Nikola Milenković

Nikola Milenković (Никола Миленковић, ; born 12 October 1997) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Nottingham Forest and the Serbia national team.

Early career
The quest to begin his career journey began in Žarkovo, where his family lived. Because Nikola grew up in that Belgrade neighbourhood, it was easy for his parents (notably his Mother) to identify a suitable academy he could train with. After having a successful trial, the youngster got enrolled in the academy roaster of OFK Žarkovo. This is a famous professional football academy based in Žarkovo. Nikola laid his career foundation on solid footings in this nice academy. Nikola had an excellent start to his youth career, as he surpassed his teammates in both training and games. OFK Žarkovo’s youth coach (Nikola Jelic) observed Nikola’s attributes and was very eager to discuss the boy’s future. All he wanted was for Nikola to excel fast, and Jelic noticed that his continuous stay with OFK Žarkovo wasn’t the right option. At 15, the youngster had a successful trial with Teleoptik. This bigger and better academy came with a limitation – which is distance. On many occasions, Nikola’s mother got worried about how her son would travel and get to school (on time) and still balance his football obligation. Because of the issue with distance, there came this quest to change Nikola’s academy. Thankfully, word came out that Partizan was looking for kids. This is an elite Serbian football club based in Belgrade. Because of their reputation, it is really hard to pass their academy trials. Nikola Milenković was among 30 other kids who were approved to come for trials with the great club. Only five passed, and Nikola was one of them.

2015–16 season
Passing the youth categories of Partizan, Milenković was loaned to Teleoptik for the 2015–16 season. At the beginning of 2016, he joined the first team of Partizan under coach Ivan Tomić and signed a five-year contract, but also stayed with Teleoptik on dual registration until the end of season. Several days after debut for U19 national team, he made his debut for Partizan in a SuperLiga match against Mladost Lučani played on 10 April 2016. He started in a match against Čukarički in round 32 of the same season and received a red card for a brutal foul on Petar Bojić, which resulted in a suspension for the next four matches. Milenković scored his first senior goal for Partizan in the last fixture of the 2015–16 Serbian SuperLiga, against Vojvodina, which was the hundredth goal of the club for the season.

2016–17 season
Milenković started new season pairing with Cédric Gogoua for the second qualifying round of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League against Zagłębie Lubin. He also started SuperLiga competition in the first fixture match against OFK Bačka before spending the following two rounds on the bench. After several bad results and some injuries of the players in defense, Milenković started playing continuously from the fourth fixture against Javor Ivanjica onwards. He scored his first season goal in a match against Rad, played on 27 August 2016. He also made his Serbian Cup debut in the first round match, against Napredak Kruševac on 21 September 2016. After Miroslav Vulićević's injury in a cup match against Žarkovo on 25 October 2016, Milenković wore the captain's armbrand. In February 2017, he was listed as one of the 30 best youth footballers in the world by the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. he scored his third goal for Partizan as a senior in 27 fixture match of the season against Voždovac, played on 18 March 2017.

On 27 May, in his last match for Partizan, Milenković scored a header against Partizan's biggest rival Red Star which won the game and clinched Partizan's double of the season, winning both the league and cup competitions.

Fiorentina
On 24 May 2017, Partizan president Milorad Vučelić confirmed that Milenković would be joining Serie A side Fiorentina in the summer. The transfer fee was reported as €5.1 million. Milenković made his debut for Fiorentina in 1–0 away victory over Cagliari on 22 December 2017, having played 84 minutes of the game. During the first few months, Nikola was getting used to his new environment and that's why Viola coach Stefano Pioli didn't often include him in the starting line-up. However, the tragic death of the team captain Davide Astori made Pioli change his mind and include Nikola in the starting eleven more often.

At the start of 2018–19 Serie A season matchday 2, Milenković scored his first goal at Stadio Artemio Franchi in 6–1 win over ChievoVerona. On 20 April 2019 Milenković scored 6th minute opener in 2–1 away defeat against rivals Juventus.

In the first round of the 2019–20 season against Napoli, Milenković scored the second goal for his team as a 7-goal thriller ends in Napoli's favor. After a corner taken by Erick Pulgar Milenkovic's header Proves Decisive in a 1–0 win against Udinese. On October 30, Nikola scored his third goal of the season and thus helped Fiorentina come from behind to claim a 2–1 win against Sassuolo. After another corner combination between Pulgar and Milenković, the Serbian international scored the equalizing goal in his side's 2–1 defeat against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

At the end of the 2021–22 Serie A season Fiorentina finished in seventh position and secured their first participation in the UEFA Europa Conference League. After five seasons, (The Purples) returned to European competition and after the draw held on August 2, 2022, the opponent was the Dutch Twente. After two games with the Dutch, the Italians came out victorious, the result was 2–1 for Fiorentina in the overall score.

Nottingham Forest
On 18 July 2024, Milenković signed for Premier League side Nottingham Forest on a five-year deal for an undisclosed transfer fee, believed to be around £12 million.

Youth
Milenković was a member of the Serbia under-19 team in early 2016. Later the same year, he was called up to the Serbia U20 national squad by coach Nenad Lalatović, and made his debut for the team in a match against Montenegro. Milenković was called up to the U21 squad by Lalatović in March 2017. He made his first appearance at U21 level on 28 March 2017, in a friendly match against Slovakia.

Senior
Milenković made his debut for the senior national team in a friendly 4 June 2018. In June 2018, Serbian head coach Mladen Krstajić included Milenković in the final 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup. He played in all three group stage matches.

In November 2022, he was selected in Serbia's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He played in all three group stage matches, against Brazil, Cameroon, and Switzerland. Serbia finished fourth in the group.

Milenković was selected in Serbia's squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. He played in all three group stage matches, against England, Slovenia and Denmark. Serbia finished fourth in the group.

International

 * Scores and results list Serbia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Milenković goal.

Honours
Partizan
 * Serbian SuperLiga: 2016–17
 * Serbian Cup: 2015–16, 2016–17

Individual
 * UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2022–23