Mile Sterjovski

Mile Sterjovski (born 27 May 1979) is an Australian former professional soccer player.

He played predominantly as a right winger or as a second striker, but also played as a left winger and central midfielder.

Sterjovski is the current head coach of A-League club Macarthur FC.

Sterjovski played youth football with Wollongong Wolves and the AIS before making his senior debut for Wolves in the National Soccer League.

After also playing for Wollongong United, Sydney United and Parramatta Power, Sterjovski moved overseas to play for French club Lille OSC.

He also spent time in Switzerland (with Basel) and Turkey (with Hacettepe) before joining Derby in the English Premier League.

He eventually returned to Australia to play in the A-League for Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners, separated by a period playing for Dalian Aerbin in the Chinese Super League.

He then returned to the A-league to win the championship with the Central Coast Mariners.

He played for the Australia national team from 2000 to 2010, making 43 appearances and scoring 8 goals, including three games at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and an international hat-trick against Tahiti.

Sterjovski began playing as a junior with the Wollongong Olympic Junior Soccer Club Lake Height Junior Football Club.

Sterjovski began his career in Australia at Wollongong Wolves and briefly played for Illawarra Lions before making a name for himself with successful spells at Sydney United and Parramatta Power.

Sterjovski's performances and record of 31 goals in 68 games in three National Soccer League (NSL) seasons earned him a move to French Ligue 1 side Lille in 2000.

After four seasons at Lille, Sterjovski moved to Swiss side FC Basel.

On 14 May 2004, it was announced that Sterjovski had signed a three-year contract with FC Basel.

He joined Basel's first team during their 2004–05 season under head coach Christian Gross.

After playing in five test games Sterjovski played his domestic league debut for his new club in the home game in the St. Jakob-Park on 17 July as Basel won 6–0 against Aarau.

As reigning Swiss champions, Basel entered the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League in the third qualifying round and their aim was to reach the group stage.

However, they were drawn against Internazionale.

Sterjovski scored his first goal for his new club on 24 August in the away game in the San Siro, Milan, as Basel were defeated 4–1 by Inter and Inter won the qualifier 5–2 on aggregate.

Basel subsequently dropped into the 2004–05 UEFA Cup.

Beating Terek Grozny in the first round, Basel qualified for the group stage.

A 1–1 draw away against Schalke 04 was followed by a home defeat against Hearts.

But with two victories, 2–1 away against Ferencvárosi TC and 1–0 at home against Feyenoord, saw Basel rise to third place in the group table and advance to the knock-out stage.

Basel completed all the 2004–05 Super League season's seventeen home games undefeated, winning thirteen and drawing four.

They ended the season as Swiss champions with ten points advantage over second placed Thun.

In the first round of the 2004–05 Swiss Cup Basel played away against local amateur club FC Oberdorf.

Sterjovski scored his first cup goal for the club in this match and Basel went on to win 4–0.

In the second round they beat lower league team Meyrin 3–1.

But in round three they faced Thun.

Following a 1–1 draw after extra time.

It required a penalty shoot-out.

Sterjovski's spot kick was held by Thun keeper Fabio Coltorti and Thun won the shoot-out 4–3.

In the round of 32 in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup, a home game in the St. Jakob-Park on 17 February 2005, Basel played a goalless draw against Sterjovski's former club, Lille OSC, but in the return leg Basel were defeated 2–0 and were eliminated.

Sterjovski scored his first domestic league goal with his team in the home game on 7 November.

It was the first goal of the game as Basel won 2–1 against Young Boys.

As Swiss champions, Basel entered the 2005–06 Champions League third qualifying round.

However, they were drawn against Bundesliga club Werder Bremen and they lost 4–2 on aggregate.

Subsequently Basel dropped into the 2005–06 UEFA Cup, where against Široki Brijeg in the first round, they sealed a 6–0 aggregate win to qualify for the Group stage.

Here Basel were then drawn into Group E, alongside Strasbourg, Roma, Red Star Belgrade and Tromsø.

Basel qualified for the knock-out stage and in the round of 32 Basel were drawn against AS Monaco, this was won 2–1 on aggregate.