https://www.scmp.com/rss/522890/feed The latest news and top stories on Ante Milicic. An Australian football manager and former professional player, Milicic was recently appointed head coach of the China women’s national football team in May 2024. His coaching background included leading the Australia women’s national team to the Round of 16 at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. His experience also encompasses assistant roles with the Australia men’s national team during two World Cup campaigns and their 2015 AFC Asian Cup victory.... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse China coach Ante Milicic said his “brave” team was tracking in the right direction despite their crushing loss to Australia in the Women’s Asian Cup semi-finals. The defending champions lost in Perth on Tuesday to a moment of magic from star Matildas striker Sam Kerr, who sealed a 2-1 win for the hosts. Wednesday’s second semi-final pits form team Japan against South Korea. “I thought we were brave. We tried to press the opposition at times, but in the end they have that individual quality and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346948/womens-asian-cup-china-coach-says-team-right-track-despite-semi-final-heartache?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346948/womens-asian-cup-china-coach-says-team-right-track-despite-semi-final-heartache?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:07:27 +0000 Reuters Reuters Former Australia coach Ante Milicic will put sentiment aside as he ⁠guides defending champions China against ⁠the Matildas in their Asian Cup ⁠semi-final on Tuesday. Milicic coached the tournament hosts in 2019-20 and took them to the last 16 of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France before cutting short his contract to return to club football in the men’s A-League. The 51-year-old joined China in 2024 after they failed ‌to qualify for the Paris Olympics, and he has already made his mark at the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346743/womens-asian-cup-ex-australia-coach-enjoying-journey-china-ahead-semi-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346743/womens-asian-cup-ex-australia-coach-enjoying-journey-china-ahead-semi-final?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:00:15 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse China coach Ante Milicic declared his team has no fear of facing hosts Australia in front of a big crowd in their Women’s Asian Cup semi-final, calling them “resilient and patriotic”, as ruthless Japan crushed the Philippines 7-0 on Sunday to book their spot against South Korea. Defending champions China meet Sam Kerr’s Matildas at the 60,000-capacity Perth Stadium on Tuesday after needing extra time to edge Chinese Taipei 2-0 in their last-eight clash on Saturday despite being raging... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346647/womens-asian-cup-resilient-china-dont-fear-hosts-australia-japan-smash-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346647/womens-asian-cup-resilient-china-dont-fear-hosts-australia-japan-smash-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 07:23:40 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse China coach Ante Milicic urged his players on Friday to remain “calm and confident” in a charged Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final against Chinese Taipei. The reigning champions are targeting a record-extending 10th continental title but are wary of opponents who have shown improvement as the tournament has progressed. Chinese Taipei were beaten 2-0 by strongly fancied Japan in the group phase but were by no means outclassed. “They gave Japan a very difficult game and then went on to win their... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346482/womens-asian-cup-china-coach-tells-players-stay-calm-chinese-taipei-quarter-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346482/womens-asian-cup-china-coach-tells-players-stay-calm-chinese-taipei-quarter-final?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Defending champions China are looking to recreate their glory days at the Women’s Asian Cup, but the Steel Roses’ hopes of a record 10th title face a daunting challenge from powerhouse Japan, hosts Australia and dark horse North Korea. The 12-team competition gets under way in Western Australian city Perth on Sunday, when Sam Kerr’s Matildas face the Philippines in a tournament organisers hope will create a similar buzz to the 2023 Women’s World Cup. That showcase, co-hosted by Australia and New... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3344847/china-chase-glory-days-womens-asian-cup-japan-australia-north-korea-stand-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3344847/china-chase-glory-days-womens-asian-cup-japan-australia-north-korea-stand-way?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:51:47 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse China coach Ante Milicic has admitted that the country has fallen far behind the top sides in women’s football as the Asian nation attempts to pull off a surprise with back-to-back continental crowns. The Women’s Asian Cup kicks off on March 1 with Japan, North Korea and hosts Australia chief among the title contenders. China are reigning champions and the most successful team in the history of the competition, but the days when they were among the world elite are long gone. Results since... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343166/china-coach-warns-growing-gap-elite-ahead-womens-asian-cup-title-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343166/china-coach-warns-growing-gap-elite-ahead-womens-asian-cup-title-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:00:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ante Milicic left Australia during the depths of Covid feeling burnt ‌out after 15 years coaching but will return with new purpose as he leads China into the defence of their Women’s Asian ‍Cup title. Australia will host the March 1-21 tournament in Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast, four years after Shui Qingxia-coached China shocked South Korea 3-2 in the 2022 final in India to claim their record-extending ninth title. Former Australia women’s coach Milicic replaced Shui in 2024, with the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3342406/womens-asian-cup-china-coach-ante-milicic-overcomes-burnout-lead-teams-title-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3342406/womens-asian-cup-china-coach-ante-milicic-overcomes-burnout-lead-teams-title-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:00:37 +0000 Reuters Reuters China women’s head coach Ante Milicic believes the reigning Asian champions must stop dwelling on past success or risk falling further behind the game’s leading nations as investment in the sport increases globally. The Australian was appointed to the role in May last year after the Steel Roses’ poor showing at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and the failure to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games led to the departure of former coach Shui Qingxia. Shui had steered the country to a record ninth Women’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3324977/china-boss-milicic-wants-country-focus-future-or-risk-falling-further-behind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3324977/china-boss-milicic-wants-country-focus-future-or-risk-falling-further-behind?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 04:00:15 +0000 Reuters Reuters Defending champions China have been drawn to face North Korea, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan in the group phase of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, with hosts Australia opening the three-week-long tournament against the Philippines on March 1 in Perth. The Joe Montemurro-coached Matildas will also take on South Korea and Iran in the 12-nation continental championship, while Japan, currently Asia’s highest-ranked team, will face Taiwan, Vietnam and India in the group phase. “For us to have three games all... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320035/holders-china-face-north-korea-bangladesh-uzbekistan-2026-womens-asian-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320035/holders-china-face-north-korea-bangladesh-uzbekistan-2026-womens-asian-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:53:06 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Exactly 26 years after being beaten on penalties in the World Cup final by the United States, China’s women have been warned they are in danger of not even being the best side in Asia. While their 1999 rivals have gone on to win the global tournament twice more, and added four Olympic golds, the Steel Roses have spiralled and are now ranked 17th in the world, with Asian Games and Asian Cup golds the peak of their achievements. On Wednesday, they were held to a 2-2 draw by South Korea in their... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317641/26-years-after-world-cup-final-loss-usa-are-chinas-women-even-best-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317641/26-years-after-world-cup-final-loss-usa-are-chinas-women-even-best-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:30:07 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara As four male head coaches get set to lead their teams in the women’s East Asian Football Championship, the China captain Wu Haiyan said it “would be a very good improvement for football” if more women filled the top Asian jobs. Wu’s international boss is Ante Milicic, who was appointed in May last year after Shui Qingxia was sacked following China’s failed Olympic qualifying campaign. The six China bosses before Shui, who was in charge for two years until November 2023, were all men. China will... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317374/give-women-top-jobs-says-chinas-wu-4-men-take-charge-asia-football-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317374/give-women-top-jobs-says-chinas-wu-4-men-take-charge-asia-football-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 01:00:12 +0000