Australia’s youngest member of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ squad, and one of only two A-League players on the 23-man roster. A mobile defender with good ball skills and an ability to play a raking pass, Milligan has been utilised across the backline and also in a defensive midfield role at club level. Normally used in central defence for the Socceroos, Milligan played only one match in the qualifying campaign for South Africa 2010, but he performed well in what was the final chance to impress coach Pim Verbeek against Indonesia in March scoring the winning goal which confirmed Australia’s ticket to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
Milligan performed with distinction for Australia’s youth teams including wearing the captain’s armband at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Netherlands 2005 and again at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He made his senior international debut against Liechtenstein the week prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup and though Milligan didn’t take the field at Germany 2006, he went on to feature heavily at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.
At club level Milligan had three seasons with home town club Sydney FC helping the team to the inaugural A-League championship in 2005. After a full season with top Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, Milligan is currently enjoying a good campaign with Japanese club JEF United Chiba who were relegated from the J.League top flight at the end of last season.
