Latest news with #Milanovic
Press and Journal
3 days ago
- Business
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin issues 'more steps being taken' summer transfer window vow
Boss Jimmy Thelin insists plans are in place to ensure Aberdeen deliver a bright future by building on the Scottish Cup glory. The Dons ended a 35-year Scottish Cup drought when lifting the trophy at Hampden by overcoming Celtic in the final. Thelin has wasted no time in strengthening his Scottish Cup-winning squad – with two signings already confirmed. Australians Nicolas Milanovic and Nick Suman will both join the Dons in the summer, having agreed pre-contracts. Recently-crowned A-League player of the year Milanovic was snapped up for a fee of around £400,000 from Western Sydney Wanderers. Winger Milanovic, 23, will move to Pittodrie on a three-year deal, with the Dons holding the option to extend that to a fourth year. Milanovic was recently on international duty with the Australia squad at a training camp in Abu Dhabi, having received a debut senior call-up. Keeper Suman, 25, will join the Dons upon the expiry of his current deal with Cove Rangers later this month. Aberdeen beat off interest from Hibs, Dundee United and Motherwell to land the former Australia under-23 international. Thelin will use the summer transfer window to build a squad capable of balancing European league action and domestic commitments. Aberdeen will enter the Europa League play-off stage next season. Even if the Reds lose the play-off, they have the safety net of dropping down into the Conference League. Chairman Dave Cormack has vowed to back Thelin during the summer window. Talks with multiple transfer targets are at an advanced stage. Thelin said: 'There's a lot happening now which is good for the future. 'There are a lot of good foundations here which make it possible for Aberdeen to be the big club in Scottish football that we are. 'There are more steps being taken.' As Thelin and his recruitment team work on landing new signings, there have also been departures from Pittodrie. Aberdeen recently confirmed the exit of 12 players. Leaving the club were, Jack MacKenzie, who has joined Plymouth Argyle, and Celtic-bound keeper Ross Doohan. Republic of Ireland international midfielder Jamie McGrath has signed a pre-contract with Hibernian. Loan players Kevin Nisbet (Millwall), Oday Dabbagh (Charleroi), Jeppe Okkels (Preston NE) and Alfie Dorrington (Tottenham Hotspur) all return to their parent clubs. Third-choice keeper Tom Ritchie has also left, as have youth team players Fraser Mackie, Blair McKenzie, Victor Enem and Evan Towler. Thelin is now enjoying a well-earned break after securing Aberdeen's first silverware since 2014. He is delighted with the way the squad embraced his footballing philosophy during a memorable first season. Thelin said: 'The players adapted more and more to what we want to achieve and how we work. That was shown in their intensity and how they pushed themselves more and more. 'Always, when you have a new staff, things change, and it takes time, but you could see the players have their team goals. 'There are those progressions.' Thelin is set to enter his third transfer window as Aberdeen manager. His bid to sign players will be boosted by the lure of European league football. The draw for the Europa League play-off will be made on August 4 with the ties played on August 21 and 28. Thelin was initially confirmed as Aberdeen manager on April 16 last year having agreed to sign on at the Dons from Elfsborg. However, he remained at the Allsvenskan side until the Swedish mid-season break, officially starting at Pittodrie in early June. Thelin said: 'It has been a long season, but I have to say it has gone very quickly. 'I started in Elfsborg and I did the pre-season there, then six months before coming to Aberdeen. 'So for a year-and-a-half I have been working through a lot of windows, but it has all happened so quickly it feels like yesterday. 'I have to say I am in a really good position with the opportunity I've had coming here.'
Press and Journal
4 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Paul Third: Busy summer ahead for Aberdeen ahead of return to European football
Aberdeen fans are still basking in the warm afterglow of Scottish Cup glory but the Dons are wasting little time in building on their Hampden success. The celebrations have carried on all week as fans revel in one social media montage after another. There is little sign of cup fatigue settling, but then that should not come as a surprise given it has been 35 years since the trophy last resided proudly in the Granite City. But at Pittodrie, while manager Jimmy Thelin and his players take a break from training and matches, the work on strengthening the squad is never done. Nicolas Milanovic was already on board before the Dons reached Hampden for the final against Celtic. But in the days which have followed the club's glorious win, there is a real sense of excitement about what the winger is going to bring to the club. Since signing for Aberdeen the 23-year-old has been elevated to the Australia national team and been crowned the A League player of the year after scoring 12 goals and contributing six assists in 23 games for Western Sydney Wanderers. If he can maintain that sort of return in the red shirt of Aberdeen then Milanovic is going to be a very exciting addition to Scottish football next season. Milanovic isn't the only only Aussie heading to the Dons, as Nick Suman will make the much shorter journey across the city from Cove Rangers when he joins up for pre-season training at the end of the month. Goalkeeper Suman was a standout performer for Paul Hartley's side in his two years at Balmoral Stadium, and it is no surprise to see him move to a Premiership club. His performances for Cove led to strong interest with Motherwell and Dundee United also interested in his services before Aberdeen won the race for the shot-stopper. So that's two in, and 12 out so far at Pittodrie since the season drew to a close. The number of new arrivals will increase further in the weeks ahead but it will not be a surprise if the departure list also expands beyond the current departing dozen announced last week. It is clear this is going to be a very busy transfer window for Aberdeen this summer. It has to be if the Dons are to juggle the demands of European football and domestic action next season. Scottish Cup glory has bought Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin valuable time in that regard with the Europa League play-off draw not taking place until August 4 while the ties will be played on August 21 and 28 respectively. But Aberdeen, and Hearts last season for that matter, have found the going really tough in handling those Thursday night challenges against Continental opposition then having to roll their sleeves up for the domestic grind. It's no coincidence both clubs failed to make the top six in the seasons where they've had extended runs in Europe. We will see how much has been learned from that experience at Pittodrie in the 2023-24 season. But we know this much – more depth, and quality, is absolutely vital. In Milanovic and Suman, Aberdeen are off to go a good start as both players possess those characteristics. But Aberdeen need more. Much more.
The Advertiser
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Milanovic rolls dice on club move for World Cup glory
Former Western Sydney star Nicolas Milanovic is well aware a move overseas is a gamble that might not pay off. But the newly-minted Johnny Warren Medallist likes his chances. With the FIFA World Cup slated for June next year, Aberdeen-bound Milanovic has already taken steps to impress Socceroos boss Tony Popovic. The winger earned his first call-up to a national team training camp off the back of a stand-out A-League Men season that yielded 12 goals and six assists for the Wanderers. A move overseas has often stymied the rise of domestic stars and their hopes for a Socceroos spot, but Milanovic is confident he won't be another cautionary tale. The 23-year-old believes he's ready to test his mettle against some of Europe's best after resisting the urge to move prematurely last year. "I wanted to be the best in the league before I went," Milanovic said on Wednesday from the Socceroos training camp in Abu Dhabi. "Playing two consecutive full seasons, it's given me a lot of match experience to move on to Aberdeen and hopefully get a spot there as well as playing every week. "I've got a very, very close relationship with my father and last year he told me, 'go overseas' because it's both of our goals. "I want to be at the World Cup. That's a major goal of mine. That's the number one long-term goal that I've had for a few years now and I'm chipping away at it. "(To) be the Johnny Warren winner - that solidified in my mind that I could go overseas and try. "And as soon as I was on the roll and I was confident this season, I said to my family, to my agent and to my friends, like, 'Now's the time to go. I'm ready to go'. "I had a bit of doubt last year ... But this Aberdeen move, there wasn't one hint of doubt. "It's a big risk. Obviously, there's no right or wrong answer." Milanovic will first have to convince Popovic to name him in his next squad on Sunday. The Socceroos will play Group C leaders Japan (20 points) on June 5 in Perth, before heading to Jeddah to take on Saudi Arabia on June 11. Australia sit second (13) in the race for automatic qualification, ahead of the Saudis (10). Milanovic says his transition into the Socceroos camp has been made easier with a few familiar faces in former Wanderers teammates Brandon Borrello, Alex Bonetig and Alex Gersbach. He has also worked with Socceroos assistant coach Hayden Fox previously at Western United. "Obviously, the squad hasn't been chosen yet ... it's just trusting yourself and backing your own ability," Milanovic said. "I've done that all season and had my doubters and try to prove people wrong. "I'm now with kind of the big boys of Australia. I'm with some great players here and I want to put my best foot forward and show that I'm good enough to be here." Fringe Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati has joined the training camp after completing his first full 90 minutes for Serie A side Parma after returning from an ACL injury. But Dundee United full-back Ryan Strain has returned to Scotland after sustaining an injury. Former Western Sydney star Nicolas Milanovic is well aware a move overseas is a gamble that might not pay off. But the newly-minted Johnny Warren Medallist likes his chances. With the FIFA World Cup slated for June next year, Aberdeen-bound Milanovic has already taken steps to impress Socceroos boss Tony Popovic. The winger earned his first call-up to a national team training camp off the back of a stand-out A-League Men season that yielded 12 goals and six assists for the Wanderers. A move overseas has often stymied the rise of domestic stars and their hopes for a Socceroos spot, but Milanovic is confident he won't be another cautionary tale. The 23-year-old believes he's ready to test his mettle against some of Europe's best after resisting the urge to move prematurely last year. "I wanted to be the best in the league before I went," Milanovic said on Wednesday from the Socceroos training camp in Abu Dhabi. "Playing two consecutive full seasons, it's given me a lot of match experience to move on to Aberdeen and hopefully get a spot there as well as playing every week. "I've got a very, very close relationship with my father and last year he told me, 'go overseas' because it's both of our goals. "I want to be at the World Cup. That's a major goal of mine. That's the number one long-term goal that I've had for a few years now and I'm chipping away at it. "(To) be the Johnny Warren winner - that solidified in my mind that I could go overseas and try. "And as soon as I was on the roll and I was confident this season, I said to my family, to my agent and to my friends, like, 'Now's the time to go. I'm ready to go'. "I had a bit of doubt last year ... But this Aberdeen move, there wasn't one hint of doubt. "It's a big risk. Obviously, there's no right or wrong answer." Milanovic will first have to convince Popovic to name him in his next squad on Sunday. The Socceroos will play Group C leaders Japan (20 points) on June 5 in Perth, before heading to Jeddah to take on Saudi Arabia on June 11. Australia sit second (13) in the race for automatic qualification, ahead of the Saudis (10). Milanovic says his transition into the Socceroos camp has been made easier with a few familiar faces in former Wanderers teammates Brandon Borrello, Alex Bonetig and Alex Gersbach. He has also worked with Socceroos assistant coach Hayden Fox previously at Western United. "Obviously, the squad hasn't been chosen yet ... it's just trusting yourself and backing your own ability," Milanovic said. "I've done that all season and had my doubters and try to prove people wrong. "I'm now with kind of the big boys of Australia. I'm with some great players here and I want to put my best foot forward and show that I'm good enough to be here." Fringe Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati has joined the training camp after completing his first full 90 minutes for Serie A side Parma after returning from an ACL injury. But Dundee United full-back Ryan Strain has returned to Scotland after sustaining an injury. Former Western Sydney star Nicolas Milanovic is well aware a move overseas is a gamble that might not pay off. But the newly-minted Johnny Warren Medallist likes his chances. With the FIFA World Cup slated for June next year, Aberdeen-bound Milanovic has already taken steps to impress Socceroos boss Tony Popovic. The winger earned his first call-up to a national team training camp off the back of a stand-out A-League Men season that yielded 12 goals and six assists for the Wanderers. A move overseas has often stymied the rise of domestic stars and their hopes for a Socceroos spot, but Milanovic is confident he won't be another cautionary tale. The 23-year-old believes he's ready to test his mettle against some of Europe's best after resisting the urge to move prematurely last year. "I wanted to be the best in the league before I went," Milanovic said on Wednesday from the Socceroos training camp in Abu Dhabi. "Playing two consecutive full seasons, it's given me a lot of match experience to move on to Aberdeen and hopefully get a spot there as well as playing every week. "I've got a very, very close relationship with my father and last year he told me, 'go overseas' because it's both of our goals. "I want to be at the World Cup. That's a major goal of mine. That's the number one long-term goal that I've had for a few years now and I'm chipping away at it. "(To) be the Johnny Warren winner - that solidified in my mind that I could go overseas and try. "And as soon as I was on the roll and I was confident this season, I said to my family, to my agent and to my friends, like, 'Now's the time to go. I'm ready to go'. "I had a bit of doubt last year ... But this Aberdeen move, there wasn't one hint of doubt. "It's a big risk. Obviously, there's no right or wrong answer." Milanovic will first have to convince Popovic to name him in his next squad on Sunday. The Socceroos will play Group C leaders Japan (20 points) on June 5 in Perth, before heading to Jeddah to take on Saudi Arabia on June 11. Australia sit second (13) in the race for automatic qualification, ahead of the Saudis (10). Milanovic says his transition into the Socceroos camp has been made easier with a few familiar faces in former Wanderers teammates Brandon Borrello, Alex Bonetig and Alex Gersbach. He has also worked with Socceroos assistant coach Hayden Fox previously at Western United. "Obviously, the squad hasn't been chosen yet ... it's just trusting yourself and backing your own ability," Milanovic said. "I've done that all season and had my doubters and try to prove people wrong. "I'm now with kind of the big boys of Australia. I'm with some great players here and I want to put my best foot forward and show that I'm good enough to be here." Fringe Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati has joined the training camp after completing his first full 90 minutes for Serie A side Parma after returning from an ACL injury. But Dundee United full-back Ryan Strain has returned to Scotland after sustaining an injury.
West Australian
28-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Milanovic rolls dice on club move for World Cup glory
Former Western Sydney star Nicolas Milanovic is well aware a move overseas is a gamble that might not pay off. But the newly-minted Johnny Warren Medallist likes his chances. With the FIFA World Cup slated for June next year, Aberdeen-bound Milanovic has already taken steps to impress Socceroos boss Tony Popovic. The winger earned his first call-up to a national team training camp off the back of a stand-out A-League Men season that yielded 12 goals and six assists for the Wanderers. A move overseas has often stymied the rise of domestic stars and their hopes for a Socceroos spot, but Milanovic is confident he won't be another cautionary tale. The 23-year-old believes he's ready to test his mettle against some of Europe's best after resisting the urge to move prematurely last year. He has also worked with Socceroos assistant coach Hayden Fox previously at Western United. "Obviously, the squad hasn't been chosen yet ... it's just trusting yourself and backing your own ability," Milanovic said. "I've done that all season and had my doubters and try to prove people wrong. "I'm now with kind of the big boys of Australia. I'm with some great players here and I want to put my best foot forward and show that I'm good enough to be here." Fringe Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati has joined the training camp after completing his first full 90 minutes for Serie A side Parma after returning from an ACL injury. But Dundee United full-back Ryan Strain has returned to Scotland after sustaining an injury.
Perth Now
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Milanovic rolls dice on club move for World Cup glory
Former Western Sydney star Nicolas Milanovic is well aware a move overseas is a gamble that might not pay off. But the newly-minted Johnny Warren Medallist likes his chances. With the FIFA World Cup slated for June next year, Aberdeen-bound Milanovic has already taken steps to impress Socceroos boss Tony Popovic. The winger earned his first call-up to a national team training camp off the back of a stand-out A-League Men season that yielded 12 goals and six assists for the Wanderers. A move overseas has often stymied the rise of domestic stars and their hopes for a Socceroos spot, but Milanovic is confident he won't be another cautionary tale. The 23-year-old believes he's ready to test his mettle against some of Europe's best after resisting the urge to move prematurely last year. He has also worked with Socceroos assistant coach Hayden Fox previously at Western United. "Obviously, the squad hasn't been chosen yet ... it's just trusting yourself and backing your own ability," Milanovic said. "I've done that all season and had my doubters and try to prove people wrong. "I'm now with kind of the big boys of Australia. I'm with some great players here and I want to put my best foot forward and show that I'm good enough to be here." Fringe Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati has joined the training camp after completing his first full 90 minutes for Serie A side Parma after returning from an ACL injury. But Dundee United full-back Ryan Strain has returned to Scotland after sustaining an injury.
