It is a new era for Newcastle Jets as A-Leagues great Mark Milligan leads the way in his first senior head coaching role at professional level. The retired
There was one Mark Milligan quote that stood out this week.
“It’s not even one game at a time, it’s one day at a time,” he told reporters ahead of Newcastle Jets’ Australia Cup quarter-final against reigning champions Macarthur Bulls on Sunday.
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Under Stanton’s guidance, talented prospects Clayton Taylor and Eli Adams thrived while the likes of Lachlan Bayliss, Thomas Aquilina, Callum Timmins and captain Kosta Grozos also impressed. Now, Milligan is trying to build on that in the club’s pursuit of a first Finals Series appearance since 2017-18.
The retired Socceroo’s tenure is in its infancy following two Australia Cup fixtures against Adelaide United (2-1) and NPL outfit Cooks Hill United (5-0) to go with various pre-season fixtures, two months out from the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 campaign.
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“We’re very much in a building phase and this process for us is very important for us long-term,” the former Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory, Jets and Macarthur defender insisted.
This is Milligan’s first senior head coaching role at professional level, having previously spent three years as an assistant at Adelaide United, while he was also a number two at Macarthur and Malaysia in between his head coaching position in the NPL via St George FC.
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But some of the world’s best have shaped the 40-year-old Australian and prepared him for his role at McDonald Jones Stadium, where he spent a season playing for the Jets in 2008-09.
The two who left their mark on Milligan were Aussie legend Ange Postecoglou and ex-Socceroos boss Bert van Marwijk.
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“I had one coach in particular, Ange, who really believed in Australian players at a time that was very important in my career,” Milligan told the Newcastle Herald previously.
“He taught me things. The commitment Ange and Bert van Marwijk had to their trade, their work ethic was second to none. And just the belief in what they were teaching. I definitely have the desire and passion to give that back.
“From a football perspective, my views probably differ a little bit, but I have an unwavering belief in what I want to achieve. I have always been good when given directions. I am very excited now to be the one to lead.”
Those experiences and learnings are helping lay the foundations in Newcastle.
There have been glimpses of Newcastle’s potential but it has been seven years since the Jets reached the Finals Series and Grand Final. Since then, the one-time champions have placed seventh, eighth, 11th, ninth, 10th, 10th and eighth.
Milligan and the Jets are going about trying to end that run by bolstering their squad with the arrival of Irish central defender and former Dundee FC captain Joe Shaughnessy, Aussie young gun Alex Badolato, attacker Max Burgess, goalkeeper James Delianov and Joel Bertolisio from the NPL.
“I want to make sure every player becomes better. I want to see the best version of themselves every day,” Milligan said.
“That was something that drove me throughout my career. That desire and hunger to continuously improve. I want to create an environment here where the players and the staff always want more.”
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It is not just the experienced players, including Japanese star Kota Mizunuma and Lachie Rose, Milligan is relying on in the Hunter region.
The 80-time Australia international is tapping into the academy program as he looks to develop from within. Oscar Fryer made his debut following a 13-month injury lay-off in the Australia Cup Round of 16, while Xavier Bertoncello, Christian Bracco, Max Cooper, Will Dobson and Alex Nunes have already had a taste of senior football.
But there are more talents emerging within the Jets’ youth space – from academy prospect Oli Cockle to Ethan Debono and Janni Rafty, the next generation are impressing under the watchful eye of Jets academy head coach Damian Zane.
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“My background, especially over the past few years at Adelaide, has been in that development and youth space,” Milligan said. “Working on the best way to integrate young players to become affective in first-team football. That is very important to me.
“Having Damian at training and across things makes it easier. He is fantastic from what I have seen, not only bringing through players, but across all levels. He works so hard.
“I feel you need to pull the band aid off a bit. If we want to develop local players, it has to start with the youth team. There is a lot of potential there.
“I’m acutely aware of players from Newcastle, especially from my generation, that have had successful careers.
“By doing what we are now, in five years we will have a core group of Newcastle players who are successful not only for the Jets but overseas. We want to see the young ones in national teams. That is the end goal.”
