Darko Milanič

Born in Izola, Milanič began his football career with local side NK Izola. In the 1986–87 season, he joined Partizan. During his time at Partizan, he won the Yugoslav First League and the Yugoslav Cup twice. After the 1992–93 season, Milanič moved to the Austrian side Sturm Graz, where he played for eight seasons and won eight trophies, including two Austrian Bundesliga titles, three Austrian Cups and three Austrian Supercups. In 2000, at the age of 32, Milanič retired early due to injury and to pursue a coaching career in football.

During his spell at Serbian club Partizan, Milanič earned five caps for Yugoslavia. Even after Slovenia's independence, he was included by Yugoslavia in their squad for Euro 1992, but the nation would be suspended due to the Yugoslav Wars. Milanič later represented Slovenia, earning 42 caps. He captained his country at Euro 2000, including a match against his former national team, Yugoslavia, which ended in a 3–3 draw.

After his football career, Milanič turned to coaching. He started his coaching career at his hometown club Izola. After that, he was appointed manager of Primorje and an assistant coach at Sturm Graz under Franco Foda during the 2006–07 season.

Gorica

At the start of the 2007–08 season, Milanič was appointed as the head coach of Gorica, where he helped guide them to a third-place finish in the Slovenian PrvaLiga. In the 2007–08 UEFA Cup, the team was knocked out in the first qualifying round after losing over two legs to Rabotnički.

Maribor

On 29 May 2008, Milanič was appointed head coach at Maribor by Director of Football Zlatko Zahovič. He won the Slovenian PrvaLiga during his first year in the 2008–09 season. In May 2010, Maribor won the Slovenian Cup. After winning this trophy, Milanič became the first coach that have won all three domestic trophies in Slovenian club football, having won the Slovenian League and the Slovenian Supercup before that. He has achieved that in only two seasons. At the beginning of the 2012–13 season, Maribor played in their fourth successive Supercup. The club defeated their "eternal rivals" Olimpija Ljubljana 2–1 to clinch their second Supercup title. In January 2013, Milanič was selected as the Slovenian Manager of the Year for 2012 by winning the league, cup and supercup. Milanič led Maribor to the group stages of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League as one of the losers in the play-off round of the 2012–13 UEFA Champions…

Player

Partizan

Yugoslav First League: 1986–87 Yugoslav Cup: 1988–89, 1991–92 Sturm Graz

Austrian Bundesliga: 1997–98, 1998–99 Austrian Cup: 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99 Austrian Supercup: 1996, 1998, 1999

Manager

Maribor

Slovenian PrvaLiga: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2018–19 Slovenian Cup: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2015–16 Slovenian Supercup: 2009, 2012 Individual

Slovenian PrvaLiga Manager of the Season: 2011–12