Savo Milošević

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Savo Milošević
Milošević in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth (1973-09-02) 2 September 1973 (age 50)
Place of birth Bijeljina, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Bosnia and Herzegovina (manager)
Youth career
Proleter Ruhotina-Johovac
Podrinje Janja
1989–1992 Partizan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1995 Partizan 98 (65)
1995–1998 Aston Villa 90 (29)
1998–2000 Zaragoza 72 (38)
2000–2004 Parma 31 (9)
2002Zaragoza (loan) 16 (6)
2002–2003Espanyol (loan) 34 (12)
2003–2004Celta (loan) 37 (14)
2004–2007 Osasuna 82 (21)
2008 Rubin Kazan 16 (3)
Total 476 (197)
International career
1994–2008 FR Yugoslavia / Serbia 102 (37)
Managerial career
2011–2012 Montenegro (assistant)
2019–2020 Partizan
2021 Olimpija Ljubljana
2023– Bosnia and Herzegovina
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Savo Milošević (Serbian Cyrillic: Саво Милошевић, pronounced [sǎːʋo milǒːʃeʋitɕ]; born 2 September 1973) is a Serbian professional football manager and former player who is the manager of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

A former forward, he signed for English club Aston Villa after making a name for himself at Partizan. He would go on to spend the vast majority of his career in Spain, where he amassed La Liga totals of 91 goals in 241 games for Zaragoza, Espanyol, Celta and Osasuna. Over the course of his 16-year professional career, Milošević played for eight clubs and scored over 220 goals in nearly 600 official appearances.

At the international level, Milošević played for the national team of FR Yugoslavia (later renamed Serbia and Montenegro)[1] and Serbia, making over 100 caps for both teams combined. He appeared in two World Cups and one European Championship, at which he earned the Golden Boot at Euro 2000.

Club career[edit]

Partizan[edit]

Milošević started playing football at the age of six[2] and spent his youth in the Drina Valley. At the age of 14, he was spotted by Partizan scouts, who convinced the club to secure his transfer for 5,000 Deutsche Mark.[3]

In 1992, Milošević made his senior debut for Partizan, scoring 14 goals in 31 games during his first season at the club. He went on to score an impressive 21 and 30 league goals in his next two seasons respectively – competition-bests in both years – as the Belgrade-based club won back-to-back national championships, including the double in the 1993–94 season.

Aston Villa[edit]

In the summer of 1995, then Aston Villa manager Brian Little bought Milošević from Partizan for £3.5 million, a club record at the time. His spell in England lasted three seasons, during which time he earned the tabloid nickname "Miss-a-lot-ević" owing to his frequent goalscoring dry spells.[4]

However, Milošević did score 33 goals in 117 games for Villa[5] (29 in the Premier League), including one in the 1996 Football League Cup final, a 3–0 win against Leeds United.[6]

Zaragoza[edit]

Milošević signed for La Liga club Real Zaragoza in 1998 for £8.5 million, again recording some impressive goalscoring performances, notably netting 21 in the 1999–2000 season as the team secured fourth place.[7]

Parma[edit]

After rediscovering his form in Spain, Milošević joined Parma in the summer of 2000 for €25 million.[8][9] He was a regular starter in his first season in Italy, playing in 21 out of 34 Serie A matches and scoring 8 goals; in the next season, however, he was sparingly used.

Milošević was loaned back to Spain in January 2002, re-joining his former club Zaragoza to replace Blackburn Rovers-bound Yordi.[10] He scored six times during his second spell, finishing as the club's joint top scorer[11] – alongside Yordi and Roberto Acuña. His second spell at Zaragoza ended unsuccessfully, with the club eventually relegated.

In the 2002–03 campaign, Milošević played for Espanyol on loan,[12] again finishing as his team's top scorer but narrowly escaping relegation, a fate that would befall him the following year with Celta de Vigo. Milošević was able to help Celta reach the round-of-16 in their first ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League, with his one goal in seven appearances in the competition coming in a 3–2 group stage home win against Ajax.[13]

Later years[edit]

Milošević in action for Rubin Kazan in 2008

In mid-July 2004, aged 30, Milošević signed a three-year contract with another Spanish top flight club, Osasuna.[14] In his second season with the Navarrese, he scored 11 goals in 32 games to help the team qualify for the Champions League. Though Milošević failed to score in ten appearances in the subsequent UEFA Cup semi-final run, he did provide two assists in a 3–0 away win against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the quarter-final (which Osasuna won 4–0 on aggregate).[15]

In the summer of 2007, Milošević's contract expired and he left Osasuna after three seasons at the club. He took an eight-month break from competitive football, during which – in October 2007 – he had a trial with Major League Soccer's Toronto FC with a view of signing with them for the 2008 season.[16] The deal fell through and, on 8 March 2008, he agreed terms with Rubin Kazan prior to the start of the Russian Premier League campaign.[17]

On 2 November 2008, Milošević scored the decisive goal for Rubin in a game against Saturn Ramenskoye, securing the team their first ever national championship.[18] He retired shortly afterwards, aged 35.

International career[edit]

Milošević represented the Yugoslavia under-21 national team at the 1992 Toulon Tournament, reaching the final with the team.[19] He later earned 102 caps for Serbia, making his international debut for the nation (then named Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) on 23 December 1994, in a 2–0 friendly loss to Brazil. Milošević scored 37 goals for his country over the course of a 14-year international career.[20]

After appearing in two games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup,[21] Milošević scored five goals at UEFA Euro 2000, earning him the Golden Boot, an award he shared with Dutch forward Patrick Kluivert.[22]

Milošević made his 100th international appearance on 16 June 2006 during the FIFA World Cup in Germany, in a 6–0 group stage loss against Argentina, becoming the first Serbian player to reach this milestone.[23] As a formal farewell from international football, he was called up for a friendly with Bulgaria on 19 November 2008, scoring twice and missing two penalties in a 6–1 win before being replaced by Dragan Mrđa.

Managerial career[edit]

Montenegro (assistant)[edit]

From 2011 to 2012, Milošević was an assistant manager to Branko Brnović at the Montenegro national team.

Partizan[edit]

On 27 March 2019, Milošević was named by the board of directors at Partizan as the club's new manager.[24] His first win as Partizan manager came on 3 April 2019, beating Čukarički 3–2 at home.[25]

In Milošević's first Eternal derby as manager of Partizan, his team suffered a 2–1 away loss to Red Star Belgrade, with Ricardo Gomes's 90th-minute strike proving only a consolation.[26]

At the end of his first season in charge, Milošević succeeded in qualifying Partizan for the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds,[27] and on 23 May 2019, won his first managerial trophy as his side beat Red Star Belgrade 1–0 in the 2018–19 Serbian Cup final, courtesy of a Bojan Ostojić goal.[28]

In July and August 2019, Partizan secured their ninth participation in the group stages of the UEFA Europa League.[29] Under Milošević's leadership, Partizan knocked-out Connah's Quay Nomads,[30] Yeni Malatyaspor[31] and Molde[32] in the qualifiers. On 30 August, Partizan was drawn in to Group L of the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League, alongside Manchester United, Astana and AZ Alkmaar.[33]

Olimpija Ljubljana[edit]

On 16 June 2021, Milošević was named new manager of Slovenian PrvaLiga side Olimpija Ljubljana.[34] He left the club less than four months later, on 10 October 2021.[35]

Bosnia and Herzegovina[edit]

On 29 September 2023, Milošević was appointed as the new head coach of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.[36] He was victorious in his first game in charge against Liechtenstein in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match on 13 October 2023.[37] Milošević suffered his first defeat against Portugal on 16 October; Bosnia and Herzegovina lost the game 5–0 at Bilino Polje, the biggest defeat in its history on home ground.[38]

Personal life[edit]

Milošević (right) with former water polo player Aleksandar Šapić at a Democratic Party convention in September 2009

Milošević was born into an ethnic Serb family in the Semberija city of Bijeljina and was raised in Johovac, both in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, the then-SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia,[2] where he lived with a younger brother Andrija (1975–2013) and younger sister Cvijeta "Mira".[39] He also holds Bosnian citizenship.[40] Milošević's mother died in 2000 from cancer;[3] he has paternal ancestry from the large Milošević brotherhood of the Vasojevići tribe in northeastern Montenegro, and was a relative of Slobodan Milošević.[3]

Milošević was a political supporter of the Democratic Party led by Boris Tadić, having supported it since 1993 after meeting with Zoran Đinđić and officially becoming a member in 2003.[3] He took part in the 1996–97 protests and the 5 October overthrow.[3]

Milošević was married to Vesna, with whom he has two sons and a daughter. One of his sons, Nikola, is also a footballer.[2] On 11 June 2011, his father Stevan (1953–2011) was shot in the chest and killed in the family house in Glavičice by his grandfather Savo (1928–2012), after a family row; the latter was later detained.[41][42]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[43][44]
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Partizan 1992–93 First League
of FR Yugoslavia
31 14 8 3 39 17
1993–94 32 21 9 7 41 28
1994–95 35 30 4 4 39 34
Total 98 65 21 14 119 79
Aston Villa 1995–96 Premier League 37 12 5 1 7 1 49 14
1996–97 30 10 3 0 1 0 2[a] 0 36 10
1997–98 23 7 2 1 1 0 6[a] 1 32 9
Total 90 29 10 2 9 1 8 1 117 33
Zaragoza 1998–99 La Liga 35 17 2 1 37 18
1999–2000 37 21 5 1 42 22
Total 72 38 7 2 79 40
Parma 2000–01 Serie A 21 8 5 2 5[a] 2 31 12
2001–02 10 1 3 1 6[b] 1 19 3
Total 31 9 8 3 11 3 50 15
Zaragoza (loan) 2001–02 La Liga 16 6 16 6
Espanyol (loan) 2002–03 La Liga 34 12 1 0 35 12
Celta (loan) 2003–04 La Liga 37 14 5 1 9[c] 1 51 16
Osasuna 2004–05 La Liga 27 6 7 0 34 6
2005–06 32 11 2[a] 1 34 12
2006–07 23 4 1 0 12[d] 0 36 4
Total 82 21 8 0 14 1 104 22
Rubin Kazan 2008 Russian Premier League 16 3 1 0 17 3
Career total 476 197 61 22 9 1 42 6 588 226
  1. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. ^ Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Cup, two appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Ten appearances in UEFA Cup, two appearances in UEFA Champions League

International[edit]

Appearances and goals by national team and year[45]
National team Year Apps Goals
FR Yugoslavia 1994 1 0
1995 7 4
1996 7 5
1997 9 5
1998 11 2
1999 7 4
2000 12 6
2001 8 5
2002 9 1
Serbia and
Montenegro
2003 10 1
2004 7 2
2005 8 0
2006 5 0
Serbia 2007 0 0
2008 1 2
Total 102 37
Scores and results list FR Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Milošević goal.
List of international goals scored by Savo Milošević[46]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 31 January 1995 Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong XI 2–1 3–1 1995 Lunar New Year Cup
2 3–1
3 31 March 1995 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia  Uruguay 1–0 1–0 Friendly
4 29 September 1995 Toumba Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece  Greece 1–0 2–0 Friendly
5 24 April 1996 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia  Faroe Islands 3–0 3–1 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 2 June 1996 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia  Malta 4–0 5–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 6 October 1996 Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands  Faroe Islands 1–0 8–1 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 4–1
9 5–1
10 10 February 1997 Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong XI 1–0 3–1 1997 Lunar New Year Cup
11 2 April 1997 Letná Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic  Czech Republic 2–1 2–1 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
12 11 October 1997 National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta  Malta 1–0 5–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
13 29 October 1997 Stadion Albert Flórián, Budapest, Hungary  Hungary 7–0 7–1 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
14 15 November 1997 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia  Hungary 1–0 5–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
15 29 May 1998 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia  Nigeria 1–0 3–0 Friendly
16 23 September 1998 Castelão, São Luís, Brazil  Brazil 1–0 1–1 Friendly
17 10 February 1999 National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta  Malta 3–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
18 8 June 1999 Toumba Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece  Malta 2–1 4–1 UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
19 4–1
20 8 September 1999 Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia  Macedonia 1–0 4–2 UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
21 13 June 2000 Stade du Pays de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium  Slovenia 1–3 3–3 UEFA Euro 2000
22 2–3
23 18 June 2000 Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium  Norway 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2000
24 21 June 2000 Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges, Belgium  Spain 1–0 3–4 UEFA Euro 2000
25 25 June 2000 Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands  Netherlands 1–6 1–6 UEFA Euro 2000
26 3 September 2000 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 1–0 2–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
27 28 March 2001 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Slovenia 1–0 1–1 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
28 6 June 2001 Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands  Faroe Islands 4–0 6–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
29 1 September 2001 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland   Switzerland 1–1 2–1 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
30 6 October 2001 Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia  Luxembourg 4–2 6–2 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
31 5–2
32 13 February 2002 Chase Field, Phoenix, United States  Mexico 2–0 2–1 Friendly
33 11 October 2003 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales  Wales 2–1 3–2 UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
34 11 July 2004 Hakata no Mori Stadium, Fukuoka, Japan  Slovakia 1–0 2–0 2004 Kirin Cup
35 13 October 2004 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro  San Marino 1–0 5–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
36 19 November 2008 Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia  Bulgaria 3–1 6–1 Friendly
37 4–1

Managerial statistics[edit]

As of match played 21 March 2024[47]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Partizan 27 March 2019 1 September 2020 67 43 9 15 064.18
Olimpija Ljubljana 16 June 2021 10 October 2021 16 7 2 7 043.75
Bosnia and Herzegovina 29 September 2023 Present 5 1 0 4 020.00
Total 88 51 11 26 057.95

Honours[edit]

Player[edit]

Partizan

Aston Villa

Rubin Kazan

Individual

Manager[edit]

Partizan

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Retiring Savo pleased with fitting final salvo". UEFA. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "Savo Milošević" (in Serbian). Puls. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Sloboda i pravda se ne dobijaju na tanjiru" [Freedom and justice are not handed on a plate] (in Serbian). Vreme. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  4. ^ The 10 worst foreign signings of all time; The Guardian, 6 August 2000
  5. ^ Kendrick, Mat (24 October 2019). "Revealing insight into Savo's career by his Aston Villa mentor". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Milosevic gives; Villa a touch of magic". The Independent. 25 March 1996. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  7. ^ Alcuten, Carlos A. (16 May 2000). "EL PERSONAJE – El serbio flemático – El gol número 20 de Savo Milosevic da al Zaragoza opciones al título" [THE CHARACTER – The phlegmatic Serb – Savo Milosevic's goal number 20 gives Zaragoza a shot at the title]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Savo's Parma move imminent". BBC Sport. 27 July 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
  9. ^ Džeko je kralj transfera SFRJ (Džeko is the king of transfers in Yugoslavia); MTS Mondo, 7 January 2010 (in Serbian)
  10. ^ "Milosevic returns to Zaragoza". UEFA. 23 January 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
  11. ^ "La guerra del gol" [The war of goal] (in Spanish). El Periódico de Aragón. 21 February 2002. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Espanyol move for Milosevic". UEFA. 18 July 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
  13. ^ "Celta ride Ajax comeback". UEFA. 4 November 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  14. ^ "Milosevic takes Osasuna option". UEFA. 17 July 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
  15. ^ "Ruthless Osasuna stun Leverkusen". UEFA. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  16. ^ Mozzart Sport (13 August 2012). "Savo za MOZZART: Treba da se pomolimo Bogu i zasučemo rukave!" (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Milošević agrees return with Rubin". UEFA. 11 March 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
  18. ^ "Russian minnows hit the big time". BBC Sport. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  19. ^ "Festival International "Espoirs" de Toulon et du Var". www.festival-foot-espoirs.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  20. ^ Savo Milosevic – Goals in International Matches; at RSSSF
  21. ^ Savo MiloševićFIFA competition record (archived)
  22. ^ "Kluivert heads chase for Golden Boot". BBC Sport. 28 June 2000. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Argentina 6–0 Serbia & Montenegro". BBC Sport. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  24. ^ "Savo Milošević novi trener Partizana" (in Bosnian). Sport1.ba. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Partizan vs Čukarički". Rezultati.com (in Bosnian). Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  26. ^ K.H. (25 April 2019). "Crvena zvezda pokazala moć u odnosu na Partizan i slavila u "večitom derbiju"" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  27. ^ "SUPERLIGA JE ZAVŠRENA: Zvezda je šampion! Bačka i Zemun ispali u drugu ligu, Dimano u poslednjem trenutku izborio baraž! (FOTO)" (in Serbian). Kurir.rs. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  28. ^ "PARTIZAN NAPRAVIO ČUDO NA MARAKANI: Pehar četvrtu godinu zaredom ostaje u Humskoj! Crno-beli savladali Zvezdu u finalu Kupa Srbije! Saša Ilić sa trofejom otišao u legendu (KURIR TV)" (in Serbian). Kurir.rs. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  29. ^ Bataković, Marko. "UEFA ŠALJE MILIONE U HUMSKU! Evo koliko je Partizan zaradio samo od plasmana u Ligu Evrope!". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  30. ^ Catterall, Will (1 August 2019). "FK Partizan 3 Connah's Quay Nomads 0 - Nomads' Europa League adventure ends". northwales. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  31. ^ "ЈЕНИ МАЛАТИЈАСПОР - ПАРТИЗАН 1:0(1:0)". FK PARTIZAN (in Serbian). Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  32. ^ "МОЛДЕ - ПАРТИЗАН 1:1(0:0)". FK PARTIZAN (in Serbian). Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Europa League 2019/20: all the fixtures". UEFA. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  34. ^ R. K. (16 June 2021). "Novi trener Olimpije je Savo Milošević" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  35. ^ M. R. (10 October 2021). "Milošević ni več trener Olimpije" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  36. ^ E. B. (29 September 2023). "Nogometni savez potvrdio: Savo Milošević je novi selektor reprezentacije BiH". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  37. ^ M. Šljivak (13 October 2023). "Ljiljani konačno slavili: Prekid, parole protiv Saveza i rutinska pobjeda". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  38. ^ K. K. (16 October 2023). "BiH doživjela najteži domaći poraz u historiji i ostala bez teoretskih šansi za direktan plasman". Sport1.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  39. ^ "Zla kob porodice Milošević". 1 December 2013.
  40. ^ "Savo Milošević: Džeko, Pjanić, svi igrači uz mene! Volim Bosnu! Nisam nacionalista! Dat ću sve za "Zmajeve"". face.ba (in Bosnian). 7 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  41. ^ "Premier League – Milosevic's father killed by grandfather". Yahoo Sports. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  42. ^ "Father of former Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic killed by the grandfather after argument". The Daily Telegraph. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  43. ^ "Savo Milošević". thefinalball.com. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  44. ^ Savo Milošević at WorldFootball.net
  45. ^ "Savo Milošević". European Football. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  46. ^ "Savo Milosevic - Goals in International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  47. ^ "Savo Milosevic". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 21 March 2024.

External links[edit]