'I love when I shock people': Vesna Milivojevic on her global rise and Euros dreams

Vesna Milivojević is a long way from home. 9,775 miles to be exact.

The Serbian-Australian grew up in the Western suburbs of Sydney but now plays her football for IFK Norrköping, currently the fifth-best team in Sweden with six matches left in the 2024 Damallsvenskan season.

Home is special for Milivojević. There is nothing quite like where she grew up. The house where her parents still live, and the streets she was raised on. Where her father taught her how to make sarma – a slow-cooked traditional Serbian cabbage wrap dish.

"Togetherness. I remember as a kid, just growing up and playing on the street with my friends. It's such a multicultural community in Western Sydney," Milivojević told Squad Depth. "I got to grow up with people from all types of backgrounds. Yeah, that's what I love most about Sydney."

Football has seen the young Milivojević traverse the world. At just 22, Sweden is the fourth country she's played professionally in.

When she was 17 she made her professional debut for her hometown club, Western Sydney Wanderers, in the A-League W. Then she played in Serbia, for Spartak Subotica, and then in Germany, for Borussia Bocholt. All before she turned 20.

"I think a lot of people are scared of trying new things and leaving their comfort zone, which is what I did. I left my comfort zone. I went overseas, and I grew as a person, and not just as a footballer, like as a person off the field," she said.

"When I went to Serbia, it was very eye opening. It just builds you up as a person. I remember when I came back to Australia, after a couple years overseas, all my friends are like, "Who is this? Like, Vesna, you've grown up so much.""

Milivojević's time in Serbia was incredibly rewarding. Not only down to experiencing what it is like to win a league title and play in UEFA Champions League qualifiers, but also because it allowed her to reconnect with her heritage and the country of her parents.

Having never been called up to an Australian youth national camp, Milivojević officially declared for Serbia in 2021 and credits her time with Subotica as having played a critical role in making that decision.

"I don't think I would be this in touch with my Serbian side if I had not left Australia or gone and lived in Serbia. To experience that, I grew so much. I cannot explain how much I grew by going over there. And, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. It's a lot of hard work. It's a lot of hard times. And that only made me even stronger," Milivojević explained.

In 2022, Milivojević returned to Australia to sign with Canberra United. Over two seasons she would notch 18 goals and six assists in 30 matches. As an attacking midfielder, she developed an electric relationship with veteran Matlidas striker Michelle Heyman.

The up-and-coming Milivojević was dubbed the 'silent assassin' by the fans, as the more high-profile and seasoned Heyman, 36, led the team as its more vocal ambassador on and off the pitch.

This suited the quietly confident Milivojević. A player who relishes being underestimated, and letting her football do the talking.

"I've never been the proclaimed as a star, or I've never been the one to get the awards, which I love. I love being the underdog, because I know how good I am, and I love when I shock people when they watch me play," she said.

Milivojević calls the two highly successful seasons in Canberra the most "enjoyable" years of her career so far. Playing alongside one of her heroes, Heyman, was also a special part of footballing development.

"It was just such a good partnership up front. I felt like we just read each other so well. On the field, we didn't even have to speak. We just connected on and off the field," said Milivojević.

"I remember when I went to my first training with Canberra. I go into the changing room, and I see Michelle Heyman. I was scared. I was intimidated by her. I was like, "Oh my God, that's Michelle Heyman." She came up to me, and says: " Hi. I'm Michelle, welcome." I was like, What am I nervous about? Like, she's so friendly."

Success back home ultimately opened the door for another leap. After front office staff from Norrköping traveled to Canberra to see Milivojević play, she signed with the Swedish club at the beginning of 2024.

Beyond wanting a new challenge in a top league, Milivojević also prioritized being closer to Serbia so she could have an easier time recovering when she was with the national team. She was able to cut 24 hours of travel down to two-and-a-half.

Right now, nothing is a bigger target than helping Serbia to qualify for next summer's Euros in Switzerland.

Serbia have never qualified for any major women's tournament. After finishing second in their Euro 2025 qualifying group, behind Scotland, the Eagles will have a two-legged playoff with their neighbour Bosnia and Herzegovina in October.

Should Serbia prevail, they will then face either Luxembourg or Sweden for a place at Euro 2025 in November.

Understandably, Milivojević believes qualifying for the tournament could change the face of women's football back in Serbia.

"I'm feeling really confident [about qualifying]. I think that women's football in Serbia is not given the spotlight that it deserves," she said.

"We train day in, day out. We perform at our clubs. Football is our life, and so I really believe we're all going to come in prepared for this camp. And I really want to win both games. Not just win, but convincingly win them. In November, an even harder opponent could be waiting for us. Put a bit more respect on our names. That would be very nice."

For now, the crowds are small in Serbia. Smaller than when Milivojević plays for Norrköping, and when she plays opposing nations on the international circuit. She believes more intention being put into marketing and broadcasting the national team's games would do wonders for their visibility.

But regardless of how many people are watching her climb the ladder of football, Milivojević knows exactly where she is going. When asked where she see herself heading in the game, she centres herself and answers: "To the top."