Mark Milligan facts for kids
Milligan with Australia in 2018
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Mark Daniel Milligan | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 4 August 1985 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder Defender |
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| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Newcastle Jets (manager) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parramatta Melita Eagles | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | AIS | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Northern Spirit | 16 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Blacktown City | 9 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2008 | Sydney FC | 42 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Newcastle Jets | 11 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Shanghai Shenhua | 25 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | JEF United Chiba | 53 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | → Melbourne Victory (loan) | 10 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Melbourne Victory | 63 | (13) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Baniyas | 43 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Melbourne Victory | 14 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Al Ahli | 8 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Hibernian | 28 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Southend United | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 379 | (37) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2005 | Australia U-20 | 11 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Australia U-23 | 25 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2019 | Australia | 80 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Macarthur FC (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | St George | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2025 | Adelaide United (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Malaysia (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Newcastle Jets | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Daniel Milligan (born 4 August 1985) is a famous Australian former footballer. He is currently the head coach for the Newcastle Jets team.
Mark started his career playing as a defender. Later in his career, he mostly played as a midfielder. He played for the Australia men's national soccer team 80 times. This included playing in four FIFA World Cup tournaments. During his 19 years as a professional player, he also played for teams in China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, and England.
Contents
Mark Milligan's Club Career
Mark began playing football at his local club, Birrong Sports Football, in 1991. He quickly moved on to play for more advanced junior teams.
Early Football Years
In 2008, there were rumors that Mark might move to big English clubs. These included Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, and Arsenal. He was also linked to clubs in France, Portugal, and Germany.
On 21 October 2008, Mark signed a short-term contract with Newcastle United Jets. He played his first game for them on 24 October 2008. This match was against the Central Coast Mariners.
Playing in Asia
In January 2009, Mark joined the Chinese team Shanghai Shenhua. He signed a three-year contract with them. On 19 May, he scored his first goal for Shanghai Shenhua. This was during an AFC Champions League match.
Later, Mark moved from Shanghai Shenhua to the Japanese team JEF United Chiba. They had been moved down to the second division. When the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami happened in Japan, Mark decided to leave the country. He was worried about his family's safety.
Time with Melbourne Victory
On 23 January 2012, Mark joined Melbourne Victory on a loan deal. This lasted until the end of the 2011–12 A-League season. He was the first player from Sydney FC to move to Melbourne Victory. He went back to Japan in March.
In July 2012, Mark left JEF United Chiba. He then returned to Melbourne Victory, signing a three-year contract. Mark was a key player for Melbourne Victory during the 2012–13 season. He moved from playing as a centre-back to a defensive midfielder. He quickly became one of the best players in the league.
Even though he didn't score many goals usually, Mark scored 8 goals that season. Many of these were important goals in big games. He even scored a penalty in a final match against Perth Glory. Melbourne Victory won that game in extra time. To finish off his great season, Mark won the Victory Medal. This award goes to the club's best player of the season.
On 17 September 2013, Mark became the captain of Melbourne Victory. He replaced Adrian Leijer. There were rumors that he might leave Melbourne Victory. He was linked to the English team Crystal Palace. However, Melbourne Victory turned down an offer for him.
Mark stayed with Melbourne Victory as captain for the 2013–14 season. He got injured halfway through the season. The team struggled because of this and other reasons. However, Victory improved later and finished fourth in the A-League.
On 17 May 2015, Mark was the captain when his team beat Sydney FC 3–0. This was in the 2014–15 A-League Grand Final. He also won the Joe Marston Medal. This award is for the best player in the final match.
Playing for Baniyas SC
After the 2014–15 season, Mark moved to Baniyas SC in the UAE. They paid $1 million to sign him. He signed a two-year contract with the club.
Returning to Melbourne Victory
On 31 July 2017, it was announced that Mark would return to Melbourne Victory. He signed a one-year deal as a special "marquee" player.
Time with Al Ahli
On 28 January 2018, Melbourne Victory sold Mark Milligan to Al-Ahli for $1 million. He wore the number 5 shirt. On 4 February, he played his first game for Al-Ahli. This was a league game against Al Ittihad FC. He played as a centre-half, and the game ended 0-0. Fans liked his performance, and he played the whole 90 minutes.
Playing for Hibernian
On 18 August 2018, Mark signed a two-year contract with Hibernian. This club is in the Scottish Premiership. Mark played regularly for Hibernian during the 2018–19 season. After that season, he left the club. The coach said they wanted a different type of player for his position.
Time with Southend United
On 1 July 2019, Mark signed for Southend United. He was released by Southend United on 19 June 2020. This happened after the team was moved down from League One.
Playing for Macarthur FC
On 30 July 2020, Mark returned to Australia. He joined the new A-League club Macarthur FC. He signed a two-year deal with them. On 22 October, he was named the club's captain for their first season in the A-League.
In the club's very first match on 30 December, Mark scored their first goal. This goal helped them win their first-ever game against Western Sydney Wanderers. On 2 June 2021, Mark announced that he would stop playing football. He also said he would join the coaching staff at Macarthur.
Mark Milligan's International Career
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Mark played for Australia at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. In May 2006, he was the youngest player chosen for Australia's 2006 FIFA World Cup team. He was one of only two players from the A-League to be picked.
He played his first senior international game on 7 June 2006. This was against Liechtenstein. He came on as a substitute late in the game. He did not play in any of Australia's World Cup games in Germany. His first start was against Kuwait on 16 August 2006.
In February 2007, Mark was named captain of the Australian U-23 team. He led the team to qualify for the Olympics. He was a very important player in their final games. He scored in both games and was named man of the match.
Mark was chosen for the Australian team for the 2007 Asian Cup. During the tournament, he started in the game against Thailand. Australia won 4–0 and moved to the quarter-finals. Mark was seen as the best player in that game.
Mark scored his first international goal for the Socceroos against Indonesia. This was in a 2011 Asian Cup Qualifier. It was the only goal in the match, and Australia won 1–0. This win helped Australia qualify for the 2011 competition.
He was chosen for the team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. His profile described him as a "mobile defender with good ball skills."
Mark was selected for the 2014 FIFA World Cup team. He played only one game in the 2014 World Cup. This was a 3–1 loss against Chile in their first match.
In 2015, he was a key player for Australia when they won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. He played in 5 matches, including the final against South Korea. In the second game, he scored a goal against Oman. Australia won that match 4-0.
Mark was captain for Australia at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. He scored a penalty goal in a 1-1 draw against Cameroon.
In the third round of qualification, he played 8 games. Australia finished third and did not qualify directly. He played in the winning two-leg play-off against Syria. He also played in the game against Honduras. This match decided the last spot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Australia won 3-1 and qualified for the World Cup for the fourth time in a row. In May 2018, he was named in Australia's team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Mark was captain for Australia at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. His team was knocked out in the quarter-finals. He stopped playing international football in December 2019.
Mark Milligan's Coaching Career
Mark started his coaching career as an assistant coach. He worked at Macarthur FC, Adelaide United, and the Malaysian national team. Mark was also the head coach for St George FC in 2022.
Coaching Newcastle Jets
Mark became the head coach for Newcastle Jets for the 2025-26 A-League season. This is his first main coaching role at a professional senior club. He used to play for the Newcastle Jets during his playing career.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | League | Domestic Cups | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Northern Spirit | 2002–03 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2003–04 | 13 | 1 | – | – | 13 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 16 | 1 | – | – | 16 | 1 | ||||
| Blacktown City | 2004 | 9 | 5 | – | – | 9 | 5 | |||
| Sydney FC | 2005–06 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | 13 | 1 | ||
| 2006–07 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 17 | 0 | |||
| Total | 42 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 55 | 2 | ||
| Newcastle Jets | 2008–09 | 11 | 1 | – | – | 11 | 1 | |||
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2009 | 25 | 1 | – | 6 | 1 | 31 | 2 | ||
| JEF United Chiba | 2010 | 15 | 0 | – | – | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2011 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2012 | 9 | 2 | – | – | 9 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 53 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | 55 | 3 | |||
| Melbourne Victory | 2011–12 | 10 | 1 | – | – | 10 | 1 | |||
| 2012–13 | 22 | 8 | – | – | 22 | 8 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 21 | 4 | – | 5 | 1 | 26 | 5 | |||
| 2014–15 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 22 | 1 | |||
| Total | 73 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 80 | 15 | ||
| Baniyas SC | 2015–16 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | 23 | 3 | ||
| 2016–17 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 23 | 2 | |||
| Total | 43 | 5 | 3 | 0 | – | 46 | 5 | |||
| Melbourne Victory | 2017–18 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | 16 | 3 | ||
| Al Ahli | 2017–18 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Hibernian | 2018–19 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 31 | 0 | ||
| Southend United | 2019–20 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | ||
| Macarthur FC | 2020–21 | 27 | 3 | — | — | 27 | 3 | |||
| Career total | 379 | 37 | 25 | 1 | 23 | 2 | 427 | 40 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
- Statistics accurate as of match played 10 October 2019.
| Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 | 6 | 1 |
| 2013 | 8 | 0 |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 |
| 2015 | 11 | 2 |
| 2016 | 9 | 1 |
| 2017 | 11 | 1 |
| 2018 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | 80 | 6 |
- Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 3 March 2010 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia |  Indonesia |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 2. | 7 December 2012 | Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong |  Guam |
8–0 | 9–0 | 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup |
| 3. | 13 January 2015 | Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia |  Oman |
3–0 | 4–0 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup |
| 4. | 8 September 2015 | Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan |  Tajikistan |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5. | 24 March 2016 | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia | Tajikistan |
3–0 | 7–0 | |
| 6. | 22 June 2017 | Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia |  Cameroon |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup |
Honours and Awards
Sydney FC
- A-League Championship: 2005–06
- Australian Club World Championship Qualifying Tournament: 2005
Melbourne Victory
- A-League Championship: 2014–15
- A-League Premiership: 2014–15
Australia National Team
- AFC Asian Cup: 2015
Australia U-20 Team
- OFC U-20 Championship: 2005
Individual Awards
- A-League PFA Team of the Season: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
- A-League PFA Team of the Decade: 2005–15
- Melbourne Victory FC Player of the Season: 2012–13
- Joe Marston Medal: 2015
See also
In Spanish: Mark Milligan para niños
