Antonio Milić

Antonio Milić (Croatian pronunciation: [mǐlitɕ];[1] born 10 March 1994) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Polish club Lech Poznań.

Antonio Milić
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-03-10) 10 March 1994
Place of birth Split, Croatia
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Lech Poznań
Number 16
Youth career
2002–2011 Hajduk Split
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 Hajduk Split 58 (7)
2015–2018 Oostende 105 (9)
2018–2020 Anderlecht 21 (0)
2019–2020 → Rayo Vallecano (loan) 18 (0)
2020– Lech Poznań 61 (5)
International career‡
2009–2010 Croatia U16 8 (1)
2010–2011 Croatia U17 11 (1)
2013 Croatia U19 1 (0)
2014–2015 Croatia U21 18 (3)
2018 Croatia 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 August 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 June 2022

Club career

Hajduk Split

A product of Hajduk Split academy, Krasimir Balakov handed Milić his first team minutes in the Croatian Cup match against Jadran Gunja but his first league appearance came off the bench on 26 November 2011, in a 2–1 win over Šibenik, aged just 17 years, 8 months and 16 days. He made only one other league appearances that season, also off the bench, but he made another two Cup appearances against Zagreb also. After manager Balakov left Hajduk, new manager Mišo Krstičević came to the Hajduk bench. Since Krstičević managed the Hajduk U-19 team before he knew how to use Milić for the next season. In June 2012 Antonio won the Croatian U-19 championship.

In the 2012–13 Prva HNL, he started as a first team regular. The team's manager, Mišo Krstičević, made Milić a much more stable member of the first team, often playing in the holding midfield role, but also playing as either a central defender or a central midfielder. He played a significant role in defeating Inter Milan 2–0 on San Siro in the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League. He showed great talent while playing in the Prva HNL, and many people consider him on becoming the leading Croatian defender. Antonio Milić and Josip Radošević together created the best double pivot couple in Prva HNL. During Hajduk's winter preparations, he suffered an injury, which kept him off the pitch for nearly two months but he returned and helped his team to reach the 2012–13 Croatian Cup final by scoring the equalizer goal in the away match against Slaven Belupo on Poljud. In May 2013 Antonio signed a new contract with Hajduk that would keep him with the club until 2015. In May 2013 he won the Croatian Cup.

Under new manager Igor Tudor, Antonio's role in the team changed and was somewhat reduced. He was deployed either at left back or at center back and made 22 appearances in all competitions.

Oostende

On 20 December 2014, it was announced that Milić will join the Belgian club K.V. Oostende for a fee of 500 thousand euros.

Anderlecht

After a great three-year display at Oostende, Milić was about to join Anderlecht at the end of January 2018, but failed to sign with them as the transfer could not be completed due to the end of the transfer window. On 22 May 2018, it was announced that Milić has signed a three-year contract with Anderlecht, along with his teammate Knowledge Musona.

Rayo Vallecano (loan)

On 30 August 2019, Milić joined Spanish Segunda División side Rayo Vallecano on a one-year loan deal.[2]

Lech Poznań

On 10 January 2021, Milić was transferred from Anderlecht to Polish side Lech Poznań.[3]

International career

He was called up to the senior Croatia squad for the first time for a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in October 2017.[4]

In August 2018 he was called up as a part of Croatia's UEFA Nations League squad for matches against Spain and England. On 6 September 2018, Milić earned his first cap for Croatia in an international friendly against Portugal.

Career statistics
As of 19 August 2023
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hajduk Split 2011–12 Prva HNL 20———20
2012–13 Prva HNL 2630020—283
2013–14 Prva HNL 1822020—222
2014–15 Prva HNL 1121050—172
Total 5773090—697
Oestende 2014–15 Pro League 51———51
2015–16 Pro League 33210——342
2016–17 First Division A 31540——335
2017–18 First Division A 3513020—401
Total 10499020—1159
Anderlecht 2018–19 First Division A 2100040—250
2020–21 First Division A —————
Total 2100040—250
Rayo Vallecano (loan) 2019–20 Segunda División 18020——200
Lech Poznań 2020–21[5] Ekstraklasa 9020——110
2021–22[6] Ekstraklasa 26420——284
2022–23[7] Ekstraklasa 2311016[lower-alpha 1]11[lower-alpha 2]0412
2023–24[8] Ekstraklasa 30004[lower-alpha 3]1—71
Total 6155020210877
Career total 262211803521031623
  1. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, fourteen appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa Conference League
  2. Appearance in Polish Super Cup
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International
As of 18 November 2018[9]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Croatia 201830
Total30

Honours

Hajduk Split

Lech Poznań

References
  1. "mȉo". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 17 March 2018. Mìlić
  2. "Antonio Milic nuevo jugador del Rayo Vallecano" [Antonio Milic new player of Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  3. Mastromonaco, Remi (10 January 2021). "Official: Antonio Milic Arrives At Lech Poznan". Wallfoot. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  4. "Ukraine 0-2 Croatia". BBC. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  5. "Sezon 2020/21". 90minut. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  6. "Sezon 2021/22". 90minut. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  7. "Sezon 2022/23". 90minut. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  8. "Sezon 2023/24". 90minut. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  9. "Antonio Milić, international footballer". eu-football.info. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
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