Former Partizan player and club`s youth academy graduate joined Partizan youth coaching team.
He made his senior Partizan debut against Sutjeska, March 25, 2005 and played for the club over four spells until 2022.
Besides Partizan, Smiljanic played for Mornar Bar and OFK Beograd before hanging his boots.
He won three league titles with the club (2011, 2012 and 2013) and two national cups (2011 and 2019).
Smiljanic will start upcoming 2024/25 season working with kids born in the year 2007 as well as with part of the boys born in the year 2006.
Former Partizan midfielder spoke to Partizan YouTube Channel.
“Our coach Dusan Trbojevic taught us to love Partizan players, to view them as idols. Therefore, one of my tasks will be to teach the boys to learn everything about everyone representing Partizan and to love them, to see themselves in their boots. Our joint mission is to take them onto the right path.
I really think I can help them and I hope they`ll learn something from me. They are 17 and 18 year boys and we were all there through that risky period of puberty, girls and nights out. I will have to take care of lots of details as I was there myself. When I approach them, my aim will be for them to realize I want only good things for them, I`ll be their mate also. They are at sensitive age and it`s one thing when you go up the ladder in youth and something else when you have to join seniors from the youths – everything changes. Therefore, I`ll be working to keep them firmly on the ground. I`ll be strict but righteous too, a friend before anything, pedagogue and coach at the same time.
When they are about to move to seniors, kids must be aware how great honour that is, just one in hundred kids will get this honour. I hope our youth academy will pick up soon and get back to the right track, where we belong. I will also try to teach boys what the greatness of the club is and to prepare them for the competitive football at the same time. They are all talented but when you move to seniors, fans want wins and trophies and I want to add that competitive spirit into them. They have to realize every game is important, being it a friendly or European match. It`s important their heads are firm and I want them to play with emotions as you give more to the club as such.
When I was close to hang my boots, I started viewing football game in a different manner. My roots are like that, my father was a coach and he told me working with kids would suit me. I have commitment, I want to work, move forward and my duty is to get as much kids as possible to the senior team”, said Milan Smiljanic.