SC Villa appoints Serbian coach Milincic Nemanja as new head coach

SC Villa has appointed Serbian tactician Milincic Nemanja as their new head coach, effective immediately. The club made the announcement on Wednesday following the departure of former head coach Morley Byekwaso.

“SC Villa is pleased to announce Mr. Milincic Nemanja as our new Head Coach, with immediate effect. We believe his experience and leadership will be instrumental in guiding the club forward,” the club said in an official statement.

This coaching change follows the club’s decision to part ways with Byekwaso, who served as head coach for just one season. He initially joined the club in June 2023 as an assistant coach before being promoted to the top job.

Together with fellow Serbian coach Dusan Stojanovic, Byekwaso led SC Villa to their first Uganda Premier League title since 2004 during the 2023/24 season.

However, the 2024/25 campaign proved more challenging. The Jogoos finished sixth in the league with 45 points, a significant 24 points behind champions Vipers SC. They were also eliminated from the Uganda Cup at the quarterfinal stage by the same team. These results prompted the club to seek a new direction.

Milincic becomes the fourth Serbian to take charge of SC Villa and brings with him a wealth of international experience. The club, which boasts a record 17 league titles, is optimistic about his impact.

“I’m honored and excited to join SC Villa, a club with a rich history and passionate supporters,” Milincic said. “I look forward to working with the players, staff, and management to build a competitive team capable of challenging for every trophy.”

“I understand the high expectations of the fans, and I’m fully committed to delivering success and making them proud,” he added.

Born on February 19, 1989, Milincic holds a UEFA A coaching license. Despite his relatively young age, he brings over a decade of experience in football, primarily as a match analyst and assistant coach across Europe and the Middle East.

His most recent role was as assistant coach at FK Napredak Kruševac in Serbia from December 2024 to March 2025. Prior to that, he served as an assistant coach for the Bulgaria National Team from July 2021 to October 2023.

Milincic has also worked as a match analyst with top clubs and national teams, including Red Star Belgrade, AEK Athens, Al Ettifaq, the Serbian national team, and Al Ahli. His coaching journey began in 2014 at OFK Beograd and includes stints with the Serbia U-19 team and FC Koper in Slovenia.

SC Villa is confident that Milincic’s modern coaching approach and international pedigree will help the team rebound and compete strongly both domestically and on the continental stage.

He is expected to begin pre-season preparations soon as the club gears up for the 2025/26 season.