With the Socceroos door now firmly closed behind him after 80 caps and a treasure trove of memories, Milligan, 34, is plotting a future as an off-field tactician in the bear pit of English football’s lower divisions.
The experience Milligan is acquiring as skipper of League One strugglers Southend United this season, working under nascent head coach Sol Campbell, is all part of the master plan.
“It (coaching) is definitely something I’m working towards,” he said.
“One of the main reasons I pushed so hard to get to Europe so late in my career was that football-wise this is the place to be (to further that ambition).
“There are so many opportunities here and the people I have met over this short journey in the last year and a half I have been in the UK (initially with Hibernian) have been amazing.
“After your playing career, I think it’s the place you want to be as well.”
A part of Australia’s 2015 Asian Cup-winning squad, four-time World Cup player Milligan has operated under mentors as diverse Guus Hiddink, Ange Postecoglou, Graham Arnold, Kevin Muscat, Pim Verbeek, Pierre Littbarski, Neil Lennon and Bert van Marwijk.
But it’s the harsh realities of a relegation fight that currently consume him.
“I just want to get my head down now and work as hard as possible to get Southend out of the situation we’re in,” he said.
“I’m totally committed to that. Of course, (looking forward) I’ve done my ‘B’ coaching licenses in Australia and I have to do my ‘B’ refresher in Europe because they don’t align with the AFC .
“I have been fortunate to have met people here who’ve been willing to help and have a lot of knowledge between them.
“Being in Europe (as a budding coach) would be a great place to start.”
Whether that turns out to be on the south coast with Southend - where he has a playing option until the end of next season - remains to be seen.
But, whatever happens, the die has been cast.
The Shrimpers are in dire straits one place off the bottom of the ladder after 20 games with just six points, 11 from safety.
Former Tottenham and Arsenal defender Campbell is seven weeks into his attempted rescue mission as successor to sacked predecessor Kevin Bond.
Milligan, who announced his international exit on Monday, said the decision began germinating after last year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia, and the “time now just seemed right”.
“I just felt the place Arnie (Graham Arnold) is in with the team now, and the boys that have stepped up leadership wise, the time had come,” he explained.
“My discussions with Arnie always centered around those themes. It was ultimately just my time to finish up. It was the right thing for me and also the team.
“It’s been a bit of a grind over here because the team’s not in such a great position and it gives me the chance to focus on that.
“I don’t want to end my playing career on a low note either. It’s very physically demanding here - this is the first week for as long as I can remember where we haven’t had a midweek match.
“There are a lot of sacrifices you have to make playing for the national team and I’ve been doing that for a long time (14 years) and I’ve always said while I could give everything wholeheartedly I’d be a part of it.
“I have no doubt there are the players there to fill my shoes and step up to keep the Socceroos heading forward.”
