{{Short description|Cypriot footballer (born 1967)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Milenko Špoljarić | image = | fullname = Milenko Špoljarić | height = {{height|m=1.80|precision=0}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|1|24|df=yes}} | birth_place = Belišće, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Belišće | years1 = 1987–1989 | years2 = 1989–1992 | years3 = 1992–2003 | years4 = 2003–2004 | clubs1 = Osijek | clubs2 = OFK Beograd | clubs3 = Apollon Limassol | clubs4 = AEP Paphos | caps1 = 0 | caps2 = 95 | caps3 = 250 | caps4 = 23 | goals1 = 0 | goals2 = 21 | goals3 = 115 | goals4 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 1997–2001| nationalteam1 = Cyprus | nationalcaps1 = 21| nationalgoals1 = 8 | nationalyears2 = 1998 | nationalteam2 = Cyprus B | nationalcaps2 = 1| nationalgoals2 = 1 | manageryears1 = 2004–2005 | managerclubs1 = Aris Limassol }}
'''Milenko Špoljarić''' ({{Langx|el|Μιλένκο Σπόλιαριτς}}; born 24 January 1967) is a former footballer and manager. Born in Croatia, he represented Cyprus internationally.
==Club career== Born in Belišće, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia, Špoljarić played for Yugoslav First League clubs NK Osijek and OFK Beograd. He left in 1992 signing with Cypriot club Apollon Limassol where he played for 11 seasons, until 2003. Before retiring from professional playing he played one last season with AEP Paphos. With Apollon he scored 78 goals in 250 appearances.
==International career== After playing several seasons in Cyprus, he made his debut for Cyprus in an October 1997 World Cup qualification match against Luxembourg and earned a total of 22 caps (1 unofficial), scoring 9 goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/cyp-recintlp.html|title=Appearances for Cyprus National Team|accessdate=27 December 2022|website=RSSSF}}</ref> His final international was a March 2001 World Cup qualification match against Estonia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=19858|title=Player Database|accessdate=27 December 2022|website=EU-football}}</ref>
After retiring he initiated his coaching career.
==Personal life== His father is an ethnic Croat while his mother is an ethnic Serb.<ref name="Tempo magazine #1338">{{cite news |author=''Tempo'' (Serbia magazine) |title=Tempo magazine #1338, pgs. 2-3 |date=1991-10-16 |language=sr}}</ref> He has three sons: Alexander, Matija and Danilo.
==International goals== {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1. || 11 October 1997 || Limassol, Cyprus || {{fb|LUX}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 2–0 || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |- | 2. || 5 September 1998 || Larnaca, Cyprus || {{fb|ESP}} || align=center|'''3'''–1 || align=center| 3–2 || rowspan=4| UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |- | 3. || 18 November 1998 || Serravalle, San Marino || {{fb|SMR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 |- | 4. || rowspan=2| 5 September 1999 || rowspan=2| Limassol, Cyprus || rowspan=2| {{fb|ISR}} || align=center|'''2'''–1 || rowspan=2 align=center| 3–2 |- | 5. || align=center|'''3'''–2 |- | 6. || rowspan=2| 4 February 2000 || rowspan=2| Strovolos, Cyprus || rowspan=2| {{fb|ARM}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 3–2 {{aet}} || rowspan=2| 2000 Cyprus International Tournament |- | 7. || align=center|'''3'''–2 |- | 8. || 15 November 2000 || Limassol, Cyprus || {{fb|AND}} || align=center|'''5'''–0 || align=center| 5–0 || 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sports links}}
{{Aris Limassol FC managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spoljaric, Milenko}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:People from Belišće Category:Footballers from Osijek-Baranja County Category:Croatian people of Serbian descent Category:Croatian emigrants to Cyprus Category:Cypriot people of Serbian descent Category:Cypriot people of Croatian descent Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Yugoslav men's footballers Category:Croatian men's footballers Category:Cypriot men's footballers Category:Cyprus men's international footballers Category:NK Osijek players Category:OFK Beograd players Category:Apollon Limassol FC players Category:AEP Paphos FC players Category:Yugoslav First League players Category:Yugoslav Second League players Category:Cypriot First Division players Category:Cypriot football managers Category:Aris Limassol FC managers Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus Category:Croatian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus Category:Naturalized citizens of Cyprus Category:Naturalised association football players
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