Nicolas Milanovic

Nicolas Milanovic
Milanovic playing for Western Sydney Wanderers in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-11-14) 14 November 2001
Place of birth Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position Winger
Team information
Current team
 Western Sydney Wanderers
Number 14
Youth career
Sydney United 58
Western Sydney Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 St Albans Dinamo 3 (0)
2020–2023 Western United 36 (5)
2021–2023 Western United NPL 10 (6)
2023 Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 5 (4)
2023–2025 Western Sydney Wanderers 68 (24)
2025–2026 Aberdeen 15 (0)
2026– Western Sydney Wanderers 0 (0)
International career‡
2024 Australia U23 2 (0)
2025– Australia 2 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Australia
WAFF U-23 Championship
Runner-up2024
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 May 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 9 September 2025

Nicolas Milanovic (Croatian: [nǐkolas milǎnoʋitɕ] NEE-koh-lahs mee-LAH-no-vich; born 14 November 2001) is an Australian professional football player who plays as a winger for A-League Men club Western Sydney Wanderers and the Australia national team.

Club career

Western United

Milanovic began his professional career at Western United, joining the club in a COVID-19 pandemic enforced hub in New South Wales in 2020.[1] Milanovic made 36 appearances for Western United before departing the club mid-way through the 2022–23 season, citing his intention to return to Sydney.[2]

Western Sydney Wanderers

Within minutes of publicly departing Western United, it was announced that Milanovic had joined Western Sydney Wanderers.[3] Milanovic made his debut coming off the bench in a 0–1 loss to Sydney FC. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–3 loss to Melbourne City.

Having come off the bench in every game that he played in last season, Milanovic was handed a starting role for the Wanderers in the 2023–24 season playing in all but two matches as he was called up for Olyroos duty. Milanovic finished the season as the club's top scorer tied with Lachlan Brook, having both scored nine goals. Thanks to his good performances over the season, Milanovic signed a one-year contract extension with the Wanderers keeping him at the club until 2026, despite rumours of a transfer to Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.[4][5]

Nicolas Milanovic before his penalty to score a hat-trick.

On 8 September 2024, Milanovic scored his first professional hat-trick against the Newcastle Jets in a 4–1 win.[6] Milanovic finished the 2024–25 season as runner-up behind joint winners of the Golden Boot, kicking 12 goals for the season.[7]

Aberdeen

On 15 May 2025, Milanovic signed for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen for an undisclosed fee, reported to be the highest in Western Sydney's history.[8][9]

Return to Western Sydney Wanderers

On 24 July 2026, Milanovic returned to the Western Sydney Wanderers for an undisclosed fee.[10] His first appearance following his return came in the round of 16 of the Australia Cup against Melbourne Victory at Marconi Stadium. He came off the bench as a substitute for Miguel Di Pizio and scored an equaliser in extra time with a free kick, sending the match to a penalty shoot-out. Milanovic converted his penalty, but the Wanderers were defeated 3–2 on penalties.[11][12][13]

International career

In 2024, Milanovic made two appearances for Australia's under-23 team.

Shortly following his transfer to Aberdeen, Milanovic was included in Australia's training squad under coach Tony Popovic. The training camp in United Arab Emirates comes weeks before the final games of the third round of 2026 World Cup qualification.[14]

Milanovic was selected in the squad for the 2025 Soccer Ashes series against New Zealand. On 5 September 2025, he made his debut coming on as a substitute in the second half.[15]

Personal life

Born in Australia, Milanovic is of Croatian descent.[16]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 August 2026[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental[c] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Western Sydney Wanderers 2022–23 A-League Men 27500––275
2023–24 A-League Men 25920––279
2024–25 A-League Men 261232––2914
Total 782652––8328
Aberdeen 2025–26 Scottish Premiership 5000102080
Western Sydney Wanderers 2026–27 A-League Men 0 0 1 1 – – 1 1
Career total 83266310209229

International

As of match played 9 September 2025[17]
Appearances and goals by year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Australia U23 202330
Total30
Australia 202520
Total20

Honours

Australia U23

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Milanovic and Antelmi join Western United ahead of A-League restart". 17 July 2020.
  2. ↑ "Nicolas Milanovic departs Western United to return home". 7 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Milanovic signs for hometown club". 7 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Milanovic signs extension". 9 October 2024.
  5. ↑ Pisani, Sascha (20 November 2025). "Brilliant numbers shine light on young gun's compelling case for Socceroos call". aleagues.com.au.
  6. ↑ Guelas, Joanna (8 November 2024). "Milanovic hat-trick powers Wanderers to win over Jets". Canberra Times. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  7. ↑ Dodd, James (4 May 2025). "History made as young guns share Isuzu UTE A-League Golden Boot after record-breaking campaign". aleagues.com.au. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "Aberdeen sign 'exciting' Australian winger Milanovic". BBC. 15 May 2025.
  9. ↑ Dodd, James (16 May 2025). "Western Sydney Wanderers agree club-record transfer fee for Nicolas Milanovic: Full Details". aleagues.com.au.
  10. ↑ "Aberdeen sell Nicolas Milanovic back to Western Sydney Wanderers". BBC Sport. 24 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Victory become first 2026 club to reach QFs after dramatic shoot-out | Australia Cup". australiacup.com.au. 8 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Pinshaw, Antony (8 August 2026). "Victory progress from thrilling Australia Cup shootout after worldie free-kick from returned Wanderers star". Football360. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Penalty prowess puts Victory through to AUS Cup Quarter-Final". Melbourne Victory. 8 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Monteverde, Marco (16 May 2025). "Nicolas Milanovic among seven uncapped players in national training squad, but Adrian Segecic misses out". news.com.au.
  15. ↑ "CommBank Socceroos defeat New Zealand 1-0 in first leg of Soccer Ashes". Socceroos. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  16. ↑ Hughes, Nicholas (9 August 2022). "Nicolas Milanovic opens up on 'surreal' Sydney United reunion". Western United.
  17. 1 2 Nicolas Milanovic at Soccerway
  18. ↑ "Subway Olyroos' Head Coach, Tony Vidmar has named an extended 26-man squad for the fifth edition of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U-23 Championship – Saudi Arabia 2024". Football Federation Australia. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  19. ↑ Comito, Matt (27 May 2025). "Nicolas Milanovic wins Johnny Warren Medal after breakout campaign with the Wanderers". A-Leagues.
  20. ↑ "Five Grand Finalists named as PFA announces 2024-25 A-League Men Team of the Season". Professional Footballers Australia. 29 May 2025.
  21. ↑ "A-League All Stars Men lock in final 21-player squad to take on Newcastle United this Friday". A-League Men. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
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