Key Factors
- Graham Arnold left the Socceroos final week.
- Tony Popovic’s first head teaching position was for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
- He received the Asian Champions League with the membership.
Tony Popovic has been appointed the brand new coach of the Socceroos, succeeding .
The 51-year-old has been in teaching for greater than a decade, and led the Western Sydney Wanderers to the AFC Champions League title in 2014.
His most up-to-date position was as coach of A-League Males facet Melbourne Victory, the membership ending runner-up in 2024.
Popovic stated on Monday he was grateful for the possibility to guide the nationwide group.
“I’m extraordinarily honoured to be given this chance to guide the Subway Socceroos as head coach. It is a position that comes with nice accountability, and I am deeply grateful for the chance,” he stated.
“That is undoubtedly a really proud second for myself and my household. To be entrusted with guiding our nationwide group is a privilege that I don’t take frivolously.
“I totally perceive the burden of accountability and the excessive expectations that include this place. The Subway Socceroos have a wealthy historical past and a passionate fan base, and I am dedicated to dwelling as much as these expectations.”
Soccer Australia CEO James Johnson described Popovic as an “supreme alternative” for head coach.
“Tony’s confirmed management and strategic soccer acumen mixed together with his deep understanding of Australian soccer, our gamers, and what it means to be a Socceroo, makes him the best alternative to guide our nationwide group transferring ahead.
“His worldwide expertise, significantly throughout Asia, each as a participant and a coach, additional strengthens his capability to navigate the worldwide soccer panorama and drive success for Australia on the world stage.
“Now we have moved swiftly to safe the very best candidate for this significant position. Our immediate motion displays our dedication to sustaining the momentum and success of the Socceroos program, particularly as we’re in the beginning of the important Third Spherical of AFC Asian Qualifiers…”
Australia has began poorly within the newest spherical of World Cup qualifying, shedding 1-0 to Bahrain and drawing 0-0 with Indonesia. The Socceroos are ranked twenty third on the earth, whereas Bahrain are 81st and Indonesia 134th.
Solely the highest two groups in every group qualify immediately for the 2026 World Cup with the third and fourth-placed groups progressing to the following spherical of qualifying. Australia are fifth after the primary two video games.
Popovic’s first problem might be towards China on 10 October in Adelaide, after which Japan 5 days later in Saitama.
Popovic led the Wanderers to an Asian Champions League title in 2014. Supply: Getty
Who’s Tony Popovic?
Tony Popovic began his skilled profession at Sydney United, making 162 appearances over seven seasons, earlier than transferring to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan’s prime division.
The defender moved to Crystal Palace and was membership captain, after which returned to Australia to play for Sydney FC.
He performed 58 video games for Australia and appeared on the 2006 World Cup.
Popovic was the inaugural coach of Western Sydney Wanderers within the 2012-13 season and led the group to the premiership. A yr later the Wanderers received the AFC Champions League — a narrative proven within the SBS documentary Got here From Nowhere.
He coached briefly in Türkiye, returned to Australia to take cost of Perth Glory, then moved to Greek facet Xanthi FC.
In April 2021, Popovic returned to Australia once more and took cost of Melbourne Victory.