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Nikola Milenković

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Nikola Milenković
Никола Миленковић
Milenković with Serbia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Nikola Milenković[1]
Date of birth (1997-10-12) 12 October 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia[2]
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Nottingham Forest
Number 31
Youth career
2012–2015 Žarkovo
2015 Partizan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Partizan 36 (2)
2015–2016 → Teleoptik (loan) 13 (0)
2017–2024 Fiorentina 216 (14)
2024– Nottingham Forest 37 (5)
International career‡
2017–2019 Serbia U21 9 (0)
2018– Serbia 65 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:11, 25 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 June 2025

Nikola Milenković (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Миленковић, pronounced [nǐkola milěːŋkoʋitɕ]; born 12 October 1997) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Nottingham Forest and the Serbia national team.

Club career

[edit]

Early career

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Milenković grew up in Žarkovo, a neighbourhood of Belgrade where his family lived. After having a successful trial, he was enrolled in the academy roster of OFK Žarkovo. Milenković had an excellent start to his youth career, as he surpassed his teammates in both training and games. OFK Žarkovo's youth coach Nikola Jelić observed Nikola's attributes and recommended him to FK Teleoptik – a farm club of FK Partizan – where Milenković, aged 15, would go on to sign for after a successful trial. Milenković was then among thirty other youth players who were approved to come for trials with Partizan. Only five passed, and Milenković was one of them.

Partizan

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2015–16 season

[edit]

Passing the youth categories of Partizan, Milenković was loaned to Teleoptik for the 2015–16 season.[4] At the beginning of 2016, he joined the first team of Partizan under coach Ivan Tomić and signed a five-year contract, but also stayed with Teleoptik on dual registration until the end of season.[5] Several days after debut for U19 national team,[6] he made his debut for Partizan in a SuperLiga match against Mladost Lučani played on 10 April 2016.[7] He started in a match against Čukarički in round 32 of the same season and received a red card for a brutal foul on Petar Bojić, which resulted in a suspension for the next four matches.[8] Milenković scored his first senior goal for Partizan in the last fixture of the 2015–16 Serbian SuperLiga, against Vojvodina,[9] which was the hundredth goal of the club for the season.[10]

2016–17 season

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Milenković started new season pairing with Cédric Gogoua for the second qualifying round of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League against Zagłębie Lubin. He also started SuperLiga competition in the first fixture match against OFK Bačka before spending the following two rounds on the bench. After several bad results and some injuries of the players in defence, Milenković started playing continuously from the fourth fixture against Javor Ivanjica onwards. He scored his first season goal in a match against Rad, played on 27 August 2016.[11] He also made his Serbian Cup debut in the first round match, against Napredak Kruševac on 21 September 2016.[12] After Miroslav Vulićević's injury in a cup match against Žarkovo on 25 October 2016, Milenković wore the captain's armbrand.[13] In February 2017, he was listed as one of the 30 best youth footballers in the world by the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.[14] he scored his third goal for Partizan as a senior in 27 fixture match of the season against Voždovac, played on 18 March 2017.[15]

On 27 May, in his last match for Partizan, Milenković scored a header against Partizan's biggest rival Red Star which won the game and clinched Partizan's double of the season, winning both the league and cup competitions.[16]

Fiorentina

[edit]

On 24 May 2017, Partizan president Milorad Vučelić confirmed that Milenković would be joining Serie A side Fiorentina in the summer.[17] The transfer fee was reported as €5.1 million.[18] Milenković made his debut for Fiorentina in 1–0 away victory over Cagliari on 22 December 2017, having played 84 minutes of the game.[19] During the first few months, Nikola was getting used to his new environment and that's why Viola coach Stefano Pioli didn't often include him in the starting line-up. However, the tragic death of the team captain Davide Astori made Pioli change his mind and include Nikola in the starting eleven more often. At the start of 2018–19 Serie A season matchday 2, Milenković scored his first goal at Stadio Artemio Franchi in 6–1 win over ChievoVerona.[20] On 20 April 2019, Milenković scored 6th minute opener in 2–1 away defeat against rivals Juventus.[21] In the first round of the 2019–20 season against Napoli, Milenković scored the second goal for his team as a 7-goal thriller ends in Napoli's favour.[22] After a corner taken by Erick Pulgar Milenkovic's header Proves Decisive in a 1–0 win against Udinese.[23][24] On 30 October, Nikola scored his third goal of the season and thus helped Fiorentina come from behind to claim a 2–1 win against Sassuolo.[25] After another corner combination between Pulgar and Milenković, the Serbian international scored the equalising goal in his side's 2–1 defeat against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.[26] At the end of the 2021–22 Serie A season Fiorentina finished in seventh position and secured their first participation in the UEFA Europa Conference League. After five seasons, (The Purples) returned to European competition and after the draw held on 2 August 2022, the opponent was the Dutch Twente. After two games with the Dutch, the Italians came out victorious, the result was 2–1 for Fiorentina in the overall score.[27][28]

Nottingham Forest

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On 18 July 2024, Milenković signed for Premier League side Nottingham Forest on a five-year deal for an undisclosed transfer fee,[29] believed to be around £12 million.[30] Milenković debuted on 24 August 2024, as Nottingham Forest claimed their first win of the 2024/25 campaign by beating Southampton 1–0 at St Mary's Stadium.[31]

Following Forest's surprisingly strong start, which saw the club firmly entrenched in the Champions league hunt through the first half of the 2024-25 Premier League season, Milenkovic's performance at the heart of defence was widely hailed as a key to the team's early success under manager Nuno Espírito Santo.[32] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 away victory over Manchester United on 7 December 2024.[33]

Having continued to impress as Forest qualified for the UEFA Conference League, Milenković was voted as the club's Player of the Season for the 2024–25 season.[34]

International career

[edit]

Youth

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Milenković was a member of the Serbia under-19 team in early 2016.[35] Later that year, he was called up to the Serbia U20 national squad by coach Nenad Lalatović, and made his debut for the team in a match against Montenegro.[36] In March 2017, Milenković was called up to the U21 squad by Lalatović,[37] debuted on 28 March in a 1–2 friendly loss against Slovakia.[38]

Senior

[edit]

On 4 June 2018, Milenković made his debut for the senior national team in a friendly match against Bolivia.[39] Later that month, coach Mladen Krstajić included Milenković in the final 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup.[40] He played in all three group stage matches.[41][42][43]

In November 2022, Milenković was selected in Serbia's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[44] He played in all three group stage matches, against Brazil,[45] Cameroon,[46] and Switzerland.[47] Serbia finished fourth in the group.[48]

Milenković was selected in Serbia's squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.[49] He played in all three group stage matches, against England, Slovenia, and Denmark. Serbia finished fourth in the group.[citation needed]

Career statistics

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Club

[edit]
As of match played 25 May 2025[35]
Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Teleoptik (loan)[2] 2015–16 Serbian League Belgrade 13 0 — — — — 13 0
Partizan 2015–16 Serbian SuperLiga 4 1 0 0 — — 0 0 4 1
2016–17 32 2 6 1 — 2[c] 0 0 0 40 3
Total 36 3 6 1 — 2 0 0 0 44 4
Fiorentina 2017–18 Serie A 16 0 1 0 — — — 17 0
2018–19 34 3 4 0 — — — 38 3
2019–20 37 5 4 0 — — — 41 5
2020–21 34 3 3 0 — — — 37 3
2021–22 34 1 5 2 — — — 39 3
2022–23 27 2 4 0 — 11[d] 1 — 42 3
2023–24 34 0 4 0 — 11[d] 0 1[e] 0 50 0
Total 216 14 25 2 — 22 1 1 0 264 17
Nottingham Forest 2024–25 Premier League 37 5 1 0 1 0 — — 39 5
Career total 302 22 32 3 1 0 24 1 1 0 360 26
  1. ^ Includes Serbian Cup, Coppa Italia, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  5. ^ Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana

International

[edit]
As of match played 10 June 2025[50]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Serbia 2018 10 0
2019 8 1
2020 8 0
2021 6 2
2022 9 0
2023 9 0
2024 12 0
2025 3 0
Total 65 3
Scores and results list Serbia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Milenković goal.[50]
List of international goals scored by Nikola Milenković
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 7 September 2019 Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia  Portugal 1–2 2–4 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
2 1 September 2021 Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen, Hungary  Qatar 4–0 4–0 Friendly
3 4 September 2021 Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia  Luxembourg 4–1 4–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

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Partizan

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – Squad List: Serbia (SRB)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 26. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Milenkovic, Nikola". srbijafudbal.com (in Serbian). Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Milenković, Nikola". FK Partizan official website (in Serbian). Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  4. ^ ""FUDBAL" number 32 – page 2866" (PDF). Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 12 August 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  5. ^ "ZIMSKI PRELAZNI ROK – FK PARTIZAN (18.01. – 12.02.2016.)" (PDF). FK Partizan official website (in Serbian). 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  6. ^ Никола Миленковић: Живим за деби у Партизану! [Nikola Milenković: I live for my debut in Partizan!]. Sportski žurnal (in Serbian). 1 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  7. ^ "PARTIZAN SPREMAN ZA DERBI Božinov se raspucao, majstorije Ilića presudile Mladosti /VIDEO/" [Partizan ready for the derby: Bozhinov on fire, Ilić's masterstrokes decided against Mladost /VIDEO/]. Blic (in Serbian). 10 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  8. ^ Миленковићу четири, Јанковићу три утакмице паузе! [Milinković gets four, Janković three matches suspension!]. Sportski žurnal (in Serbian). 27 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Partizan nemilosrdan – Mihajlović već po navici odlučio; Voša videla koliko je teže kad moraš da napadneš večite (VIDEO)" [Partizan ruthless – Mihajlović decided as usual; Vojvodina saw how much harder it is when you have to attack the eternals (VIDEO).]. mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 21 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Partizan prebacio stotku: Milenković jubilarac" [Partizan reached a hundred: Milenković's jubilee.]. mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 23 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Partizan – Rad 4:0 (2:0)". FK Partizan official website (in Serbian). 27 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Partizan – Napredak 3:1 (3:0)". FK Partizan official website (in Serbian). 21 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  13. ^ "Žarkovo – Partizan 0:2 (0:0)". FK Partizan official website (in Serbian). 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  14. ^ "Oni će pokoriti svet: Spisak 30 najboljih mladih fudbalera planete, tu je i jedan iz Partizana" [They will conquer the world: A list of the 30 best young footballers on the planet, including one from Partizan.]. mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  15. ^ "Partizan – Voždovac 4:0 (2:0)". FK Partizan official website (in Serbian). 18 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Milenković doneo duplu krunu Partizanu!" [Milenković brought the double crown to Partizan!]. B92 (in Serbian). 27 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  17. ^ "NADA SE LIGI ŠAMPIONA Vučelić posle titule: Ostaju Đurđević i Leonardo" [Nadali se Ligi Šampiona Vučelić posle titule: Đurđević and Leonardo are staying.]. Blic (in Serbian). 24 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Milenkovic will join Fiorentina". football-italia.net. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Cagliari-Fiorentina 0–1: Decide Babacar. GOL E HIGHLIGHTS". Sky Sports (in Italian). 22 December 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Milenković first goal for Fiorentina". Soccerway. 26 August 2018.
  21. ^ "JUVENTUS VS. FIORENTINA 2 – 1". Soccerway. 20 April 2019.
  22. ^ "FIORENTINA VS. NAPOLI 3 – 4". Soccerway. 24 August 2019.
  23. ^ Sifakis, Michalis (5 April 2023). "khuyến mãi gunbet". gunbet.com. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  24. ^ "FIORENTINA VS. UDINESE 1 – 0". Soccerway. 6 October 2019.
  25. ^ "SASSUOLO VS. FIORENTINA 1 – 2". Soccerway. 30 October 2019.
  26. ^ "ROMA VS. FIORENTINA 2 – 1". Soccerway. 26 July 2020.
  27. ^ "FIORENTINA VS. TWENTE 2 – 1". Soccerway. 18 August 2022.
  28. ^ "TWENTE VS. FIORENTINA 0 – 0". Soccerway. 25 August 2022.
  29. ^ Club, Nottingham Forest Football (18 July 2024). "Forest complete signing of Nikola Milenković". Nottingham Forest Football Club.
  30. ^ Taylor, Paul (18 July 2024). "Nottingham Forest complete signing of Nikola Milenkovic from Fiorentina". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  31. ^ "SOUTHAMPTON VS. NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0 – 1". Soccerway. 24 August 2024.
  32. ^ Taylor, Paul (11 October 2024). "Nikola Milenkovic epitomises what Nuno Espirito Santo demands – he's added steel and intensity". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  33. ^ "MANCHESTER UNITED VS. NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 – 3". Soccerway. 7 December 2024.
  34. ^ a b "Your 2024/25 Player of the Season 🏆 | Nikola Milenković!". Nottingham Forest F.C. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  35. ^ a b Nikola Milenković at Soccerway
  36. ^ Лалатовићева Србија (селекција до 20 година) боља од Црне Горе у Подгорици – 2:1 (0:0) (in Serbian). Football Association of Serbia. 13 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  37. ^ "Zasluženo: Milenković u reprezentaciji!" [Deserved: Milenković in the national team!]. mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 17 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  38. ^ Млада репрезентација са промешаним картама у Словачкој – 1:2 (0:0) [Young national team with shuffled cards in Slovakia – 1:2 (0:0).] (in Serbian). Football Association of Serbia. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  39. ^ Фудбалери Србије: Пораз у право време, биће боље против Боливије [The Serbian footballers: Defeat at the right time, it will be better against Bolivia.]. Sportski žurnal (in Serbian). 5 June 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  40. ^ "World Cup 2018: All the confirmed squads for this summer's finals in Russia". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  41. ^ Abraham, Timothy (17 June 2018). "Costa Rica 0–1 Serbia". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  42. ^ Henry, Matthew (23 June 2018). "Serbia 1–2 Switzerland". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  43. ^ Smith, Rory (27 June 2018). "All Eyes Are on Neymar, but It's Coutinho Who Is Leading Brazil". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  44. ^ "Head-coach Dragan Stojković announces the list of players for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar". Football Association of Serbia. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  45. ^ Conti, Kristen (24 November 2022). "Richarlison Brings Brazil to Life in the Second Half, Defeats Serbia 2–0". NBCNew York. New York. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  46. ^ Sky Sports (28 November 2022). "World Cup 2022 – Cameroon 3–3 Serbia: Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting goals complete stunning comeback". Sky Sports. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  47. ^ Ames, Nick (2 December 2022). "Switzerland advance and Serbia go out as Freuler finish settles stormy contest". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  48. ^ "World Cup 2022 Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Cameroon, Switzerland schedule, fixtures, rankings". NBC Sports. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  49. ^ Noronha, Anselm (1 June 2024). "Serbia Euro 2024 squad: Dorde Petrovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic among those picked". Goal (website). Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  50. ^ a b "Nikola Milenković". National Football Teams.
  51. ^ "Fiorentina prodigy Nikola Milenkovic can't avoid Nemanja Vidic comparisons". ESPN UK. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  52. ^ "Time for the Nikola Milenković story". Viola Nation. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  53. ^ "2022/23 Europa Conference League Team of the Season". UEFA. 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  54. ^ "The Athletic's end-of-season awards, 2024-25: Men's football". The Athletic’s. 28 May 2025.
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