Humble, enthralling and divisive in equal parts, Milos Ninkovic – one of Australian football’s greatest-ever imports – has decided to call time on a trophy-laden career.
The Serbian magician choked back tears as he told his Western Sydney Wanderers teammates last week that he will retire at the end of the current A-League Men season.
The playmaker, who turns 40 later this year, has been troubled by a calf injury picked up on the eve of the season and has yet to get through a 90-minute performance for Marko Rudan’s side.
But Ninkovic will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest overseas signings of his generation after arriving at Sydney FC in 2015.
He is just one of two players in the A-League era – the other being Thomas Broich – to have won the Johnny Warren Medal on two separate occasions.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
The midfield maestro claimed three championships, three premierships and an Australia Cup with the Sky Blues before defecting to the Wanderers after a public spat over his visa status in 2022.
His cross-town switch helped rekindle the Wanderers and the venom of the Sydney derby.
And while his mind is as sharp as when he began his career 24 years ago, the Belgrade-born veteran says his body is telling him it is time.
“I had nine years with Dynamo Kyiv but I didn’t enjoy it like I have enjoyed football in Australia,” Ninkovic told AAP.
“I want to be remembered as a player who gave everything every time.
“I’m really pleased to have won so many trophies but the most important thing for me is the respect I showed to my teammates and the opposition.”
To date, Ninkovic has scored 40 goals in 241 games for Sydney FC and the Wanderers.
He won titles in Ukraine and Serbia and represented his country 28 times, including at the 2010 World Cup, which he describes as his greatest achievement.
Ninkovic has already begun working on his badges to move into coaching at Western Sydney at the end of this season.
“I definitely want to be a coach, I didn’t have that ambition a few years ago but on the training pitch is where I’m happiest,” Ninkovic said.
“Marko has mentioned that he would like to see me as his second assistant.
“But I still want to concentrate on this season and finish in the best way possible.”
If coaching doesn’t work out, eldest daughter Angelina, 12, and son Novak, 5, could also continue their father’s legacy.
“Angelina wants to play for the Matildas,” Ninkovic quipped.
“I’m not sure about Novak yet if it’s Serbia or the Socceroos, but they love their football and now I’m going to have more time to spend with them.”
Marcel
Roar Rookie
Your'e still the only person that rates Barbarouses
Marcel
Roar Rookie
Very true Tim....only a handful of people will know the full story. I do know that he announced his departure, online, late on a Friday night.... without having informed the club....who in turn had to issue a "first we've heard of it, will try and fix it" message to the fans. I guess it's always a disappointment to learn that your heroes are just regular people.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
You may be 100% accurate, but there might have been things going on behind the scenes that led to Ninkovic speaking out, such as agreement being broken by one party. If it was just about money, fair enough from both sides to move on, but you're right to say he should've spoken with more diplomacy if that was the case.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Janko was a huge surprise - very very good
Redondo
Roar Rookie
He will
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I was very happy to see Ninkovic go to Wanderers, but then Corica got Rodwell in. If the opposition get a really old player my hope is they then play them against Sydney. Its funny because when I see Broxham coming on for Victory against other opposition I think this is a trainwreck, but its absolute delight if they play against Sydney. Ninkovic and Broich were only top class for a certain period, and then gradually went downhill. These two are the skillful stylish attractive players people want to watch , there were others who were comparable Hernandez, Finkler, Castro, Carrusca, Mierjevski, some of them had the same issues others left after one season. Davila he is 32 and 5 seasons and still going superb. Flores he wasnt even the top player at Adelaide in his one good year, why is it people remember him but not how good Van Djik was that year. I wouldn't even put Flores in the top 20. If you want to take quantity of seasons performed in the best are Brosque, Barbarouses, Berisha. Brosque even his 100m time was good when he retired, Barbarouses, no one has liked him except me previous to this season, The early Berisha was a lot better than the later Berisha but sill effective.
Garry
Roar Rookie
Im surprised SS didnt list Isaias :happy:
Marcel
Roar Rookie
If 1 season is enough to qualify then you've got to include Marc Janko as well. That disallowed volley at Wollongong...wow!
Punter
Roar Rookie
Mierzejewki kills Flores.
Punter
Roar Rookie
If you were talking one season then Mierzejewski would win hands down the best season in the A-League & Flores would fall further down.
At work
Roar Rookie
If we're qualifying it as one season then yeah Flores had an absolute cracker, but so did the recently retired Adrian Mierzejewski for that one season with Sydney.
At work
Roar Rookie
Funny, but I'd bet me left foot that won't happen! :silly:
At work
Roar Rookie
Legend of football in the A League era, although a somewhat tarnished legacy considering his switch between SYFC & WSW. Arguably on top of the pile with Broich as the best the A League has seen (over a sustained period).
At work
Roar Rookie
Good on his daughter, now he just needs to convert his sons thinking into being a future Socceroo. Both kids would have a good chance to become professional based on their dads teaching and obvious connections.
338
Roar Rookie
Loved watching him play. Don't care about the other stuff. Was great to have him in the A league. Hope his coaching career is just as successful.
Marcel
Roar Rookie
Hi Tim, yes two parties can be on different wavelengths..and that would appear to be the case.. It becomes a tantrum when one of the parties let's their ego get in the way and goes online to publicly rant about how he has been insulted and mistreated. The observable reality is that Ninks engine was cooked for the final 2 seasons at Sydney....skill and smarts got him through the first, but by his last six months he was a passenger... My understanding is that he said he only wanted a squad / impact role.... Sydney were prepared to accommodate that and in addition offered him a future pathway to coaching. The difference in wavelengths was over $ and visa spots....only one party tried to negotiate through social media. Ninks obviously thought he had more to offer, that's entirely his right..but he was wrong...and hes certainly not the first ageing athlete who couldn't smell the coffee. He got a couple of extra seasons playing a cameo role at Wanderers..truth is he hasn't been any more effective than Rodwell, who most would agree has been a fine player, but a failure as a signing because of injuries. I loved watching him play in his pomp....and we are desperately needing someone exactly like him now. But yeh, he had a tantrum and gave up a lot more than he gained...
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Signing with a rival club is divisive, even if the rivalry is manufactured. There may be an East vs West divide in Sydney, but The Cove aren't the corporate elite that drive such resentment, and Parramatta is too central to provide a distinction. A large chunk of the RBB used to be active Smurf supporters, so the antipathy must not have been too great.
NickA
Roar Rookie
I've got a friend who plays against Adam Goodes in the local leagues in Syd - he's always loved and been very good at football. There'd be a few around!
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
absolutle blasphemy!! he is easily top 5 based purely on that one season with adelaide where he was on a terribly low wage and won the johhny warren medal. his legacy was later tarnished playing for victory and then not really caring at mariners and the jets, but that one season in adelaide he was majestic on and off the pitch. that season in particular would be right up then in discussions for best ever season by an a league attacking mid import
ShirleyKnot
Roar Rookie
Syd FC didn't want him anymore (for all the reasons previously mentioned) so Ninkovic moved on. He is a Legend of our game & I hope he enjoys a long tenure on the coaching staff with WSW.