A-League star Milos Ninkovic applies for Australian citizenship

Nearly a decade ago Milos Ninkovic was playing against Australia on football’s greatest stage. Today he is out to lead Sydney FC to A-League glory for the second time in three seasons — and celebrate by becoming an Australian citizen with his family.

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Nearly a decade ago Milos Ninkovic was playing against Australia on football’s greatest stage.

Today he is out to lead Sydney FC to A-League glory for the second time in three seasons — and celebrate by becoming an Australian citizen with his family.

The Sky Blues take on minor premiers Perth Glory in the A-League grand final on front of a hostile crowd of more than 50,000 at Optus Stadium, in what is likely to be Ninkovic’s last game as a “foreign visa player”.

It’s nine years since Ninkovic’s first brush with Australia, when he played for Serbia against the Socceroos at the 2010 World Cup, and nearly four years since he moved his family to Sydney.

Sydney FC player Milos Ninkovic with wife Dejana and their three children Angelina, Doroteja and Novak. Picture: Dylan Robinson

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Now the 34-year-old midfield maestro has submitted the paperwork to gain Australian citizenship for him and his family, with an eye on staying here once his playing days are over.

Outstanding for Sydney since he debuted in 2015, Ninkovic will be delighted to add a second nationality, once the application for him, wife Dejana and their children, Angelina, Doroteja and Novak, is “hopefully” rubber-stamped in coming weeks.

“We all feel great at the thought of becoming Australian, and hopefully in the next few months it will happen,” Ninkovic said.

“To be honest when I first came here I signed a two-year contract and I thought that would be it and I would go home to Serbia again.

Ninkovic celebrates kicking a goal during the A-League Semi Final match between Sydney FC and the Melbourne Victory at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on May 12. Picture: Cameron Spencer

“But we love it here, and though we haven’t decided what will happen once my career is over, living here is definitely possible, especially once our children are older.

“There are such good opportunities for them here.”

The skilful playmaker became a cult hero with Sky Blues fans after scoring the winning penalty in the shootout that decided the grand final two years ago against archrivals Melbourne Victory. That same season he became the first Sydney FC player to win the A-League’s highest individual honour, the Johnny Warren Medal.

Ninkovic scored Sydney’s sixth goal in a stunning semi-final win over Melbourne Victory last Sunday that earned them a place in the grand final against the minor premiers Perth Glory.

“The players and the fans all felt amazing after that game last weekend, but we have to forget it now and focus on our most important game of the season,” he said.

“It was an unbelievable night, great for our confidence, but it’s already in the past. Now we are ready for Perth.”

A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL: PERTH GLORY V SYDNEY FC, SUNDAY 6.30PM.

LIVE ON FOX SPORTS FROM 5.30PM

Originally published as A-League star Milos Ninkovic applies for Australian citizenship