Wikipedia

Jovica Milijić

Jovica Milijić (Serbian Cyrillic: Јовица Милијић; born 20 January 1986[1]) is a Serbian-born Maltese futsal player, currently playing for Valletta, the reigning champions of Maltese Futsal League. In 2017 he won the Malta Football Association's futsal player of the year.[2]

Jovica Milijić
Personal information
Full name Jovica Milijić
Date of birth (1986-01-20) 20 January 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Knjaževac, then SFR Yugoslavia, now Serbia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Fixo
Team information
Current team
 Valletta
Number 5
Youth career
? – 1999 Timočanin
2000–2004 Pietà
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 European Pilot Academy
2007–2009 Aluserv
2008 Scandals (loan)
2009 White Eagles
2009–2011 Paola Downtown
2011–2012 Naxxar Motors
2012–2013 Lija Athletic
2013–2014 Balzan
2014–15 Hamrun Spartans
2015–22 Valletta
2022–23 Bormla
2023– ZRQ Bormla
International career‡
2013– Malta 19 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 March 2018
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 March 2018

Football career

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Milijić made his first football steps with Timočanin in mid-1990s, becoming a member of the promising generation together with the brothers Marinković, Nebojša and Nenad.

Soon after family relocation to Malta in 1999, he joined Pietà Hotspurs, a Maltese club famous for producing talented footballers in its youth school.

Futsal career

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European Pilot Academy

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The first touch with futsal Milijić had in the jersey of European Pilot Academy's futsal club (formerly known as Serbia) [3] where he won his first trophy - Maltese Futsal Knockout Cup for the season 2006/07.[4] Also, Milijić was close to win his first championship as that season European Pilot Academy was a point behind the title winner Jeepers Handyman Centre.[5]

Aluserv Futsal Club

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After a successful debutant season, Milijić joined newly promoted futsal top tier Aluserv.[6] The team that were made for an instant success won the league and cup [7] but were defeated in the play-off semi-final,[8] just like in the season 2008–09.[9]

Scandals

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During August 2008, Milijić was loaned to Scandals Futsal Club [it] and his international competition debut was at 2008–09 UEFA Futsal Cup preliminary round against the Slovenian 2008 champion KMN Gorica [it] on 23 August 2008. The match was played in Helsinki and Scandals were heavily defeated (0-11).[10] Milijić was also on the pitch in the other two games but Scandals couldn't avoid another two losses against the Finnish champion Golden (2-6) [11] and Irish side St Patrick's (3-4). In the match against the Irish League's representative, with Milijić in the starting lineup, Scandals missed a huge opportunity after leading (2-1 and 3-2) to win the first point for any Maltese club in a UEFA futsal competition. [12]

White Eagles

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During the summer break, Milijić decided to sign a short-term contract for White Eagles, the club of a large Serbian diaspora in the island. The contract was valid only for the Preliminary round of the 2009-10 UEFA Futsal Cup held in August 2009 in Kaunas, the capital of Lithuania.

Maltese side White Eagles equalized three times before finally going down 4-3 to KF Tirana, hat-trick hero Rigers Sina grabbing the winner with five minutes remaining.[13]

In the match against Nautara [it] Milijic scored the first goal.[14] [15]

Paola Downtown

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During his stay in Paola Downtown, Milijić was named for the top scorer of 2010-11 Maltese Futsal First Division with 42 goals,[16] nine goals ahead the second-placed Clint Cope from ZC Excess.[17] The same season he was nominated for the best futsal player but the award went into the hands of the Romanian Anton Florin.[18] The club from Paola finished both seasons as the league vice-champion but the 2010 play-off and both cup competitions ended in the semi-finals. At the end of Milijić's last season in the club, in a thrilling final, ZC Excess edged out Paola Downtownon penalties after 2-2 in the regular time. [19]

Naxxar Motors

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After a disappointing season, in 2011 Milijic decided to accept an offer from Naxxar Motors. The ambitious club representing Naxxar, a small town in the Northern Region, had acquired a host of leading players. [20] After the round-robin series of matches in the ten-team MFA 1st Division Futsal League, Naxxar Motors finished second, just a single point behind ZC Excess.[21]

In the semi-finals, Paola Downtown, Milijić's previous club, was swept by Naxxar Motors (6-5 and 3-2). However, in the finals, ZC Excess won the trophy edging Naxxar in the second game (2-2, 4-2 after penalties) after the previous win in the first leg (5-3).[22]

Lija Athletics

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Before the start of the 2012/13 season, Lija Athletic replaced Naxxar Motors and Milijić became a captain of the newly formed club. He even scored a hattrick on his debut against Valletta (7-1).[23] Although Lija Athletic had the highest ambitions, the cup journey was ended yet in the quarter-final and play-off was missed, for the first time in Milijić's career.[24][25]

Balzan

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Next season Milijić changed Lija Athletics for Balzan[26] and the first trophy came soon after. Hibernians was heavily defeated (5-1) with Milijić among the scorers.[27] That was the introduction in a very successful season where Balzan won all possible trophies.[citation needed]

Hamrun Spartans

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Valletta

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Milijić joined Valletta FC Futsal in June 2015 as an experienced player that has won every possible honor. [28] He was a key figure in Valletta's march to the national title.[29] His best game in the regular part of the season was in March in a derby against his ex-club Lija Athletic, when he scored four goals in a 7–4 win.[30] During the first season with Valletta he scored 18 goals in the Gatorade Futsal League.[31] Next season Milijić added 21 goals.[32]

Malta national futsal team

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In 2012 Milijić became a naturalized Maltese citizen and soon after started playing for the national futsal team. He had a debut in a heavy defeat against Georgia (0-9) in UEFA Futsal Euro 2014 qualifying at home ground in Paola, Malta on January 23, 2013.[33] He was also in the starting line up against Moldova recording one more loss (1-4).[34]

In 2014 Malta played only friendly games, three of them against Gibraltar (3-4,[35] 4-2[36] and 1-0[37]) and Serbia (1-4[38]), Milijić participated in all of them scoring two goals and a few more times he was close to score hitting only the post, most notably against his homeland Serbia.

Next year Malta participated in the qualification for Euro 2016 and then the qualification for World Cup. The team lost all six games, three in each tournament, by the order: England (0-3[39]), Andorra (0-4[40]), Latvia (0-8[41]), then France (2-8[42]), Lithuania (1-2[43]) and Albania (3-6[44]). Milijić took a part in all matches and scored in the last two.

Between two tournaments, Malta went to San Marino and recorded two wins (5-1 and 5-3)[45] with Milijić in the squad. He earned two more caps next year against the same national team, this time in Paola (4-0[46] and 2-2[47]).

At the beginning of the last year, with Milijić in the starting five, Malta lost all three games in UEFA Futsal Euro 2018 qualifying tournament held in Bulgaria, against England (1-6[48]), Bulgaria (1-6[49]) and Albania (2-3[50]).

Since his debut five years ago, Milijić has not missed any national team match, recording 19 caps and 4 goals in total.

International caps

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National team Year Competitive Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Malta 2013 2 0 0 0 2 0
2014 0 0 4 2 4 2
2015 6 2 2 0 8 2
2016 0 0 2 0 2 0
2017 3 0 0 0 3 0
Total 11 2 8 2 19 4

International goals

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Scores and results list Malta's goal tally first

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 9 January 2014 Tercentenary Sports Centre, Gibraltar   Gibraltar
1–1
3–4
 Friendly
2 11 January 2014 Tercentenary Sports Centre, Gibraltar   Gibraltar
3–1
4-2
 Friendly
3 23 October 2015 Kaunas Sports Hall, Kaunas, Lithuania   Lithuania
1–0
1–2
 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualification (UEFA)
4 25 October 2015 Kaunas Sports Hall, Kaunas, Lithuania   Scotland
3–6
3–6

Personal life

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Besides his mother tongue, Serbian, Milijić speaks four other languages: English, Maltese, Italian and Russian.

Honours

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Club

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European Pilot Academy

Aluserv

Naxxar Motors

Paola Downtown

Balzan

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "Night to remember for Milijic". fma.com.mt (in Maltese). Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  2. ^ "Hibernians midfielder Bjorn Kristensen wins MFA Footballer of the Year award". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  3. ^ "Maltese Futsal League is over". futsalplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  4. ^ "MLT Futsal Cup 06-07". futsalplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  5. ^ "MLT Futsal Play-Off 06-07". futsalplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  6. ^ "MLT First Division 07-08 Aluserv". futsalplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  7. ^ "MLT Futsal Play-Off 07-08". futsalplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  8. ^ "MLT Futsal Play-Off 07-08". futsalplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  9. ^ "MLT Futsal Play-Off 08-09". futsalplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  10. ^ "Quick Profile". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  11. ^ "Golden vs. Scandals". uefa.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  12. ^ "St Patrick's vs. Scandals". uefa.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  13. ^ "Allstars fail to match Nautara pace". uefa.com/. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  14. ^ "UEFA FUTSAL CUP". almis.sritis.lt/. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  15. ^ "Nikars and Omonia go through". uefa.com/. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  16. ^ "Roderick Briffa wins Footballer of the Year Award". www.maltatoday.com.mt. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  17. ^ "Winners of Best Players, Fair Play awards announced". maltafootball.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  18. ^ "Finalists announced for the GO Malta Football Awards - 10th edition". sportinmalta.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  19. ^ "ZC Excess down Paola in thriller to keep title". www.timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  20. ^ "Naxxar Motors aiming high in futsal league". timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  21. ^ "MFA FUTSAL 1ST DIVISION LEAGUE". mfa.com.mt. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  22. ^ "MLT Futsal Play-Off 11-12". old.futsalplanet.com/. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  23. ^ "Title hopefuls Lija, Hibs make flying start". timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  24. ^ "Maltese Futsal First Division 2012/13". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  25. ^ "MLT FMA Futsal Cup 12-13". futsalplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  26. ^ "FMA Super Cup Final". fma.com.mt. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  27. ^ "Balzan Super Cup Winners". fma.com.mt. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  28. ^ "Id-difensur internazzjonali Malti Jovica Milijic jingħaqad ma' Valletta Futsal". netnews.com.mt (in Maltese). Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  29. ^ "Night to remember for Milijic". fma.com.mt (in Maltese). Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  30. ^ "Four goal Milijic steals the show, Vital win for Sirens". fma.com.mt (in Maltese). Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  31. ^ "Night to remember for Milijic". fma.com.mt (in Maltese). Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  32. ^ "Top Scorers 2016-17" (PDF). fma.com.mt (in Maltese). Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  33. ^ "Quick Profile". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  34. ^ "Moldova-Malta 4-1". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  35. ^ "Gibraltar upset Malta". fma.com.mt. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  36. ^ "Malta wins in Gibraltar". fma.com.mt. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  37. ^ "Malta brimming with pride after Gibraltar win". fma.com.mt. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  38. ^ "Serbia beat host team Malta in the inaugural match". fma.com.mt. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  39. ^ "Malta-England 0-3". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  40. ^ "Malta-Andora 0-4". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  41. ^ "Malta-Latvia 0-8". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  42. ^ "Malta-France 2-8". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  43. ^ "Lithuania-Malta 2-1". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  44. ^ "Malta-Albania 3-6". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  45. ^ "AMICHEVOLI INTERNAZIONALI NAZIONALE FUTSAL SAN MARINO – MALTA". fsgc.sm (in Italian). Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  46. ^ "FUTSAL – AMICHEVOLE INTERNAZIONALE CON MALTA". fsgc.sm (in Italian). Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  47. ^ "NAZIONALE FUTSAL AMICHEVOLE MALTA – SAN MARINO 2-2". fsgc.sm (in Italian). Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  48. ^ "England-Malta 6-1". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  49. ^ "Bulgaria-Malta 6-1". uefa.com. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  50. ^ "Malta-Albania 2-3". Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  51. ^ "MLT Futsal Cup 06-07". futsalplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
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