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Milenko AcimovicSlovenian footballer, midfielder
Date of Birth: 15.02.1977
Country:  Slovenia |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Rise to Prominence
- Stints at Tottenham and Lille
- Success with Lille
- Later Career
- International Career
Early Life and Career
Milenko Ačimović was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in a Serbian family. He began his football journey at the Olimpija youth academy before making his professional debut with Železničar. Ačimović then returned to Olimpija in 1996 and spent two seasons there.
Rise to Prominence
In 1998, Ačimović joined Serbian club Crvena Zvezda, where he quickly became a key player. His performances with the Belgrade giants, combined with Slovenia's success at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup, caught the attention of several prestigious European clubs.
Stints at Tottenham and Lille
In 2002, Ačimović sealed a move to Tottenham Hotspur. However, he struggled to find his feet in England, making only 17 appearances in two seasons. He then joined Lille in 2004, and it was in France that the Slovenian midfielder truly shone.
Success with Lille
Ačimović was a pivotal figure in Lille's 2004/05 title-winning campaign, which earned them a place in the Champions League. Despite failing to progress from the group stage, Lille finished above Manchester United and reached the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.
Later Career
After a successful spell in France, Ačimović surprisingly moved to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. However, his time there was unsuccessful, and he left after one season without ever taking to the field. In 2007, he joined Austria Wien, where he remained a regular until his retirement in 2010 due to a knee injury.
International Career
Ačimović made his Slovenia debut in 1998 and went on to represent his country 74 times, scoring 13 goals. He featured in the Euro 2000 and 2002 World Cup tournaments, scoring a memorable goal against Paraguay in the latter. He announced his retirement from international football in 2007.
