Ilic: Sasa

2005-2005 (Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Melbourne, Australia: 18-07-1972

Debut: None

6’4” 14st (2003)

Capped twice by Yugoslavia, although born in Australia of Serbian descent, Ilic was taken on loan on 24th March 2005. He did not actually step on the pitch, but he wore the United goalkeeping kit as an unused substitute in United’s fixtures on 2nd April 2005, at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, on 1st May 2005 at Leicester City and on 8th May 2005 at home to Rotherham United, in the final fixture of the season. Ilic started his football career in his native Australia with Ringwood, but joined Partizan Belgrade in his family’s home country. He then went to FK Radnicki and then to Daewoo Royals in Korea and on to St Leonards Stamcroft in the English Dr Martens League. In 1997 he had trials with Aston Villa and Plymouth Argyle, before signing for Charlton Athletic in November 1997 and being loaned to Welling United. Over the next four seasons he made fifty-nine appearances without ever cementing his position as the regular keeper. But in the 1997-98 season, being a regular choice in goal he found himself a hero at the club when he saved Michael Gray's penalty in a 7-6 win on penalties in the Division One play-off Final. In the 1998/1999 season Ilic was again fairly regular in goal but Charlton were relegated. In February 2000 he went on a month’s loan to West Ham but only made one appearance. In September 2001 he was off to Portsmouth on loan which lasted almost two years in which he made seven appearances. He then went to Zalaegerszeg, a Hungarian team but only played twice and signed for Portsmouth in February 2003 but left when his contract ran out at the end of the season without playing a game. Barnsley took him on in July 2003 and he made thirty-three appearances before moving on to Sheffield United in February 2004, but never played a game and left for Blackpool at the season’s end. After just five games for the sea-siders he was off again this time to Aberdeen in January 2005 and again did not play a game before going on loan to Leeds in March 2005. At the end of his loan period with Leeds on 31st May 2005, he could not find another club.