his former club Red Star Belgrade when he signed a three-year deal.[14] He scored his first goal against Radnički Kragujevac 1923 from a free-kick. On 13 April 2013, Milijaš scored a hat-trick against Spartak Subotica.[15]
Later career
On 16 February 2015, Milijaš transferred to China League One club Hebei China Fortune.[16] On 14 February 2016, he transferred to fellow Nei Mongol Zhongyou of the same league.[17]
On 31 January 2017, Milijaš rejoined his club Red Star Belgrade for a third time, this time on a half-year contract. An avid Red Star fan, he once again proved loyalty to his club and fans.[18] The same year in April, Milijaš played his 200th match for Red Star Belgrade in a 2–1 league victory against Spartak Subotica.[19]
On 19 May 2019, Milijaš played his last match for Red Star in a 3–0 victory against Napredak.[20] For nine years in Red Star, he played 170 matches, scored 49 goals and had 38 assists. Milijaš also won four trophies, with all four being Serbian SuperLiga in 2006–07, 2013–14, 2017–18, and 2018–19 seasons.
International career
Milijaš represented Serbia and Montenegro at under-21 level, being part of the team which made the semi-finals of the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Portugal.[citation needed]
On 6 September 2008, Milijaš made his full international debut for Serbia in a 2–0 victory against the Faroe Islands in a World Cup 2010 qualifier.[citation needed] He scored his first international goal in his fourth appearance, a 6–1 friendly victory against Bulgaria on 19 November 2008.[citation needed] Milijaš added his first competitive goal when he netted the winning goal from the penalty spot to defeat Austria 1–0 on 6 June 2009.[citation needed] This qualification campaign led Serbia to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa as an independent nation, with Milijaš being a regular central midfielder and usually paired with captain Dejan Stanković.[citation needed]
In June 2010, Milijaš was selected in Serbia's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup,[21] where he appeared in group stage match against Ghana. He earned a total of 25 caps, scoring four goals.[22] and his final international was an October 2011 European Championship qualification match away against Slovenia.[23]
Managerial career
Milijaš was appointed assistant coach of Red Star Belgrade in 2019.[24]
Personal life
In 2010, Milijaš married his long-time girlfriend, volleyball player Ksenija Cicvarić.[25]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Zemun | 1999–00 | First League of Serbia and Montenegro | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2000–01 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||||
| 2001–02 | 26 | 1 | — | — | 26 | 1 | ||||||
| 2002–03 | 27 | 2 | — | — | 27 | 2 | ||||||
| 2003–04 | 27 | 3 | — | — | 27 | 3 | ||||||
| 2004–05 | 22 | 3 | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||||||
| 2005–06 | 15 | 8 | — | — | 15 | 8 | ||||||
| Total | 129 | 17 | — | — | 129 | 17 | ||||||
| Red Star Belgrade | 2005–06 | First League of Serbia and Montenegro | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | |
| 2006–07 | Serbian SuperLiga | 25 | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | 4 | 0 | 34 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 1 | — | 10 | 1 | 42 | 12 | |||
| 2008–09 | 33 | 18 | 4 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 39 | 23 | |||
| Total | 97 | 37 | 14 | 5 | — | 16 | 3 | 127 | 45 | |||
| Wolverhampton | 2009–10 | Premier League | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
| 2010–11 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 5 | ||
| 2011–12 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | ||
| Total | 62 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 9 | ||
| Red Star Belgrade | 2012–13 | Serbian SuperLiga | 26 | 9 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 29 | 9 | |
| 2013–14 | 29 | 8 | 3 | 1 | — | 4 | 0 | 36 | 9 | |||
| 2014–15 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |||
| Total | 58 | 20 | 6 | 1 | — | 4 | 0 | 68 | 21 | |||
| Manisaspor | 2014–15 | TFF 1. Lig | 18 | 7 | 5 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 23 | 8 | |
| Hebei China Fortune | 2015 | China League One | 29 | 13 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 13 | ||
| Nei Mongol Zhongyou | 2016 | China League One | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 3 | ||
| Red Star Belgrade | 2016–17 | Serbian SuperLiga | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2018–19 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |||
| Total | 46 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | 55 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 466 | 101 | 35 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 4 | 531 | 118 | ||
International
| Serbia national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2008 | 5 | 1 |
| 2009 | 9 | 2 |
| 2010 | 6 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 |
| Total | 25 | 4 |
International goals
- Scores and results list Serbia's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 November 2008 | Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia |  Bulgaria | 5–1 | 6–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 6 June 2009 | Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia |  Austria | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2010 World Cup qualifier |
| 3 | 9 September 2009 | Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia |  France | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2010 World Cup qualifier |
| 4 | 4 June 2010 | Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia |  Cameroon | 3–2 | 4–3 | Friendly |
Managerial statistics
- As of 19 August 2026
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Red Star Belgrade (youth) | 24 July 2023 | 9 June 2026 | 159 | 125 | 22 | 12 | 78.62 | |
| TSC | 10 June 2026 | Pressent | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50.00 | |
| Total | 163 | 127 | 24 | 12 | 77.91 | — | ||
Honours
Red Star Belgrade
Individual
- Serbian SuperLiga Player of the Season: 2008–09
- Serbian SuperLiga Team of the Season: 2008–09
