View source for Mark Milligan

{{Short description|Australian association football player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2011}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mark Milligan
| image = 20180601 FIFA Friendly Match Czech Republic vs. Australia Mark Milligan 850 0206.jpg
| caption = Milligan with [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] in 2018
| fullname = Mark Daniel Milligan<ref name="FIFA">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |title=FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Australia |publisher=FIFA |page=3 |date=15 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611000407/https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |archive-date=11 June 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|8|4|df=y}}<ref name="FIFA"/>
| birth_place = [[Sydney, New South Wales]], Australia
| height = 1.78 m<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Milligan|url=http://www.socceroos.com.au/player/mark-milligan/1rahiw4obtpq318sscy2b08e7u|website=socceroos.com.au|publisher=Football Federation Australia|access-date=4 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103922/http://www.socceroos.com.au/player/mark-milligan/1rahiw4obtpq318sscy2b08e7u|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| position = [[Midfielder#Defensive midfielder|Defensive midfielder]]<br />[[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub = [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]] (manager)
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = [[Parramatta FC|Parramatta Melita Eagles]]
| youthyears2 = 2002
| youthclubs2 = [[Australian Institute of Sport|AIS]]
| years1 = 2002–2003
| clubs1 = [[Gladesville Hornsby Football Association Spirit FC|Northern Spirit]]
| caps1 = 16
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2004
| clubs2 = [[Blacktown City FC|Blacktown City]]
| caps2 = 9
| goals2 = 5
| years3 = 2005–2008
| clubs3 = [[Sydney FC]]
| caps3 = 42
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2008–2009
| clubs4 = [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]]
| caps4 = 11
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2009
| clubs5 = [[Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C.|Shanghai Shenhua]]
| caps5 = 25
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2010–2012
| clubs6 = [[JEF United Chiba]]
| caps6 = 53
| goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2012
| clubs7 = → [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]] (loan)
| caps7 = 10
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2012–2015
| clubs8 = [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
| caps8 = 63
| goals8 = 13
| years9 = 2015–2017
| clubs9 = [[Baniyas SC|Baniyas]]
| caps9 = 43
| goals9 = 5
| years10 = 2017–2018
| clubs10 = [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
| caps10 = 14
| goals10 = 3
| years11 = 2018
| clubs11 = [[Al-Ahli SC (Jeddah)|Al Ahli]]
| caps11 = 8
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2018–2019
| clubs12 = [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]]
| caps12 = 28
| goals12 = 0
| years13 = 2019–2020
| clubs13 = [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]
| caps13 = 30
| goals13 = 0
| years14 = 2020–2021
| clubs14 = [[Macarthur FC]]
| caps14 = 27
| goals14 = 3
| totalcaps = 379
| totalgoals = 37
| nationalyears1 = 2003–2005
| nationalteam1 = [[Australia national under-20 soccer team|Australia U-20]]
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2006–2008
| nationalteam2 = [[Australia men's national under-23 soccer team|Australia U-23]]
| nationalcaps2 = 25
| nationalgoals2 = 7
| nationalyears3 = 2006–2019
| nationalteam3 = [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]
| nationalcaps3 = 80
| nationalgoals3 = 6
| manageryears1 = 2021
| managerclubs1 = [[Macarthur FC]] (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2022
| managerclubs2 = [[St George FC|St George]]
| manageryears3 = 2022–2025
| managerclubs3 = [[Adelaide United FC|Adelaide United]] (assistant) 
| manageryears4 = 2025
| managerclubs4 = [[Malaysia national football team|Malaysia]] (assistant)
| manageryears5 = 2025–
| managerclubs5 = [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]]
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|AUS}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[AFC Asian Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015 Australia]]|}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[OFC U-20 Championship]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2005 OFC U-20 Championship|2005 Solomon Islands]]|}}
}}
'''Mark Daniel Milligan''' (born 4 August 1985) is an Australian former professional [[association football|footballer]] and the current head coach of [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]].

Starting his career as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]], Milligan has spent much of his later career playing as a [[midfielder]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140203005713/https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1104353/milligan-s-socceroos-midfield-push "Milligan's Socceroos midfield push", 5 May 2012, SBS "The World Game" website]''. Retrieved 22 March 2013''</ref> Milligan represented the [[Australia men's national soccer team]] eighty times, including at four [[FIFA World Cup]] tournaments. During a 19-year professional career, he also played abroad for clubs in China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Scotland and England. 

==Club career==
Mark started his grassroots football career at his local club, Birrong Sports Football club in the Bankstown District in 1991 and 1992, and he quickly moved onto representative football as a junior footballer.

===Early career===
[[FourFourTwo|FourFourTwo magazine]] revealed on 28 July 2007 that after the Asian Cup Milligan had gone without [[Sydney FC]]'s permission to trial for teams in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/57432,spike-goes-awol-for-metz-trial.aspx|title=Spike Goes AWOL For Metz Trial|website=FTBL}}</ref>  Milligan was linked with French sides [[FC Metz]] and [[RC Lens]]. The following day Milligan reportedly walked out on Metz just before a scheduled trial game appearance against [[Standard Liège]], allegedly out of frustration at the right-back position he would be trialled in.<ref>[http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=92636 "Milligan Missing – Again", 30 July 2007; SBS The World Game website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009171536/http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=92636 |date=9 October 2007 }} ''. Retrieved 30 July 2007''</ref> The following day it was reported that Milligan would return home to play for Sydney FC after all.<ref>[http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/57670,milligan-set-to-stay-with-sfc.aspx?r=rss "Milligan set to stay with SFC", 31 July 2007] ''Four Four Two Magazine. Retrieved 1 August 2007''</ref><ref>[http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=92740 "One out, one back", 2 August 2007, SBS "The World Game" website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009171148/http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=92740 |date=9 October 2007 }}''. Retrieved 2 August 2007''</ref>

During the summer of 2008, he was linked with a move to English [[Premier League]] clubs [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[RC Lens]] of [[Ligue 1]], as well as with [[FC Porto]] in the [[Primeira Liga]] and [[Bundesliga]] side [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]].

On 21 October 2008, [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] reported that Milligan had signed a guest contract with [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle United Jets]] for seven weeks. He made his debut on 24 October 2008, against [[Central Coast Mariners FC|Central Coast Mariners]] at [[Central Coast Stadium|Bluetongue Stadium]], [[Gosford]], where his team lost 1–0. During this time he was also sent off in a match against the [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]].

===Asia===
Milligan joined [[Chinese Super League]] outfit [[Shanghai Shenhua]] in January 2009, signing a three-year contract.<ref name="Milligan seals Shanghai switch">{{cite news | url = http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/sport/milligan-seals-shanghai-switch/1420137.aspx | title = Milligan seals Shanghai switch | access-date = 9 February 2009 | date = 30 January 2009 | newspaper = Canberra Times | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090310183610/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/sport/milligan-seals-shanghai-switch/1420137.aspx | archive-date = 10 March 2009 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

On 19 May, Milligan scored his first goal for Shanghai Shenhua in their 1–1 draw in the [[AFC Champions League 2009|AFC Champions League]] group stage match against [[Kashima Antlers]].

Milligan finalised his switch from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua to Japanese side [[JEF United Chiba]], who were relegated to the second division.<ref name="Milligan">{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/mariners-lure-big-fish-with-20-million-hq-20091221-la3e.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Mariners lure big fish with $20 million HQ | first=Michael | last=Cockerill | date=22 December 2009}}</ref>

When the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]] struck Japan, Milligan decided to flee the country, fearing for the safety of not only himself, but his wife and child.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/quake-refugee-milligan-finds-silver-lining-at-sky-blues-20110322-1c58m.html|title=Quake refugee Milligan finds silver lining at Sky Blues |date=23 March 2011|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=27 March 2011}}</ref> With the [[J2 League]] suspended until further notice, JEF United Chiba gave permission for Milligan to train in a bid to keep his fitness up with his former A-League club [[Sydney FC]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/milligans-quit-fears/story-e6frey4r-1226026362638|title=JEF United player Mark Milligan cautious about return to Japan |date=23 March 2011|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=27 March 2011}}</ref>

===Melbourne Victory===
[[File:Mark Milligan Training.JPG|thumb|right|222px|Milligan training with [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]] in 2013]]
On 23 January 2012 it was reported that [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]] was to secure Milligan on loan until the end of the [[2011-12 A-League|regular season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/victory-poised-for-loan-deal-with-socceroos-defender/story-e6frf9if-1226251785586|title=Victory poised for loan deal with Socceroos defender |date=23 January 2012|newspaper=Herald Sun |access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref> It was confirmed on 24 January that Milligan signed for a loan deal to Melbourne Victory until the end of the 2011–12 A-League season, becoming the first [[Sydney FC]] player to switch to Melbourne Victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/229684,victory-ink-milligan-deal.aspx |title=Victory Ink Milligan Deal |date=24 January 2012 |publisher=FourFourTwo Australia |access-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127071000/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/229684%2Cvictory-ink-milligan-deal.aspx |archive-date=27 January 2012 }}</ref> He returned to Japan in March.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/soccer/mark-milligan-exits-with-pride-intact/story-e6frfg8x-1226309791307|title= Mark Milligan exits with pride intact |date=26 March 2012|newspaper=Herald Sun|access-date=9 April 2012}}</ref> In July 2012, Milligan was released from [[JEF United Chiba]] and returned to Melbourne Victory by signing a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Victory-confirm-Milligan-return/48084 |title=Victory confirm Milligan return |date=11 July 2012 |publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]] |access-date=11 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011230152/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/victory-confirm-milligan-return/48084 |archive-date=11 October 2012 }}</ref>

Milligan starred for Melbourne Victory during their 2012–13 season, moving from centre-back to play as a defensive midfielder, and quickly established himself as one of the best players in the league. Although he has never been a prolific goal scorer, Milligan scored 8 goals in this season, a number of them being clutch goals in important games, including a penalty equaliser in an elimination final against [[Perth Glory]] that Melbourne Victory went on to win in extra time. To cap off his season, Milligan won the [[List of Melbourne Victory FC records and statistics#Club awards|Victory Medal]], awarded to the club's player of the season.

On 17 September 2013, Milligan was rewarded for his performances by being appointed the captain of Melbourne Victory, replacing [[Adrian Leijer]]. He was also rumoured to be leaving Melbourne Victory to join fellow national team midfielder [[Mile Jedinak]] at newly promoted [[Premier League]] club [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], however Melbourne Victory rejected a rumoured [[Pound sterling|£]]2m offer for the defensive midfielder.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/melbournevictory/news-display/Milligan-to-lead-Victory-forward/75069 |title=VIDEO: Milligan to lead Victory forward - Melbourne Victory FC 2013 |access-date=19 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926002016/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/melbournevictory/news-display/Milligan-to-lead-Victory-forward/75069 |archive-date=26 September 2013  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/socceroo-mark-milligan-confirmed-as-melbourne-victory-skipper-for-2013-2014-a-league-season/story-e6frfkp9-1226720813842 | work=Herald Sun | title=Socceroo Mark Milligan confirmed as Melbourne Victory skipper for 2013–2014 A-League season | date=17 September 2013}}</ref>

Milligan, after a trial at Crystal Palace, stayed on at Melbourne Victory as captain in the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/video/48402499917/Milligan-to-captain-Victory |title=Video : Play : The World Game on SBS |access-date=12 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921163032/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/video/48402499917/Milligan-to-captain-Victory |archive-date=21 September 2013 }}</ref> He sustained an injury halfway through the season,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/mark-milligan-suffers-knee-injury-during-melbourne-victorys-pre-season-loss-to-adelaide-united/news-story/b987c1e6c704eb2e7cdc6ae9d6238858|title=Milligan limps off in Victory defeat|date=3 October 2013|website=www.heraldsun.com.au}}</ref> and the team suffered for this and other reasons such as losing their coach, an injury to Adrian Leijer (ex-captain and central defender) and four players (including three defenders) going to the Under 21 World championships (Jason Geria, Connor Pain, Scott Galloway and Nick Ansell). However, Victory improved after this period to finish fourth in the A-League. Milligan played every minute of all but one ACL match, only missing the final away match of the ACL Asian Champions League match through suspension.

On 17 May 2015, Milligan captained his side during their 3–0 defeat of [[Sydney FC]] in the [[2014–15 A-League|2014–15 A-League Grand Final]], held at [[AAMI Park]], Melbourne, and was awarded the [[List of A-League honours#Joe Marston Medal|Joe Marston Medal]] as the best player in the match.

===Baniyas SC===
At the end of the 2014–15 season it was announced that [[UAE Pro-League]] side [[Baniyas SC]] had triggered the release clause of Milligan's contract with a $1 million transfer fee, and he signed with them on a two-year contract.<ref>[http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/06/23/milligans-baniyas-move-done-deal Milligan's Baniyas move a done deal] SBS, 23 June 2015</ref>

===Return to the Victory===
On 31 July 2017, it was announced Miligan would return to the Victory on a one-year deal as a marquee player.<ref>{{cite web|title=Melbourne Victory confirm Milligan return on marquee deal|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/07/31/melbourne-victory-confirm-milligan-return-marquee-deal|website=The World Game|access-date=31 July 2017}}</ref>

===Al Ahli===
On 28 January 2018, Melbourne Victory sold Mark Milligan to Al-Ahli for $1 million.<ref>{{cite web | title=Melbourne Victory agree to sell Mark Milligan to Saudi Arabia club Al Alhi|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-victory-agree-to-sell-mark-milligan-to-saudi-arabian-club-alahli-20180128-h0pi4x.html| website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=28 January 2018 |access-date=28 January 2018}}</ref> He was assigned the number 5 shirt. On 4 February, he made his debut for Al-Ahli in a league game against [[Al Ittihad FC]]. He played at centre-half, with the game finishing 0-0. He got good response from the fans, playing the full 90 minutes in the [[Ittihad F.C.–Al-Ahli F.C. rivalry|Jeddah derby]].

===Hibernian===
On 18 August 2018, Milligan signed a two-year contract with [[Scottish Premiership]] club [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45234726 |title=Mark Milligan: Hibernian sign Australia midfielder |work=BBC Sport |date=18 August 2018 |access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref> Milligan played regularly for Hibernian during the 2018&ndash;19 season, after which he left the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/9973 |title=MARK MILLIGAN TO DEPART |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=18 May 2019 |access-date=18 May 2019 |archive-date=18 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518163701/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/9973 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hibernian head coach [[Paul Heckingbottom]] said that he had opted to exercise a break clause in Milligan's contract as he wanted to "recruit something different to play in that position".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/latest-hibs-news/hibs-boss-paul-heckingbottom-can-t-wait-to-get-started-again-and-explains-mark-milligan-departure-1-4930223 |title=Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom can't wait to get started again and explains Mark Milligan departure |first=Joel |last=Sked |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=19 May 2019 |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref>

===Southend United===
On 1 July 2019, Milligan signed for [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/latest-hibs-news/mark-milligan-joins-southend-united-after-leaving-hibs-1-4957058 |title=Mark Milligan joins Southend United after leaving Hibs |first=Patrick |last=McPartlin |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=1 July 2019 |access-date=1 July 2019}}</ref> Milligan was released by Southend United on 19 June 2020, after the team's relegation from League One.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davidson |first1=John |title=Milligan left in limbo by surprise Southend split |url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/milligan-left-in-limbo-by-surprise-southend-split |website=The World Game |publisher=Special Broadcasting Service |access-date=19 June 2020}}</ref>

===Macarthur FC===
On 30 July 2020, following his release from Southend, Milligan returned home to Australia to join newly formed [[A-League]] club [[Macarthur FC]], signing a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/former-socceroos-captain-signs-marquee-deal-with-macarthur-20200730-p55h1g.html|title=Former Socceroos captain signs marquee deal with Macarthur|first=Dominic|last=Bossi|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=30 July 2020}}</ref> On 22 October, he was named the club's captain for their inaugural campaign in the A-League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macarthurfc.com.au/news/mark-milligan-appointed-macarthur-fc-inaugural-captain|title=Mark Milligan appointed Macarthur FC Inaugural Captain|website=Macarthur FC|date=22 October 2020|access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref> In the club's first match, a local derby against [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC|Western Sydney Wanderers]] on 30 December, Milligan scored the club's first goal which secured a first-ever win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=589402|title=Macarthur beat Wanderers for first western Sydney derby win|website=ESPN|date=30 December 2020|access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref>

On 2 June 2021, Milligan announced that he would be retiring from football at the end of the [[2020–21 Macarthur FC season|2020–21 season]] and would join the coaching staff at Macarthur.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/football-news-aleague-2021-socceroos-great-mark-milligan-to-retire/news-story/abb2d61beb86c869be702e5e4e6ac2b2|title=Former Socceroos captain announces retirement as new role beckons|date=2 June 2021|website=Fox Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/milligan-to-retire-join-macarthur-coaching-staff|title=Milligan to retire, join Macarthur coaching staff}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Cameroon-Australia (21) cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Milligan playing for Australia at the [[2017 FIFA Confederations Cup]]]]
Milligan represented [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] at the [[2005 FIFA World Youth Championship]] in the Netherlands. In May 2006, he was the youngest player selected in the Australian [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] squad, being one of only two players chosen from the [[A-League]] – the other being [[Michael Beauchamp]]. Milligan had impressed coaches [[Graham Arnold]] and [[Johan Neeskens]] at a recent camp in [[Vietnam]], while [[Guus Hiddink]] also recalled watching Milligan at the World Youth Championship.

He made his senior international debut against [[Liechtenstein national football team|Liechtenstein]] on 7 June 2006, coming off the bench in the 85th minute of Australia's last warm-up game before the World Cup. He did not play in any of Australia's four World Cup games in Germany. His first start came against [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] in an [[Asian Cup 2007 (qualification)#Group D|Asian Cup qualifier]] on 16 August 2006. His next appearance was on 7 October 2006 in a friendly against [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] as a late substitute.

In February 2007, Milligan was named as captain of the [[Australia men's national under-23 soccer team|Australian U-23]] side, the 'Olyroos', for two Olympic qualifying games against [[Chinese Taipei national football team|Chinese Taipei]]. He sustained a broken nose in an 'off-the-ball' incident during the second qualifier. He led the Olyroos to Olympic qualification and was the key influential figure in their final games against [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] and [[North Korea national football team|North Korea]], scoring in each game and taking the man of the match award in both.

Milligan was selected in the Australian squad for the [[2007 Asian Cup]]. During the tournament, Milligan was selected to play in the starting line-up for Australia against co-host nation [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]] in the final game of the group matches. Australia won 4–0 and advanced to the quarter finals of the competition with Milligan putting in what was widely regarded as a Man of the Match performance in the centre of a three-man defence. On 21 July 2007, in the quarter-final against [[Japan national football team|Japan]], Milligan was unfortunate in failing to clear a ball from the penalty area that saw striker [[Naohiro Takahara]] pounce and score an equaliser. The game ended 1–1 and Australia was eliminated from the Cup on penalties.

Milligan scored his first international goal for the Socceroos against [[Indonesia national football team|Indonesia]] in a 2011 Asian Cup Qualifiers played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. This being the only goal in the match with Australia winning 1–0 and then qualifying for the 2011 competition.

He was named in the 31 man squad named by [[Pim Verbeek]] for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] in South Africa. His [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] profile described him as "[a] mobile defender with good ball skills and an ability to play a raking pass."<ref>{{cite web|title=Player Profile|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/players/player=197411/profile.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016012238/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/players/player=197411/profile.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2013|publisher=www.fifa.com|access-date=13 October 2013}}</ref>

Milligan was selected for the 30-man preliminary [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] squad, alongside seven other A-League players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/socceroos-name-squad-for-2014-fifa-world-cup/6rxogq02asr1dx3aw8hf7ewb|title=Socceroos name squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup|website=MyFootball.com.au}}</ref> Three from Melbourne Victory (Milligan, James Troisi & Tom Rogic) were among the final selection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2013/06/19/milligan-stands-tall-socceroos|title=Milligan stands tall for the Socceroos - The World Game|work=The World Game }}</ref>  He played alongside James Troisi and captain Mile Jedinak in a three-man midfield in the Socceroos warm-up match vs Croatia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-07/live-blog-socceroos-v-croatia/5507458|title=As it happened: Socceroos v Croatia|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=7 June 2014}}</ref> He played only one game in the 2014 World Cup, a 3&ndash;1 defeat against [[Chile national football team|Chile]] in their opening match.

In 2015, he was a key member of [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] who won the [[2015 AFC Asian Cup]]. He didn't play in the opening game. After this game, he played in all the next 5 matches, including the final against [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]]. In the second game, he scored the goal against [[Oman national football team]]. Australia won the match by 4-0. After the Asian Cup success, he played 7 games out of 8 in second round of [[2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification]]. He scored his fourth and fifth international goals against [[Tajikistan national football team|Tajikistan]].

Milligan captained Australia at the [[2017 FIFA Confederations Cup]], and scored from the penalty spot in the 60th minute in a 1-1 draw against [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]].

In the [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round|third round]] of qualification, he played 8 games out of 10. Australia finished third in the table and  failed to qualify directly to the World Cup. He played on the winning side in the two-leg tie [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fourth round|Asian play-off]] against [[Syria national football team|Syria]]. The match ended 3-2 on aggregate after [[Extra Time|extra time]]. He also played in the second leg game of [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF–AFC play-off)]] against [[Honduras national football team|Honduras]]. This was the match which decided the last spot of [[2018 FIFA World Cup]]. The match ended in favour of Australia by 3-1. With that, Australia qualified in the World Cup finals for the fourth time in a row. In May 2018 he was named in Australia's 23-man [[Australia men's national soccer team|squad]] for the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] in Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/revealed-every-world-cup-2018-squad-23-man-preliminary-lists/oa0atsduflsv1nsf6oqk576rb|title=Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists &#124; Goal.com|website=www.goal.com}}</ref> Milligan played in central defence during the tournament, alongside [[Trent Sainsbury]].

Milligan captained Australia at the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup]], in which they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1030123/afc-asian-cup-2019-australia-captain-milligan-reveals-which-team-he-wants-to-see-lift-trophy-after-socceroos-exit/ |title=AFC Asian Cup 2019: Australia captain Milligan reveals which team he wants to see lift trophy after Socceroos exit |publisher=Fox Sports Asia |date=27 January 2019 |access-date=23 February 2019}}</ref>

He retired from international football in December 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50712699|title=Mark Milligan: Australia captain retires from international football|work=BBC Sport |date=9 December 2019}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
Milligan began his coaching journey by working at as an assistant at [[Macarthur FC]], [[Adelaide United FC|Adelaide United]] and the [[Malaysia national football team|Malaysian national team]]. Milligan also served as the head coach of [[St George FC]] for the 2022 NSW League One season, the third tier of Australian football.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Milligan appointed St George FC Head Coach|url=https://footballnsw.com.au/2021/12/20/mark-milligan-appointed-st-george-fc-head-coach/|publisher=[[Football New South Wales|Football NSW]]|date=20 December 2021}}</ref>

===Newcastle Jets===
Ahead of the [[2025-26 A-League Men|2025-26 A-League season]], Milligan took on his first professional senior coaching role, at one his former clubs from his playing days, [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Milligan appointed Newcastle Jets A-League Men's Head Coach|url=https://newcastlejetsfc.com.au/news/mark-milligan-appointed-newcastle-jets-a-league-mens-head-coach/|publisher=[[Newcastle Jets FC]]|date=6 May 2025}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
[[File:Mark Milligan.jpg|thumb|right|Milligan playing for Melbourne Victory in 2012]]
<ref>{{Soccerway|mark-milligan/10617}}</ref><ref>{{Soccerbase|id=43864|name=Mark Milligan}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="2"|League
!colspan="2"|Domestic Cups
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="3"|Total
|-
!Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Northern Spirit FC|Northern Spirit]]
|[[2002–03 National Soccer League|2002–03]]
|3||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||3||0
|-
|[[2003–04 National Soccer League|2003–04]]
|13||1||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||13||1
|-
!Total
!16!!1!!colspan=2|–!!colspan=2|–||16||1
|-
|[[Blacktown City FC|Blacktown City]]
|2004
|9||5||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||9||5
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Sydney FC]]
|[[2005–06 Sydney FC season|2005–06]]
|10||1||3||0||colspan=2|–||13||1
|-
|[[2006–07 Sydney FC season|2006–07]]
|17||0||3||1||5||0||25||1
|-
|[[2007–08 Sydney FC season|2007–08]]
|15||0||2||0||colspan=2|–||17||0
|-
!Total
!42!!1!!8!!1!!5!!0!!55!!2
|-
|[[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]]
|[[2008–09 Newcastle Jets FC season|2008–09]]
|11||1||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||11||1
|-
|[[Shanghai Shenhua F.C.|Shanghai Shenhua]]
|[[2009 Chinese Super League|2009]]
|25||1||colspan=2|–||6||1||31||2
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[JEF United Chiba]]
|[[2010 J. League Division 2|2010]]
|15||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||15||0
|-
|[[2011 J. League Division 2|2011]]
|29||1||2||0||colspan=2|–||31||1
|-
|[[2012 J. League Division 2|2012]]
|9||2||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||9||2
|-
!Total
!53!!3!!2!!0!!colspan=2|–!!55!!3
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
|[[2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season|2011–12]]
|10||1||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||10||1
|-
|[[2012–13 Melbourne Victory FC season|2012–13]]
|22||8||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||22||8
|-
|[[2013–14 Melbourne Victory FC season|2013–14]]
|21||4||colspan=2|–||5||1||26||5
|-
|[[2014–15 Melbourne Victory FC season|2014–15]]
|20||1||2||0||colspan=2|–||22||1
|-
!Total
!73!!14!!2!!0!!5!!1!!80!!15
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Baniyas SC]]
|[[2015–16 UAE Pro-League|2015–16]]
|21||3||2||0||colspan=2|–||23||3
|-
|[[2016–17 UAE Pro-League|2016–17]]
|22||2||1||0||colspan=2|–||23||2
|-
!Total
!43!!5!!3!!0!!colspan=2|–!!46!!5
|-
|[[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
|[[2017–18 Melbourne Victory FC season|2017–18]]
|14||3||2||0||colspan=2|–||16||3
|-
|[[Al-Ahli SC (Jeddah)|Al Ahli]]
|[[2017–18 Al-Ahli Saudi FC season|2017–18]]
|8||0||2||0||7||0||17||0
|-
|[[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]]
|[[2018–19 Hibernian F.C. season|2018–19]]
|28||0||3||0||colspan=2|–||31||0
|-
|[[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]
|[[2019–20 Southend United F.C. season|2019–20]]
|30||0||3||0||colspan=2|—||33||0
|-
|[[Macarthur FC]]
|[[2020–21 Macarthur FC season|2020–21]]
|27||3||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||27||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!379!!37!!25!!1!!23!!2!!427!!40
|}

===International===
:''Statistics accurate as of match played 10 October 2019.''<ref name="NFT">{{NFT player|id=14434}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!colspan=3|[[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]
|-
!Year||Apps||Goals
|-
|2006||3||0
|-
|2007||2||0
|-
|2008||1||0
|-
|2009||2||0
|-
|2010||2||1
|-
|2011||2||0
|-
|2012||6||1
|-
|2013||8||0
|-
|2014||7||0
|-
|2015||11||2
|-
|2016||9||1
|-
|2017||11||1
|-
|2018||10||0
|-
|2019||6||0
|-
!Total||80||6
|}

:''Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first.''<ref name="NFT"/>

{| class="wikitable"
! # || Date || Venue || Opponent || Score || Result || Competition
|-
| 1. || 3 March 2010 || [[Lang Park|Suncorp Stadium]], [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]] || {{fb|IDN}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 1–0 || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Australia v Indonesia|2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|-
| 2. || 7 December 2012 || [[Mong Kok Stadium]], [[Mong Kok]], [[Hong Kong]] || {{fb|GUM}} || align=center | '''8'''–0 || align=center | 9–0 || [[2013 EAFF East Asian Cup#Preliminary round 2|2013 EAFF East Asian Cup]]
|-
| 3. || 13 January 2015 || [[Stadium Australia]], [[Sydney]], Australia || {{fb|OMN}} || align=center | '''3'''–0 || align=center | 4–0 || [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A#Oman vs Australia|2015 AFC Asian Cup]]
|-
| 4. || 8 September 2015 || [[Pamir Stadium]], [[Dushanbe]], [[Tajikistan]] || {{fb|TJK}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 3–0 || rowspan=2|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 5. || 24 March 2016 || [[Adelaide Oval]], [[Adelaide]], Australia || {{fb|TJK}} || align=center | '''3'''–0 || align=center | 7–0
|-
| 6. || 22 June 2017 || [[Krestovsky Stadium]], [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia || {{fb|CMR}} || align=center | '''1'''–1 || align=center | 1–1 || [[2017 FIFA Confederations Cup Group B|2017 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|}

==Honours==
'''Sydney FC'''
* [[List of A-League champions|A-League Championship]]: [[2005–06 A-League|2005–06]]
* Australian Club World Championship Qualifying Tournament: [[2005 Australian Club World Championship Qualifying Tournament|2005]]

'''Melbourne Victory'''
* [[List of A-League champions|A-League Championship]]: [[2014–15 A-League|2014–15]]
* [[List of A-League champions|A-League Premiership]]: [[2014-15 A-League|2014–15]]
'''Australia'''
*[[AFC Asian Cup]]: [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/news/afc_asian_cup_australia_2015_squads_in_full.html|title=AFC Asian Cup 2015, Australian Squad|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref>
'''Australia U-20'''
* [[OFC U-20 Championship]]: [[2005 OFC U-20 Championship|2005]]

'''Individual'''
* [[PFA Footballer of the Year Awards#A-League Team of the Season|A-League PFA Team of the Season]]: [[2012–13 A-League|2012–13]], [[2013–14 A-League|2013–14]], [[2014–15 A-League|2014–15]]
* [[PFA Footballer of the Year Awards#A-League Team of the Decade|A-League PFA Team of the Decade]]: 2005–15
* [[Melbourne Victory FC Player of the Season]]: [[2012–13 Melbourne Victory FC season|2012–13]]
* [[Joe Marston Medal]]: [[2015 A-League Grand Final|2015]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{J.League player}}

{{Newcastle Jets FC squad}}
{{A-League Men head coaches}}
{{Newcastle Jets FC head coaches}}
{{Navboxes
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| title = Awards and achievements
| list1 = 
{{Melbourne Victory FC player of the Year}}
{{2012–13 A-League PFA Team of the Season}}
{{2013–14 A-League PFA Team of the Season}}
{{2014–15 A-League PFA Team of the Season}}
{{PFA A-League Team of the Decade (2005–2015)}}
{{Joe Marston Medal}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Australia squads
| bg = #FCD116
| fg = #008751
| bordercolor = #008751
| list1 = 
{{Australia Squad 2006 World Cup}}
{{Australia Squad 2007 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Australia Squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{Australia Squad 2010 World Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2015 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2019 AFC Asian Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Milligan, Mark}}
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