Bear
Well-Known Member
EXCLUSIVE: Ljubo Milicevic has broken his silence over his nightmare 2008 as he looks to relaunch his football career with his childhood team in Melbourne.
Milicevic, 27, a former Socceroo who was part of the national team's famous 2005 qualification squad, departed Melbourne Victory in acrimonious circumstances last year.
au.fourfourtwo.com spoke with the former Melbourne Victory player this afternoon and he reveals all about his life in 2008 and what's ahead in 2009.
Here are his words as told to me by the player himself in this revealing look at the life and times of Ljubo Milicevic.
2008?
"I didn't enjoy myself at my last club. It became a chore. I basically hated and I don't use that word lightly I hated going there.
And there were six months when I didn't want to talk to anyone, even family [after leaving the club]
It was tough. I considered quitting the game. I didn't know what to do with myself. I sat at home for a good six months and ate heaps of chocolate and watched heaps of DVDs and slept on the couch all day.
Mate, if i'm really honest, I watched heaps of porn as well! You can put that in.
The wake up call was when my brother said I should apply for the dole... which was a sad moment.
A massive rollercoaster, my life in 2008. Some have said it should be a reality TV show. In fact there were rumours of me being on Big Brother but that's not true. I only kissed a girl who was on the show.
I'm just me.. but for a while there it was really tough and I didn't deal with it well. It overwhelmed me.
I couldn't walk down the street for being asked what was going on with Victory. If it was a positive story, it's cool, but when it's negative, your're constantly reminded of it.
The way I dealt with it wasn't good but at the time, I gave it my best.
Victory in 2008.
"I should have left early on, I had offers. But I was convinced to stay and told him I was not going to back down to anyone. Obviously one person comes to mind.
Then I did my knee. When you're fit and playing well, a certain person wouldn't have anything to say. He'd have no power. But because I was not playing, everything I did became an issue. The clothes I wore. The car, who I hung out with. I was banned from talking to the media after the Adelaide game.
My way of getting back at them was to get my photo in the social pages. To be honest, no-one's seen my face in the social pages for a year because I don't need to be there.
But at the time I was doing it to piss them off. It was immature of me but funny.
2008 was amazing and no-one knows the half of it. It was unfortunate that I couldn't speak about a lot of it. I still can't because I left the club and got a payout.
To be honest, I don't hold any bitterness towards the players. I bump into them at the gym, and shake everyone's hands ... except the coaching staff who I think would rather cross the road than look at me. I don't know why but I'm over. It's an ugly thing and it's pretty negative [to hold such bitterness]. No-one should bring such anger and bittnerness in them.
But I've nothing but love for them [the team]. I've started watching games at Telstra Dome again and I love Archie, Nicky Ward and Danny Vasilevski to death. Rocks in my corner all the time. They were in a precarious position being at the club but they are my best buddies but basically everyone was being told to steer clear of me, even the young boys. They were having meetings behind my back.
Which was surprising given they said I'd be a future captain at the club. So it was surprising how quickly things turned.
I had offers from overseas and I could've played in the A-League but I chose not because I didn't want to go where my heart wasn't in it.
At the time I wasn't dealing with it correctly. When I was copping shit from the club I became defensive and didn't deal with it better.
Adding to that, I was getting drunk a few nights a week. At the time I was a party boy in Melbourne. I was everywhere and I have a lot of buddies in the industry. I just love music.
Drug use rumours
I want to make it clear I don't condone drug use. I've never done drugs. Victory at one stage accused me of drug use. I offered for them to cut my hair and take tests every Monday. They said they couldn't do that. I didn't understand that because I was volunteering.
To, that was a massive slap in the face. I've never been accused of that in my life. That showed how far the'd come to disrespect me like that.
Actually, that hurt me more than anything else. I wanted to tell them to get f****d.
I asked them to bring the person to me who was accusing me so I could confront them. I'm pretty sure it came from ######### anyway because he was gunning from me from the start.
Football in 2009?
"I'm playing for my old club Chelsea Hajduk who've merged with another club and are now called Dandenong City [Victorian divisional club]. I'm going to training on Tuesday night and they've got a tournament with some other Croatian-heritage clubs Sunday week. They're all my childhood frends.
I'm hoping to enjoy my football again and push the team up to the premier league. I don't know how long I'll be there I just want to enjoy playing the game again. It's why I played the game as a kid.
I'll be honest, there is talk about playing overseas and in the A-League, but I don't want to go anywhere where my heart isn't in it.
I love football to death. I think to get me to go to a Victory game was the final piece in the puzzle of forgiveness and bitterness.
The nicest thing anyone's said to me? "You've got a big heart?"
Life in 2009
"I'm going back to uni to study Eastern philosophies and work for my friends the Diacos who own a nursery called Diaco's Nursery where I'm collecting trolleys and lifting pots. And play for Dandenong City. I'm super-happy.
Everyone knows I've always been a bit of a thinker and over the last year I've done a lot of reflection, where I want to go and who I want to be and without sounding like a wank, I'm discovering more about myself. I've got a special lady who helps me with my meditation, she does Reiki, a form of. She's helped me a lot and I've learned to meditate and stay focused and be the best person I can be.
I've always had an affinity or affection for Eastern philosophy, such as Buddhism. I've got a Budda tattooed on my arm but I thought I'd do more than just a tattoo and get inside the philosophy.
Life is a constant challenge and it's important to be the kindest loving person you can be and Buddhism shows you in a lot of way. Look, I'm not saying I'll convert, but I definitely agree with a lot of the principles.
I've a passion for life.
Look, I do go out for a boogie but I can count on one hand the times I've been out in the last three or four months.
Role models
"There's a time and a place but I don't think it's fair that athletes are looked upon as role models. Athletes are human too and we all f**k up.
I think everyone's role models should be their parents.
I think people should, and it'simportant, that people look up to their parents.
And if you look at the Ben Cousins situation I know for a fact a lot of the media are hypocrites [on the drugs use situation].
I feel for him. I hope he gets back and shoves it up everyone's arse.
Victory supporters
"I hope they [Victory] win it this year. Let's not forget, for me it's about the supporters.
It's important that I want to say that it's not about Merrick, Cole, Muscat or me. It's about the supporters.
They make the club. I go there now and I enjoy sitting there at Telstra Dome at the north end and listening to their chants. It reminds of being in Europe. I take friends who haven't experienced the game before ... and they see the passion of football.
442 forums
And I know when people read this people are going to jump on your forums and bag me and everyone has a right to do that.
But all I wish is for them to have a look in the mirror.
Ljubo on Ljubo
"This is my life. You'd piss yourself laughing at my life. I can't deny who I am.
My biggest fault I've been told is that I'm truthful. In society it seems the more truthful you are the more shit you cop.
I guess my love of a gay disco [Love Machine] proved to be the cure at the time [in 2008]. I don't know what's wrong with just going and having a dance.
In society if you do that you're automatically looked down upon and on drugs. But not everyone is on drugs who go to niteclubs. Some of us just like the music.
And everyone knows I'd been living with the guy who is a part owner of the Love Machine.
I did like going to the Love Machine on Sunday because no-one knew me, bothered me or asked me about Victory.
I'd got there, get on the dancefloor and no-one cared who I was. It was the only place I could go and be left alone.. apart from a few guys grabbing my arse!
It's not about living to anyone else's expectations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
wow
Milicevic, 27, a former Socceroo who was part of the national team's famous 2005 qualification squad, departed Melbourne Victory in acrimonious circumstances last year.
au.fourfourtwo.com spoke with the former Melbourne Victory player this afternoon and he reveals all about his life in 2008 and what's ahead in 2009.
Here are his words as told to me by the player himself in this revealing look at the life and times of Ljubo Milicevic.
2008?
"I didn't enjoy myself at my last club. It became a chore. I basically hated and I don't use that word lightly I hated going there.
And there were six months when I didn't want to talk to anyone, even family [after leaving the club]
It was tough. I considered quitting the game. I didn't know what to do with myself. I sat at home for a good six months and ate heaps of chocolate and watched heaps of DVDs and slept on the couch all day.
Mate, if i'm really honest, I watched heaps of porn as well! You can put that in.
The wake up call was when my brother said I should apply for the dole... which was a sad moment.
A massive rollercoaster, my life in 2008. Some have said it should be a reality TV show. In fact there were rumours of me being on Big Brother but that's not true. I only kissed a girl who was on the show.
I'm just me.. but for a while there it was really tough and I didn't deal with it well. It overwhelmed me.
I couldn't walk down the street for being asked what was going on with Victory. If it was a positive story, it's cool, but when it's negative, your're constantly reminded of it.
The way I dealt with it wasn't good but at the time, I gave it my best.
Victory in 2008.
"I should have left early on, I had offers. But I was convinced to stay and told him I was not going to back down to anyone. Obviously one person comes to mind.
Then I did my knee. When you're fit and playing well, a certain person wouldn't have anything to say. He'd have no power. But because I was not playing, everything I did became an issue. The clothes I wore. The car, who I hung out with. I was banned from talking to the media after the Adelaide game.
My way of getting back at them was to get my photo in the social pages. To be honest, no-one's seen my face in the social pages for a year because I don't need to be there.
But at the time I was doing it to piss them off. It was immature of me but funny.
2008 was amazing and no-one knows the half of it. It was unfortunate that I couldn't speak about a lot of it. I still can't because I left the club and got a payout.
To be honest, I don't hold any bitterness towards the players. I bump into them at the gym, and shake everyone's hands ... except the coaching staff who I think would rather cross the road than look at me. I don't know why but I'm over. It's an ugly thing and it's pretty negative [to hold such bitterness]. No-one should bring such anger and bittnerness in them.
But I've nothing but love for them [the team]. I've started watching games at Telstra Dome again and I love Archie, Nicky Ward and Danny Vasilevski to death. Rocks in my corner all the time. They were in a precarious position being at the club but they are my best buddies but basically everyone was being told to steer clear of me, even the young boys. They were having meetings behind my back.
Which was surprising given they said I'd be a future captain at the club. So it was surprising how quickly things turned.
I had offers from overseas and I could've played in the A-League but I chose not because I didn't want to go where my heart wasn't in it.
At the time I wasn't dealing with it correctly. When I was copping shit from the club I became defensive and didn't deal with it better.
Adding to that, I was getting drunk a few nights a week. At the time I was a party boy in Melbourne. I was everywhere and I have a lot of buddies in the industry. I just love music.
Drug use rumours
I want to make it clear I don't condone drug use. I've never done drugs. Victory at one stage accused me of drug use. I offered for them to cut my hair and take tests every Monday. They said they couldn't do that. I didn't understand that because I was volunteering.
To, that was a massive slap in the face. I've never been accused of that in my life. That showed how far the'd come to disrespect me like that.
Actually, that hurt me more than anything else. I wanted to tell them to get f****d.
I asked them to bring the person to me who was accusing me so I could confront them. I'm pretty sure it came from ######### anyway because he was gunning from me from the start.
Football in 2009?
"I'm playing for my old club Chelsea Hajduk who've merged with another club and are now called Dandenong City [Victorian divisional club]. I'm going to training on Tuesday night and they've got a tournament with some other Croatian-heritage clubs Sunday week. They're all my childhood frends.
I'm hoping to enjoy my football again and push the team up to the premier league. I don't know how long I'll be there I just want to enjoy playing the game again. It's why I played the game as a kid.
I'll be honest, there is talk about playing overseas and in the A-League, but I don't want to go anywhere where my heart isn't in it.
I love football to death. I think to get me to go to a Victory game was the final piece in the puzzle of forgiveness and bitterness.
The nicest thing anyone's said to me? "You've got a big heart?"
Life in 2009
"I'm going back to uni to study Eastern philosophies and work for my friends the Diacos who own a nursery called Diaco's Nursery where I'm collecting trolleys and lifting pots. And play for Dandenong City. I'm super-happy.
Everyone knows I've always been a bit of a thinker and over the last year I've done a lot of reflection, where I want to go and who I want to be and without sounding like a wank, I'm discovering more about myself. I've got a special lady who helps me with my meditation, she does Reiki, a form of. She's helped me a lot and I've learned to meditate and stay focused and be the best person I can be.
I've always had an affinity or affection for Eastern philosophy, such as Buddhism. I've got a Budda tattooed on my arm but I thought I'd do more than just a tattoo and get inside the philosophy.
Life is a constant challenge and it's important to be the kindest loving person you can be and Buddhism shows you in a lot of way. Look, I'm not saying I'll convert, but I definitely agree with a lot of the principles.
I've a passion for life.
Look, I do go out for a boogie but I can count on one hand the times I've been out in the last three or four months.
Role models
"There's a time and a place but I don't think it's fair that athletes are looked upon as role models. Athletes are human too and we all f**k up.
I think everyone's role models should be their parents.
I think people should, and it'simportant, that people look up to their parents.
And if you look at the Ben Cousins situation I know for a fact a lot of the media are hypocrites [on the drugs use situation].
I feel for him. I hope he gets back and shoves it up everyone's arse.
Victory supporters
"I hope they [Victory] win it this year. Let's not forget, for me it's about the supporters.
It's important that I want to say that it's not about Merrick, Cole, Muscat or me. It's about the supporters.
They make the club. I go there now and I enjoy sitting there at Telstra Dome at the north end and listening to their chants. It reminds of being in Europe. I take friends who haven't experienced the game before ... and they see the passion of football.
442 forums
And I know when people read this people are going to jump on your forums and bag me and everyone has a right to do that.
But all I wish is for them to have a look in the mirror.
Ljubo on Ljubo
"This is my life. You'd piss yourself laughing at my life. I can't deny who I am.
My biggest fault I've been told is that I'm truthful. In society it seems the more truthful you are the more shit you cop.
I guess my love of a gay disco [Love Machine] proved to be the cure at the time [in 2008]. I don't know what's wrong with just going and having a dance.
In society if you do that you're automatically looked down upon and on drugs. But not everyone is on drugs who go to niteclubs. Some of us just like the music.
And everyone knows I'd been living with the guy who is a part owner of the Love Machine.
I did like going to the Love Machine on Sunday because no-one knew me, bothered me or asked me about Victory.
I'd got there, get on the dancefloor and no-one cared who I was. It was the only place I could go and be left alone.. apart from a few guys grabbing my arse!
It's not about living to anyone else's expectations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
wow
