Nicolas Milanovic has claimed the Johnny Warren Medal for 2024-25, departing Western Sydney Wanderers and the Isuzu UTE A-League on a high after a brilliant final season at his boyhood club.
At the 2025 Dolan Warren Awards, 23-year-old Milanovic became the first Wanderers player to win the Johnny Warren Medal.
He scored 12 goals and notched six assists to put his name in the Socceroos conversation, and attracted overseas interest before signing for Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen, netting a record transfer fee for Western Sydney.
The Johnny Warren Medallist is determined every season by a voting process which occurs after each regular-season fixture in an Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
Votes are awarded to players after each game by an individual from three separate panels; the panels contain technical members, former players, media representatives and match officials.
The three panels collate their votes to determine the best three players from each regular-season game. Three votes are awarded to the best afield, two votes to the second best and one vote to the third best.
These votes are then tallied up to award the Johnny Warren Medal at the end of the season.
Adelaide United midfielder Zach Clough raced to an early lead in the vote count, but was chased down by Milanovic by the end of the regular season.
Milanovic accrued 28 votes to beat Angus Thurgate of Western United by three votes and clinch the Johnny Warren Medal. Auckland FC captain Hiroki Sakai finished third in the count, with Clough and Newcastle Jets rising star Clayton Taylor rounding out the top five.
Unable to attend the Dolan Warren Awards ceremony due to being away with the Socceroos, Milanovic’s Johnny Warren Medal was accepted by Wanderers CEO Scott Hudson on behalf of the Aberdeen-bound forward.
Hudson highlighted Milanovic’s journey from a Wanderers fan in the stands, to an academy product and, after two-and-a-half seasons at Western United, a member of Western Sydney’s senior squad after his mid-season return to his boyhood club in 2023.
“We’re so proud of what he’s achieved in the last couple of years,” Hudson said.
“He’s a boy from Western Sydney, he grew up in our academy, he sat in the RBB (Red and Black Bloc) as a kid on the other side of the fence.
“To see him achieve such a prestigious award, the list of players that have won this award, that have contributed to this league, he stands alongside (them).
“We’re really glad we could play a part in his career, and we wish him all the best overseas.”
Milanovic’s Johnny Warren Medal triumph continued a recent trend in the award’s illustrious history.
A Medal dominated by Australian winners through the 1990s and 2000s, only one Australian won the Johnny Warren Medal between 2008 and 2021 (Nathan Burns, 2014-15). Since, it has been claimed by an Australian for four straight years (Jake Brimmer 2021-22, Craig Goodwin 2022-23, Josh Nisbet 2023-24).
Joining the Dolan Warren Awards virtually, Milanovic spoke to co-host Tara Rushton about the honour he felt collecting the award for 2024-25.
“I definitely didn’t think I could achieve such a feat, especially the Johnny Warren Medal, which is for me the most prestigious award you can win in Australian football,” Milanovic said.
“I was 10 years old watching players like Mark Bridge and Nikolai Topor-Stanley at Pirtek (Pirtek Stadium – the past home of the Wanderers) rip in – and I just wanted it to be me.
“Winning this medal, especially for Western Sydney, is indescribable.”
“The A-League is just perfect for youngsters who want to try and develop, and take on Europe, America, Asia – other continents as well”, he added.
“You see so many young players, especially in the last two or three years, going on to bigger and better things. It’s the trust that the coaches are showing all the players, and a lot of squads’ average age is getting younger.
“That’s obviously part of my development, and having trust from a coach at a young age is very important. It gives you confidence to do things I did this season.
“I’d like to thank my family, my parents, my younger brother and my beautiful girlfriend Bella. Without their support and keeping me (grounded) all year, and staying humble, I couldn’t have played at my best. They’re the cornerstone to all this, so I’d like to thank them the most.”
He continued: “I’d like to thank the club, I’d like to thank Staj (Wanderers head coach Alen Stajcic), the assistant coaches, the backroom staff, the physios, everyone invovled in nurturing us as players, and giving us the oportunity to get out on the field every single week and perform at our best.
“I’d like to thank the fans, the RBB, the Western Sydney faithful. I think they are such an important part of my development. I feed off their energy. For the last two-and-a-half years since I’ve been here, I’ve never had a complaint about any lack of noise from the fans, so I’d like to thank them.
“I’d also like to thank the parties for voting. It’s important to thank those who recognise me as being the best, which I’m so privileged for.
“Winning a Johnny Warren Medal is in anyone’s wildest dreams, and to have all those people behind me the whole way, it makes things so much easier. It makes me so much prouder now to showcase that as well.
“There have been so many great winners, and for my name to be with theirs, it’s such an honour.”
