Women’s Asian Cup: China coach Ante Milicic overcomes burnout to lead team’s title defence
Chinese team to face North Korea, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh next month in their homeland of their coach, who is enjoying his new adventure
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 former China midfielder and Olympic silver medallist sacked after the team failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Milicic and a cohort of Australian assistants now run the show as China looks to go back-to-back in the quadrennial, 12-nation showpiece.
For 51-year-old Milicic, it has been a case of getting back on the horse following his 2022 exit from Sydney-based Macarthur FC during a personally trying period at the A-League team.
Milicic resettled with his family in his parents’ homeland of Croatia for a break before China came calling.