Savo Milosevic - Striker Date of Birth: September 2, 1973 Birthplace: Bijeljuna (Yugoslavia) Nationality: Serbian Height: 1.85m / 6'1" Previous Clubs: Partizan Belgrade Joined Villa: June 1995 Acquisition Price: £3.5 million Debut: August 19, 1995 vs Man. Utd. (h) Left Villa (for): May 13, 1998 (Real Zaragoza, Spain) Transfer fee: £3.5 million

Savo was born in Bosnia. His name is very common, Savo being the patron saint of the orthodox church. Appeared four times for the rump Yogoslavia after they were allowed back into international competition (UN sanctions really hurt when you run out of petrol and can't see international football). Partizan Belgrade are the second biggest club (Red Star Belgrade are the biggest) but more recently they have had the better time of it winning domestic honours via Savo's goalscoring. It was Savo's incredible 75 goals in the league that made Brian Little sign him in the summer of 1995 for a record breaking 3.5 million. However it must be said the league isn't what it used to be with the leaving of the big Croation clubs like Hajduk Split. Bosnich is of Croation decent so hopefully Savo can talk to someone in his own Lingo. His present girfriend Vesna was a top model in Belgrade. After almost an entire season where he got a tremendous amount of stick for his many missed chances - respectless nicknames like Missalottovic were used by certain football commentators - he rifled in the first of 3 goals in the Coca Cola Cup final against Leeds with an incredible 25 metre shot. After that, the critics' gobs remained shut and probably locked too. Everyone therefore expected a great season from Savo next time. This, however, never happened. Savo continued in the same line as the year before. The occasional goal, that was all. Savo didn't seem to fit into Villa's style. In October, Savo was ditched for the benefit of Tommy Johnson. Things then went fast. Italian club Perugia approached for Savo, but they never seemed like they meant it. Savo then expressed his wishes to stay, which Little was more than happy to hear. In the absence of Milosevic, people found out that Villa actually played a whole lot better when Savo was on. He may not score goals, but distract defenders, assist Yorkie and dribble like crazy is all within Savo's skills. It now looks like he's back for good. After the Perugia affair, Savo had a series of brilliant matches, then things went back to normal. Fans are once again questioning his abilities, and more transfer speculation arrived over the summer. However, this never stopped Brian Little in his continous praising of Savo's skills and talent.

However, the manure really hit the fan on January 17, 1998. Villa had just been massacred 5-0 by Blackburn after the poorest performance of the season, and certain "fans" had been mocking Milosevic, using obscenities such as: "You're not fit to wear our shirt". Savo had enough after the game, and as he passed the stand to which the Villa fans were assigned, he spat in their direction. Apparently, Milo has a preferlection for sending spittle towards people he disapproves of. In January 97, David Beckham of Man Utd was his target, and soon after the incident at Ewood Park, the Yugoslavian International supporters allegedly got in the way of more drivel from Savo, although this has never been confirmed nor had an aftermath. The Blackburn episode did, however. Savo was reprimanded, fined around £15.000 and immediately placed on the transfer list.

Right after this incident, Savo refused to come on as a sub in Villa's game vs Derby and soon after initiated his own one-man strike during the FA Cup clash with Derby at Villa Park. Brian Little promptly tore up his pay cheque. Doug Ellis called for peace in the end, and Savo, Brian and Ellis made up with help from Mighty Dwight.

He never came off the trasfer list, though. Several clubs approached Villa at the end of the season, and he left for Real Zaragoza very soon after that. We say goodbye to Savo with mixed feelings, but we will certainly never forget his bullet-shot in the Coca Cola Cup final in 1996, his match winning goal against Leeds. A shame he never truly settled.

Apperances has substitutions in brackets, i.e. the games when he came on as a sub and didn't start on the pitch. All the stats include cup games.