Milenko Acimovic
Encyclopedia
Milenko Ačimović is a former Slovenia
n footballer who last played for Austria giants Austria Wien
. He was a playmaker who has a great passing range and an abundance of skill. On 15 September, 2010, Ačimovič ended his football career following a persistent right knee injury.
. As an extremely gifted youngster, he made three first-team appearances for Zeleznicar
when he was just 17 years old. From 1996 until 1998 he found himself again playing for Olimpija, scoring 7 goals in 34 matches. He then joined Red Star Belgrade
.
Milenko played in Belgrade
for four and a half years. He developed into quite a dependable midfielder. After successful appearances for Slovenia
n national team in Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002
, many bigger European clubs expressed interest in him. In the summer of 2002, he joined Tottenham Hotspur. In his first season in London
, he made a few appearances, but never established himself as a first team player. In his second season, he became a fringe player.
In January 2004 he joined the French club Lille
on loan until the end of the season. When he arrived, the club was in 14th place in the Ligue 1, but after some good form and fine performances by Acimovic they finished the season as runners up and therefore qualified for the Champions League
. In the first year they also played in the UEFA Cup
and were eliminated in the last 16. They played in the third qualifying round of the Champions League
, and successfully reached the group stages. Mile was Lille's creative spark and scored against Manchester United when Lille won the game in Paris 1-0. That was Lille's only goal of the campaign.
After playing for Lille in France
for 2½ seasons he fell out of favor and surprisingly joined Al-Ittihad for the 2006-07 season. After failing to adapt to life in Saudi Arabia, he agreed on a mutual termination of the contract, subsequently moving back to Europe to join Austria Wien
. On 15 September 2010, Austria Vienna midfielder Milenko Acimovic ended his football career following a persistent right knee injury.
Ačimović returned to Slovenia
and has been appointed the Director of football at Olimpija Ljubljana in the January of 2011. When he started with his job in the club, the team gained 6 positions in the championship. They are still undefeated in 2011, with 7 wins and 4 draws.
on 22 April 1998 in Murska Sobota
against the Czech Republic
. He gave many notable performances for the national team, including a spectacular goal scored from the middle of the field against Ukraine in the Euro 2000 play-off. He represented Slovenia at both Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002
, scoring in their 1-3 defeat to Paraguay
in Seogwipo
. His final appearance for the national side came on 28 March 2007 in Celje
, during a 1-0 home defeat to the Netherlands
in a Euro 2008 qualification match. He announced his retirement from international football that August.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n footballer who last played for Austria giants Austria Wien
FK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA...
. He was a playmaker who has a great passing range and an abundance of skill. On 15 September, 2010, Ačimovič ended his football career following a persistent right knee injury.
Club career
Born in Ljubljana, in present day Slovenia to Serbian parents, young Milenko started his career in the youth ranks of Olimpija LjubljanaNK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962...
. As an extremely gifted youngster, he made three first-team appearances for Zeleznicar
NK Ljubljana
NK Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in the capital city of Ljubljana. The club was established in 1909 and dissolved in 2005. A successor club which claimed rights to Ljubljana's honours and records was established in 2005 bearing the name FC Ljubljana...
when he was just 17 years old. From 1996 until 1998 he found himself again playing for Olimpija, scoring 7 goals in 34 matches. He then joined Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
.
Milenko played in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
for four and a half years. He developed into quite a dependable midfielder. After successful appearances for Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n national team in Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, many bigger European clubs expressed interest in him. In the summer of 2002, he joined Tottenham Hotspur. In his first season in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he made a few appearances, but never established himself as a first team player. In his second season, he became a fringe player.
In January 2004 he joined the French club Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
on loan until the end of the season. When he arrived, the club was in 14th place in the Ligue 1, but after some good form and fine performances by Acimovic they finished the season as runners up and therefore qualified for the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. In the first year they also played in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
and were eliminated in the last 16. They played in the third qualifying round of the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, and successfully reached the group stages. Mile was Lille's creative spark and scored against Manchester United when Lille won the game in Paris 1-0. That was Lille's only goal of the campaign.
After playing for Lille in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for 2½ seasons he fell out of favor and surprisingly joined Al-Ittihad for the 2006-07 season. After failing to adapt to life in Saudi Arabia, he agreed on a mutual termination of the contract, subsequently moving back to Europe to join Austria Wien
FK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA...
. On 15 September 2010, Austria Vienna midfielder Milenko Acimovic ended his football career following a persistent right knee injury.
Ačimović returned to Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and has been appointed the Director of football at Olimpija Ljubljana in the January of 2011. When he started with his job in the club, the team gained 6 positions in the championship. They are still undefeated in 2011, with 7 wins and 4 draws.
International career
He debuted for the Slovenia national teamSlovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
on 22 April 1998 in Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota is a city in northeastern Slovenia. It is located in the eponymous municipality near the Mura River in the region of Prekmurje and is the regional capital.-Name:...
against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
. He gave many notable performances for the national team, including a spectacular goal scored from the middle of the field against Ukraine in the Euro 2000 play-off. He represented Slovenia at both Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, scoring in their 1-3 defeat to Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
in Seogwipo
Seogwipo
Seogwipo is a city in Jeju Province, South Korea with a pre-2008 estimated population of 155,000 inhabitants. In July, 2006, Seogwipo city was expanded to include the entire southern half of Jeju island. In 2002, it was one of the host cities for the FIFA World Cup.-Climate:-External links:*...
. His final appearance for the national side came on 28 March 2007 in Celje
Celje
Celje is a typical Central European town and the third largest town in Slovenia. It is a regional center of Lower Styria and the administrative seat of the Urban Municipality of Celje . The town of Celje is located under Upper Celje Castle at the confluence of the Savinja, Ložnica, and Voglajna...
, during a 1-0 home defeat to the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
in a Euro 2008 qualification match. He announced his retirement from international football that August.