Steve Milton: Milan Borjan has ‘so many emotions’ returning to Glendale Secondary
Milan Borjan won't reveal exactly what he's going to say at his old high school on Wednesday, but it will be inspirational.
They have to believe in themselves," he says of current students at Glendale Secondary School, which will induct him into the school's Hall of Fame. I believed in myself and I achieved my goals, so you have to believe in yourself."
On Tuesday night, the 35-year-old Borjan backstopped Canada to a 4-1 victory over Honduras at Toronto's BMO Field. That gave Canada first place in its group and qualified the team for the Concacaf Nations Cup final round in Las Vegas in June.
Although Borjan stars in Serbia for Belgrade Red Star - the team has not lost this year, with 23 wins and four draws - he calls Hamilton his hometown. He was born in Knin in then-Yugoslavia, in a Serbian-heritage section of what eventually became Croatia. The Borjan family (father Bosko, mother Mirjana and sister Nikolija) left for Belgrade during the Croatian War of Independence, when Milan was eight. Four years later they immigrated to Canada, first Winnipeg, then a few months later joined his mother's relatives in Hamilton. His younger brother Nikola, who also plays pro soccer in Belgrade, was born in Burlington.
Because he began his journey toward pro soccer as a 16-year-old, that included training and tryout time internationally, Borjan attended Glendale on and off" but went there for almost four years.
There's a lot of teachers that were there who are there still, and I'm excited to see them," he told The Spectator Tuesday night in Toronto. I even picked out a present for the school."
He won't reveal what that present is until he's at Glendale on Wednesday. Some of his friends from high school were in the stands to support him Tuesday night against Honduras.
I have so many emotions about going to the school," he said. I'm so honoured to get into the Hall of Fame. It's amazing."
He laughs when he recalls that a teacher once told him he wasn't good enough to play goal for the school team, and that gave me something to fight for, to show that I can get to the big stage ... and that's what I did. You have to believe in yourself."
Borjan is one of the top goalies in Europe and made several memorable saves during the long buildup toward Team Canada qualifying for its first World Cup in 36 years. A major highlight of his career was returning to play in Hamilton for the first time since he turned pro, and recording a tension-packed 2-0 shutout over the favoured U.S. at Tim Hortons Field in late January 2022. It was his father's birthday.
Hamilton was there for us when we didn't have anything," Borjan said. Our family has an unbelievable story. I think I could do a book or a movie about it. When we moved there after a year in Canada, Hamilton gave us a big hug and we have never forgotten that. I'm always happy to come back: amazing city, amazing people."
Editor's note: This story was updated March 29 to remove a line that stated Milan Borjan did not play soccer at Glendale Secondary School, where he did in fact participate in the sport.
Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com