Socceroos captain Mark Milligan walks away from international football after 80 caps
Four World Cups, three Asian Cups, a Confederations Cup and an Olympic Games is the kind of career any Australian footballer would look back on with immense pride.
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It started with a hunch, and ended with a phone call, but the international career of Mark Milligan has earned him the right to be considered one of his country’s most impressive servants.
After 80 caps, Milligan has called time on his Socceroos career – jointly the eighth most capped player for Australia and one of only two to have been picked for four World Cups.
It was appropriate that the last cap for such a leader of his country should come in Canberra, against Nepal in October, but now Milligan is handing on the mantle to the next generation.
Never one to make a fuss, the manner of Milligan’s departure – a phone call to coach Graham Arnold and a message to his teammates – summed up the nature of his career.
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In 2006 his inclusion in Guus Hiddink’s squad for the World Cup – after just 10 A-League appearances – owed much to Arnold’s belief that Milligan was a face for the future who would benefit from the experience. Thirteen years later, the evidence is irrefutable.
Were it not for some spectacular bad luck, and his own versatility, Milligan might have risen even higher up the appearances table. His presence at the 2006 World Cup was only ever as a learning opportunity, but 13 months later he was playing as sweeper at the Asian Cup.
Pim Verbeek took him to the 2010 World Cup but preferred the gnarled experience of Craig Moore and Lucas Neill, and Milligan sat it out again; injury ruled him out of the 2011 Asian Cup.
Ange Postecoglou was a big fan and gave him his first start at a World Cup in 2014, only for the player’s hamstring to react badly and rule him out of the rest of tournament.
He can, though, look back on starts in the 2015 Asian Cup final, and in Australia’s three games at the World Cup last year, as well as many impressive performances in myriad qualifiers along the way. He was captain at the 2008 Olympics, and the armband generally sat comfortably on him.
Coaches loved his versatility, Milligan himself less so. He long believed his best position was at the base of midfield, but even at the 2014 World Cup he was poised to move into right back in the wake of Ivan Franjic’s injury, until Milligan himself went lame.
Since the 2018 World Cup his presence has been vital in guiding the younger members of a squad in transition, especially with Mile Jedinak pulling the pin himself last year.
But playing, and coaching, in League One in England is an unforgiving environment, and one without FIFA international windows. With 14 or more games to come for Australia next year, the demands on Arnold’s squad will only get more intensive.
“Not many players can claim to have represented Australia at four World Cups, three Asian Cups, a Confederations Cup, as well as an Olympic Games,” said Graham Arnold.
“When you add in his tremendous club career, which includes two A-League Championships, a Premiership, and a Joe Marston Medal, it is clear that Mark’s contribution to Australian football over a long period has been significant.”
Originally published as Socceroos captain Mark Milligan walks away from international football after 80 caps