Darko MilaniÃÂ (born 18 December 1967) is a Slovenian professional football manager and former player who is the current manager of UAE Pro League club Al Wahda.
As a player, MilaniÃÂ represented both Yugoslavia and Slovenia at international level. He also captained Slovenia at UEFA Euro 2000.
Born in Izola, Milaniàbegan his football career with local side NK Izola. In the 1986âÂÂ87 season, he joined Partizan. During his time at Partizan, he won the Yugoslav First League and the Yugoslav Cup twice.
After the 1992âÂÂ93 season, Milaniàmoved 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, MilaniÃÂ retired early due to injury and to pursue a coaching career in football.
During his spell at Serbian club Partizan, MilaniÃÂ 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.
Milaniàlater 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 3âÂÂ3 draw.
After his football career, Milaniàturned 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 2006âÂÂ07 season.
At the start of the 2007âÂÂ08 season, Milaniàwas appointed as the head coach of Gorica, where he helped guide them to a third-place finish in the Slovenian PrvaLiga. In the 2007âÂÂ08 UEFA Cup, the team was knocked out in the first qualifying round after losing over two legs to RabotniÃÂki.
On 29 May 2008, Milaniàwas appointed head coach at Maribor by Director of Football Zlatko ZahoviÃÂ. He won the Slovenian PrvaLiga during his first year in the 2008âÂÂ09 season. In May 2010, Maribor won the Slovenian Cup. After winning this trophy, Milaniàbecame 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 2012âÂÂ13 season, Maribor played in their fourth successive Supercup. The club defeated their "eternal rivals" Olimpija Ljubljana 2âÂÂ1 to clinch their second Supercup title. In January 2013, Milaniàwas selected as the Slovenian Manager of the Year for 2012 by winning the league, cup and supercup.
Milaniàled Maribor to the group stages of the 2012âÂÂ13 UEFA Europa League as one of the losers in the play-off round of the 2012âÂÂ13 UEFA Champions League, where they were eliminated by Dinamo Zagreb. This was the second season in a row in which Maribor qualified to the Europa League main stages. They managed to get four points out of six matches, defeating Panathinaikos and drawing with Tottenham Hotspur, both at home. On 9 November 2012, Maribor suffered a 3âÂÂ1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur after a hat-trick by Jermain Defoe. In the final game of Group J, Maribor suffered a 4âÂÂ1 defeat to Lazio.
Maribor confirmed their eleventh league title on 11 May 2013 after defeating Olimpija Ljubljana 2âÂÂ1. In the 2013 Cup Final, Maribor defeated Celje 1âÂÂ0, thus securing their fourth "double" in the club's history.
On 4 June 2013, Milaniàbecame a manager of Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga, with Novica NikÃÂeviàas his assistant. One of his first signings was Robert BeriÃÂ, whom he signed from his former club, Maribor. Sturm Graz were knocked out of the Europa League after losing 1âÂÂ0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round to Breiðablik UBK. He led his side to a fifth-place finish during his first season during the 2013âÂÂ14 season.
On 21 September 2014, during a press conference, Sturm Graz revealed that MilaniÃÂ would be leaving the club to join an English side Leeds United after agreeing to buy out his contract at Sturm Graz to make the move.
On 23 September 2014, Milaniàwas appointed as manager of Leeds United on a two-year deal, replacing Dave Hockaday. He was joined at Leeds by his Sturm Graz assistant Novica NikÃÂeviÃÂ. Milaniàparted company on 25 October 2014, minutes after a 2âÂÂ1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers, just 32 days after taking over, for failing to win any of his six games in charge.
On 2 March 2016, Milaniàreturned to the Slovenian PrvaLiga club Maribor. He became the Slovenian champion with the team in the 2016âÂÂ17 season. Milaniàled Maribor to the group stages of the 2017âÂÂ18 UEFA Champions League after eliminating Zrinjski Mostar, Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar, and Hapoel Be'er-Sheva in the qualifying rounds. In the 2018âÂÂ19 season, he won his sixth league title with Maribor. He resigned in March 2020 after a 2âÂÂ1 home defeat against Bravo.
On 7 September 2020, MilaniÃÂ took charge of Slovak club Slovan Bratislava, signing a one-year contract with an option for further two years, with Novica NikÃÂeviÃÂ named as his assistant. He was sacked on 9 May 2021 after a series of poor results, despite reaching the cup final and topping the league table.
On 30 June 2021, Milaniàwas appointed as head coach of Pafos on a two-year contract. He was sacked on 10 May 2022 after a 1âÂÂ0 defeat against Anorthosis Famagusta, one round before the end of the season.
On 22 June 2022, he signed a two-year contract with Cypriot First Division club Anorthosis Famagusta. He was sacked on 3 October after managing just five games.
On 8 June 2023, Milaniàsigned a one-year contract with the UAE Pro League side Baniyas for the 2023âÂÂ24 season.
Partizan
Sturm Graz
Maribor
Individual