Mark Milligan isn’t someone to rest on his laurels.
Whether as a player, who enjoyed an illustrious career over two decades, or now as the coach of the Newcastle Jets, every move he makes is purposeful.
It’s probably why the 40-year-old excelled at the highest level, plying his trade in Australia, China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Scotland and England, as well as representing the Socceroos on 80 occasions between 2006 and 2019.
Along the way, the defending midfielder contested four FIFA World Cup tournaments, won the 2015 Asia Cup, two A-League premierships, an A-League championship and the Joe Marston Medal in the 2015 grand final.
“I like to challenge myself… and others,” Milligan said.
“No-one wants to stand still.
“That was probably evident [for me] from a young age.
“I think I just sort of kicked everything around the house, so my parents didn’t have much of a choice when it came to football.
“My dad played, as did my granddad (Harry) who was a massive influence on me.
“So, I guess it was more of a natural progression.
“For me, it was just the pathway when I was younger… and it grew as I grew.
“There was always an understanding that I had a decent idea about how to play the game.
“Obviously, there are certain challenges that come as you grow up.
“Back then I was quite small but, despite that, I always felt technically it was my pathway.
“And, I stuck to my guns.
I couldn’t be prouder of the fact that I represented my country 80-odd times, I got to captain the Socceroos, and I played in World Cups, Confederation Cups, the Olympics and Asian Cups.
Mark Milligan
“Now, when I reflect on everything, I’m extremely satisfied with what I achieved.
“I made a lot of decisions during my career based on the national team.
“Sure, I had dreams of going to England.
“When I was younger, I had that opportunity.
“However, it didn’t work out because of passports and things like that.
“So, early on in my career, my main focus was the Australian side.
“I made many decisions, whether that was club football or the recommendation from coaches like ‘Pim’ Verbeek or later Bert van Marwijk, that would keep me in that space.
“It’s why I’m able to look back on it all so fondly.
“Plus, I was lucky enough to have a family that supported me because it wasn’t always an easy journey… it involved a lot over such a lengthy period.
“But, I couldn’t be prouder of the fact that I represented my country 80-odd times, I got to captain the Socceroos, and I played in World Cups, Confederation Cups, the Olympics and Asian Cups.
“Ultimately, I have no regrets.
“I think a lot of that is down to the way that I was able to finish my career as well… on my terms.”
Milligan also emerged as a powerhouse in Australian football’s golden era.
His teammates read like a “who’s who” of our nation’s best at various stages, including Tim Cahill, Brett Emmerton, Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Mark Bresciano, Mile Jedinak and, of course, John Aloisi.
“I was fortunate, especially to be a part of that 2006 campaign,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.
“Actually, I got called in a little bit earlier (in 2005) to the first camp, however I had quite a serious injury with my groin.
“Luckily, Guus Hiddink had seen enough of me at the under-20 World Cup and I’d been back in the A-League long enough to make the squad.
“It was a massive turning point in Australian football in a lot of ways.
“Obviously, making a World Cup first and foremost for the national team but then, on the back of that, coming out of the first year of the A-League, which was very successful, especially for myself.
“I was part of the Sydney FC side that won it in 2006, which boasted some fantastic players (like English legend Dwight Yorke) and a fantastic coach (Pierre Littbarski).
“That was the start of a new era, particularly for me and my professional career.”
For good measure, Milligan enjoyed a brief stint with Newcastle in 2008/09, too.
It came after the Jets won the A-League championship, defeating F3 Derby rivals Central Coast Mariners 1-0.
“People probably wouldn’t understand the importance that played in my career,” he said.
“I’d been at Sydney FC for three years and I’d been over in England for six months; I’d also been through two failed attempts to get my visa approved.
“There were a lot of regulations around it then.
“So, I needed somewhere to play and it was mid-season.
“It wasn’t the easiest of situations.
“However, Newcastle threw me a lifeline in many ways.
“I hadn’t played for about four or five months, but I got back onto the pitch.
“That ultimately resulted in Shanghai Shenhua buying me.”
In due course, it’s also led to a full circle moment for Milligan, who retired from international football in December 2019.
He picked up a coaching clipboard, as an assistant at Macarthur FC, Adelaide United and the Malaysian national team, before linking up with the Jets following the departure of Rob Stanton.
“I believe my previous interaction with Newcastle helped me land back here,” he said.
“I know it was a short period.
“But, I think Maverick Sports Partners have been very open about the fact they want people who understand the city and the football team.
“Don’t forget, I was fortunate enough to play [here] and it was off the back of a very, very successful campaign where they had won it.
“We went through a tough time as a team that year… following success, we experienced a little bit of hardship.
“So, you sort of understand the expectation.
“As I said earlier, the Jets played an important role in my career going forward.
“However, it’s equally vital to get Newcastle’s identity back as a football club.
“That’s what I’m here to do.”
Milligan’s coaching aspirations arose when he was 23 or 24 while playing in Japan.
“I had a Dutch manager, who was very astute, very disciplined in the way he went about things… no rock unturned, so to speak,” he said.
“At the time, I was dealing with a recurrence of my groin injury.
“So, I spent about 10 hours a day at the training ground, watching him go about his work.
“He was very open and we enjoyed a good relationship.
“It’s certainly what piqued my interest.
“That was a real ‘look behind the curtain’ moment to a degree.”
And, Milligan particularly likes what he sees at the Jets.
“There’s some genuine talent at the club,” he said.
“I think we’ve known that for a long time.
“But, when I started to dig a bit deeper, it’s probably better than I thought it was.
“The key thing for me is it’s not just about Newcastle either… it’s a direction Australian football in general should be heading in.
“It isn’t just about picking young players.
“It’s about taking the time to teach them and giving them the opportunity to become the player that you need them to become or the player that they should be becoming.
“I’m not one who sees a young boy and says ‘no, he’s not good enough’.
“I, and the staff, need to spend the time with him.
“We must give the player the chance to become good enough.
“Again, that comes from a deep seeding in me where I was given that opportunity.
“I wasn’t judged on just what one coach saw on one day.
“I’m a big believer that if you spend that time with Australian players in general, when you put them in situations that are difficult and help improve them, then it’s not very often they’ll let you down.”
That’s something I had for the majority of my career – coaches who would test me in the way I did things, not just individually but within the way the team played.
Mark Milligan
It’s an ideology that may pay huge dividends for the Jets moving forward.
Already, Milligan has secured the Australia Cup, Newcastle’s first piece of silverware in 17 years.
And, the mentor did it without several of his guns.
“The biggest point is the boys who missed out… Clayton Taylor was unavailable, as was Eli Adams and Joe Shaughnessy for a lot of it,” he said.
“Lachlan Rose missed the start, too.
“That allowed us to not just bring in young players, we rewarded them on merit as well.
“They got to prove themselves quite early.
“We’re very focused on building a squad, not a starting 11, however it takes time.
“I think the Australia Cup sort of summarised our pre-season.
“I know for a fact there were a few nervous people when I substituted Kota (Mizunuma) and Max (Burgess) out of matches.
“But, after spending the past three-and-a-half months with these guys, on a daily basis, I had the utmost confidence in the youngsters.
“The final, itself, showed our fans the direction we’re heading in.
“Yes, there’s still a long way to go.
“However, I’m witnessing first-hand what we’re building.
“I want our supporters to understand it’s not a blind faith I have in these boys.
“Again, I acknowledge we’re not the side that we want to be yet.
“There’s a lot of growth and, down the track, there’ll be change as well.
“But, I’m not going to put restrictions on them, even our more experienced players are still quite young.
“If I place targets on what we need to achieve to be successful, then I’m doing them an injustice in many ways.
“The only way to start down that path is to follow it [early]… and that’s very much what we’ve done, whether it be at training or on the field.”
So, the sky’s the limit for the Jets?
“I certainly think so,” Milligan said.
“Sure, it’s a new environment for many of them.
“While a lot have been involved with the A-League before, a lot of these boys who played in the Australia Cup haven’t experienced it yet.
“However, I’m excited by what lays ahead.
“Like I previously mentioned, growth is a focal point of their development.
“The future looks bright.
“So, I’ll challenge them all the time.
“Again, that’s something that was important to me in my career.
“It’s also a major reason I retired… I knew I was ready because I didn’t feel like I was learning any more.
“I wasn’t being challenged daily.
“That’s something I had for the majority of my career – coaches who would test me in the way I did things, not just individually but within the way the team played.”
And, as for living in Newcastle, Milligan has nothing but praise.
“It’s fantastic, I’m loving it,” he said.
“Look, I spend a lot of time at work and just to be able to go and grab some dinner along the water and things like that, it’s great.
“The people are lovely as well.
“One thing I’ve definitely felt from the very beginning and it’s something I’ve always known, there’s a passion for football here.”
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