Serbian tactician Milutin Sredojevic “Micho” has been reappointed as Uganda Cranes head coach on a three-year contract, FUFA has just confirmed on Tuesday evening.
“Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) hereby announces that Mr. Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has been appointed Head coach of the Uganda Cranes on a three-year renewable contract effective 1st August 2021,” read the Tuesday night statement from FUFA.
Micho as he is commonly known has bounced back at the Cranes for his second stint after guiding the Cranes to its first-ever AFCON appearance since 1978 in the 2017 AFCON.
But who is Micho, the newly appointed Cranes Coach?
Born 1 September 1969, Milutin Sredojević simply known as Micho, is a Serbian football manager who currently serves as the head coach of the Uganda national football team.[1]He was appointed on 27th July 2021 and signed a 3-year contract.
Playing career
Sredojević formerly played for Svoboda Ljubljana, Sinđelić Belgrade, Grafičar Belgrade, FK Zorka Subotica and FK Pionir Subotica. He operated as a defensive midfielder but was cut short by a recurring knee injury but he opted to cross to coaching to stay in the game of football.
Managerial career
Micho’s time in Africa began in 2001 at Ugandan club SC Villa and since then he has had two stints at both Ethiopia’s Saint George SC and South Africa’s Orlando Pirates as well as Yanga in Tanzania and Sudanese club Al Hilal.
Micho as Head Coach for Rwanda
On 1 November 2011, Sredojević was unveiled as the new head coach of Rwanda replacing Ghanaian SellasTetteh. Micho guided Rwanda to group stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Group H along with Algeria, Mali and Benin after winning 4–2 goal aggregate against Eritrea.
Micho Unveiled as Uganda Cranes Coach
In May 2013, Micho was announced as the new Head Coach of Uganda Cranes replacing Robert ‘Bobby’ Williamson who was sacked in April 2013. Micho signed a two-year contract with Sam Timbe and Kefa Kisala announced as assistant coaches then, while Fred Kajoba retained his position as goalkeepers’ coach.
His first assignment as Cranes coach was the game between Libya versus Uganda at Tripoli International Stadium where Libya defeated Uganda by 3-0.
On 1 April 2015 FUFA president Moses Magogo added Micho a 3 years contract after he registered 60 percent success in the matches he handled, Micho handled the Uganda Cranes in 35 matches registering 18 victories, 5 draws and 12 losses since 2013 to 2015.
On 26 October 2015 Micho guided back Uganda Cranes to 2016 CHAN Championship in Rwanda after beating hosts Sudan 2–0 goals were scored by Caesar Okhuti and Farouk Miya at the Khartoum National Stadium to qualify on a 4–0 goal aggregate, this was Uganda’s third appearance at the CHAN finals after the tournaments in Sudan and South Africa in 2011 and 2014 respectively.
Micho Guides Uganda Cranes to AFCON after 39 years of waiting
On 4 September 2016, Micho led the Uganda Cranes team to qualifications for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 38 years. The Cranes finished the qualification round very strongly as Group D runners-up, behind west African side Burkina Faso who needed a late win over Botswana, with 13 points safe in the bag, Uganda finished as one of the two best group runners-up to finally progress to the elusive stage.
On 7 January 2016 Uganda attained the best ever position on the FIFA rankings in the 62nd out of the 209 FIFA Member Associations.
Micho guided Uganda after 38-year-old jinx to qualify for the biggest continental football fiesta – the African Cup of Nations, Farouk Miya scored 1–0 against the Island nation, Comoros in the 35th minute.
Micho takes credit for developing the goalkeeper Denis Onyango, who has just been named African Player of the Year based in Africa for 2016, having worked with him in his first spell in Uganda.
In December 2016, Sredojevic was among the nominees for the prestigious CAF Coach of the Year Award following his exploits in 2016. Uganda was voted as a national team of the year 2016 in CAF awards.
Micho departs Cranes in 2017
On Saturday, 29 July 2017 during a fully packed press conference held at Pine Hall, Kabira Country Club in Kampala, Sredojevic confirmed the termination of the employment contract with Uganda football governing body which had occurred on Friday, 28 July 2017 at 8 p.m. due to nonpayment of salaries for several months.
Micho’s life after Cranes
On Thursday 3 August 2017, Orlando Pirates FC officially announced the return of coach Sredojević to the South African top-flight football club following his departure from the Uganda Cranes.
While at Orlando Pirates he was in charge of 80 games across all competitions, winning 38, drawing 26, while losing 16 and on 16 August 2019 he retired as Orlando Pirates manager. It was later revealed that Micho resigned and left the country because he had been accused of rape.
On 17 August 2019, it was announced that Sredojević will be joining Zamalek SC as their new manager; he signed a one-year contract, but he was sacked after just 4 months into his new job.
Micho as head coach of Zambia Chipolopolos
On 3 February 2020, Sredojević was unveiled as the head coach of the Zambia national team penning down a two-year contract, however, on 17 July 2021, the Football Association of Zambia announced Sredojević had left his role via mutual consent.
Micho Returns as Uganda Cranes Coach
On 27th July 2021, FUFA announced Micho as the new Head Coach of the Uganda national team on a 3-year contract effective August 1, 2021.
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