AFC Women's Asian Cup
While China PR goes into Australia as defending champions, the years since lifting the trophy at India 2022 have seen the team under-performing in major tournaments - a group stage exit at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 as well as missing out completely on the Paris Olympics 2024.
Milicic’s single-mindedness was evident from the moment the prospect of landing the job with the Steel Roses became a possibility as the Australian shares with the-AFC.com what the head coach role entails for him and China PR.
Milicic’s single-mindedness was evident from the moment the prospect of landing the job with the Steel Roses became a possibility as the Australian shares with the-AFC.com what the head coach role entails for him and China PR.
“The job came about when I was asked if I was interested in interviewing for it,” said Milicic. “I think I fit the criteria in terms of what they were looking for - working in the women’s game, coaching at the World Cup and the age profile.
“Obviously going through the interview process with the federation to get an understanding of what they are after as well as looking at my own ambition. To be a national team coach of such a large country with a big population that’s passionate is a massive challenge."
“Obviously going through the interview process with the federation to get an understanding of what they are after as well as looking at my own ambition. To be a national team coach of such a large country with a big population that’s passionate is a massive challenge."
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“After speaking with the people involved, I decided it was an opportunity I’d like to pursue further. It’s a big responsibility (to recapture China PR’s standing in the women’s game) but that’s how the women’s game has moved forward particularly in Europe and now South America also.
“The women’s game is moving very quickly - there’s more investment, more popularity, the levels have gone up higher. For countries like China, they have to keep up because the gap is there.
“Of course there’s more added pressure now because in the past, they’ve been used to a little bit of success. Now we have an opportunity to see what we can do to produce players and teams that the nation can be proud of.”
“The women’s game is moving very quickly - there’s more investment, more popularity, the levels have gone up higher. For countries like China, they have to keep up because the gap is there.
“Of course there’s more added pressure now because in the past, they’ve been used to a little bit of success. Now we have an opportunity to see what we can do to produce players and teams that the nation can be proud of.”
As with any national team head coach, the club game plays a pivotal role in being the platform for players to develop and improve, and it’s no surprise that Milicic has kept a keen eye on proceedings.
The success of Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC in winning the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25 hasn’t gone unnoticed by the 51-year-old with four players from the squad called up for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship back in July.
“It’s a great achievement in the first year of the competition that Wuhan did win the Champions League and we are very proud of that. We also have to understand and be honest that the level between the local competitions and what’s required at international football is quite high - there’s a big gap.
“In terms of speed, more than anything. Not just speed physically but also speed of thought. So that’s an area that China and few other countries in Asia need to concentrate and focus on to build players for national teams to play at higher level.
“The development in Europe has gone to a different level now and that’s clear for everyone to see when you follow football in that region.”
The success of Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC in winning the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25 hasn’t gone unnoticed by the 51-year-old with four players from the squad called up for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship back in July.
“It’s a great achievement in the first year of the competition that Wuhan did win the Champions League and we are very proud of that. We also have to understand and be honest that the level between the local competitions and what’s required at international football is quite high - there’s a big gap.
“In terms of speed, more than anything. Not just speed physically but also speed of thought. So that’s an area that China and few other countries in Asia need to concentrate and focus on to build players for national teams to play at higher level.
“The development in Europe has gone to a different level now and that’s clear for everyone to see when you follow football in that region.”
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It was during the regional tournament played in Korea Republic where China PR finished runners-up to the host that Milicic had a closer look at his squad and why he deemed the tournament as a successful one.
Draws against Korea Republic and Japan together with the win against Chinese Taipei gave Milicic plenty of insights into his players with the opportunity to play against fellow Asian Cup teams also proved to be a useful exercise.
“For me personally, there were three opponents that will be at the Asian Cup, so that’s the most important. Good level teams in difficult conditions with a short amount of rest days in between."
Draws against Korea Republic and Japan together with the win against Chinese Taipei gave Milicic plenty of insights into his players with the opportunity to play against fellow Asian Cup teams also proved to be a useful exercise.
“For me personally, there were three opponents that will be at the Asian Cup, so that’s the most important. Good level teams in difficult conditions with a short amount of rest days in between."
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“I think in the second and third games I changed six or seven players from the starting 11. The main thing for me was to see which players can perform at a high level not only on the field but off the field because when you go away to tournaments, you need to be in camp for 25-30 days.
“So who can really have a level of professionalism for a consistent period of time. That’s where I learnt a lot about my players.”
Preparation and focus is now catered exclusively towards Australia 2026 where China PR will want to defend their title and Milicic does not want to shirk away from the obvious target which will be extending their title wins to a record 10 triumphs.
Yet the tournament will also serve as a start to something bigger with loftier targets put in place.
“So who can really have a level of professionalism for a consistent period of time. That’s where I learnt a lot about my players.”
Preparation and focus is now catered exclusively towards Australia 2026 where China PR will want to defend their title and Milicic does not want to shirk away from the obvious target which will be extending their title wins to a record 10 triumphs.
Yet the tournament will also serve as a start to something bigger with loftier targets put in place.
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“I always set my own targets to be high. What happened in the past, you always respect. You have to understand that the last tournament was played during the Covid period, which is different.
“This squad that we will bring for the tournament will be different, with a lot more new faces compared to the team that won the tournament four years ago. I understand that coaching a team like China comes with its pressure and desire for results.
“My whole career I’ve always had high standards for the work that I do, I believe in that and I believe in my own process that’s good enough to achieve a good result not only in the Asian Cup but also after that perform at the World Cup then maybe qualify for the Olympics.
“You don’t look at one tournament as an isolation but of course you respect what’s in front of you and that’s this tournament.”
Photos: AFP, AFC
“This squad that we will bring for the tournament will be different, with a lot more new faces compared to the team that won the tournament four years ago. I understand that coaching a team like China comes with its pressure and desire for results.
“My whole career I’ve always had high standards for the work that I do, I believe in that and I believe in my own process that’s good enough to achieve a good result not only in the Asian Cup but also after that perform at the World Cup then maybe qualify for the Olympics.
“You don’t look at one tournament as an isolation but of course you respect what’s in front of you and that’s this tournament.”
Photos: AFP, AFC
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