Nicolas Milanovic is dreaming of the Subway Socceroos and his Isuzu UTE A-League form in 2024-25 could see that dream become reality. aleagues.com.au looks at the numbers behind the in-form Western Sydney Wanderers star.
If there is one thing Tony Popovic hasn’t been afraid to do since his appointment as Subway Socceroos head coach, it’s give opportunities to A-Leagues players.
Popovic replaced Graham Arnold in September and, since then, the former Western Sydney Wanderers, Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory boss has handed international debuts to a quartet of Isuzu UTE A-League players – Sydney FC duo Hayden Matthews and Anthony Caceres, Melbourne Victory’s Nishan Velupillay and Macarthur Bulls star Luke Brattan.
Could Nicolas Milanovic be next?
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The 23-year-old forward’s form for Western Sydney Wanderers has him in the conversation, especially when you consider Australia’s struggle for regular goals, having managed just six in their six 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers so far.
Milanovic has scored a joint league-high four goals, including a Round 4 hat-trick, heading into this week’s Unite Round and a blockbuster Sydney Derby at Allianz Stadium.
“Hopefully I’m on the radar – I’d like to think so,” Milanovic told Network 10 after his hat-trick against Newcastle Jets in the fourth round.
“But no, that will come when I’m ready. Hopefully, I can show the new coach that I’m up for it.
“That’s definitely one of my goals for the year, I’ve said it already. This year, hopefully I can get into that squad.
“It’s something I’ve always told my family, ever since I wasn’t playing (and) I was a bench player at Western United, trying to (find) my feet.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do: play for the Socceroos. Even as a kid. And I don’t think I’m there yet, but it’s definitely one of my future goals.”
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Milanovic enjoyed a breakout season in 2023-24. He scored a career-high nine goals as he scooped Western Sydney’s Golden Boot while he was also named the Wanderers’ Media Player of the Year and Members’ Player of the Year.
Swapping Western United for the Wanderers has seen the Australian youth international mature and soar to new heights.
Since moving to Western Sydney in February last year, Milanovic has scored 14 goals from an expected goals of 6.35.
No player aged 23 or younger has managed more; putting him ahead of history-making former A-Leagues sensation Nestory Irankunda who is now at Bayern Munich (12), Western United’s Noah Botic (11), ex-Wanderers teammate Lachlan Brook (9), Adelaide United young gun Luka Jovanovic (9), Melbourne City loanee and Socceroo Marco Tilio (9), Velupillay (8) and Brisbane Roar young gun Thomas Waddingham (8).
Since the league began in 2005-06, only one player under the age of 23 has managed more goals than Milanovic (19) – Tilio (20).
Milanovic, who has started 27 of his 41 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances for the Wanderers, averages a goal every 168 minutes in the competition – a number superior to the likes of Irankunda (171.3), Waddingham (208), Melbourne City’s Max Caputo (277), Velupillay (309.1) and Alou Kuol of Central Coast Mariners (339.8).
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He is not just a goalscorer. He also leads the way for assists since February 2023 among players under the age of 23 in the competition with eight.
It it the same with goals and assists (22).
In that timeframe among players under 23 years of age, Milanovic has recorded the third-most touches in the opposition box (154) and third-most dribbles (68).
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Milanovic’s form has not gone unnoticed in Sydney’s west, either.
Prior to the start of the season, the Penrith-born star was tipped to make the above abroad amid reported interest from Europe and Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb.
However, Milanovic – who ranks in the top three for big chances scored since February 2023 with six goals; only behind Botic and Jovanovic – opted to re-sign with the Wanderers.
“There were offers there but I felt the timing wasn’t right,” Milanovic told 10 News after signing a new contract before the start of 2024-25.
“I want to go one more year here and I want to win something for the club.
“I’ve been a boyhood fan, a boyhood player and I want to be a leader for the team to get some silverware.”
