Milicic joins close mate Popovic at Western Sydney

Updated May 22, 2012 13:22:53

Former Melbourne Heart assistant coach Ante Milicic has left the club to link up with close friend Tony Popovic in western Sydney.

Milicic was widely expected to take over as head coach at the Heart following the departure of Dutchman John van' t Schip.

But with youth team coach John Aloisi promoted to the job instead, Milicic has returned to his home town to work alongside Popovic at the A-League's newest franchise.

Heart chief executive Scott Munn paid tribute to Milicic - who was one of the founding members of the club's coaching staff.

"Ante had a substantial role in the establishment of our playing roster and implementation of the playing style and philosophy which is now our trademark," Munn said.

"While obviously disappointed to see Ante leave, we understand the significance of the opportunity which presented itself in helping establish a team in his home town."

Popovic was named coach of the new western Sydney club last week after quitting his job as assistant coach at English Championship side Crystal Palace.

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, sydney-2000, blacktown-2148

First posted May 22, 2012 13:22:53

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West Sydney to sign Popovic

Updated May 15, 2012 16:04:26

Tony Popovic has quit English club Crystal Palace and is poised to join the A-League's new western Sydney side as its foundation manager on a five-year deal, according to reports.

Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish confirmed to English newspaper the South London Press on Monday that former Socceroo Popovic had decided to leave the club, where he is the assistant coach, to head up the western Sydney franchise.

"I've had a conversation with him last night and they have offered him a five-year deal to go," Parish said.

"We're trying to sort out the details."

A five-year deal would be the longest offered to a coach in the A-League.

An announcement is expected this week confirming Popovic's appointment at western Sydney with former Melbourne Heart assistant Ante Milicic also likely to be confirmed as deputy coach at the new club.

Popovic was also courted by Sydney FC, which on Monday promoted its youth league boss Ian Crook to the head coaching role.

The western Sydney franchise is also set to announce a team name with a series of public forums settling on Athletic, Wanderers, Strikers, Wolves and Rangers as the leading contenders with the team colours tipped to be red, black and white.

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, blacktown-2148, nsw, australia

First posted May 15, 2012 16:04:26

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Popovic takes reins in western Sydney

Updated May 17, 2012 13:59:30

Former Socceroo Tony Popovic has been confirmed as coach of the new western Sydney A-League franchise.

Popovic, who has served as an assistant at Sydney FC and then Crystal Palace in England, will lead the club as it prepares to enter the 2012/13 competition.

He has agreed to a four-year deal.

The 38-year-old's career took him from Sydney United to Japan, England and the Middle East.

His 61 appearances in 12 years for the Socceroos included the 2006 World Cup.

Popovic, who grew up in western Sydney, said he looks forward to the challenge and knows it is a role he can be successful in.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to coach the new club in western Sydney and I'm really excited about the mission ahead of us," Popovic said.

"I grew up in west Sydney and learned my football there, but it's the challenge of a start up club in football's heartland that has brought me home.

"I know the region has a great passion for the game, fantastic junior ranks and thousands of life-long fans. These are ingredients that can help make our club a success."

Lyall Gorman was named full-time executive chairman of the new A-League club, leaving his position as A-League chief.

"Everyone in the game knows and respects Tony's leadership qualities as a player in the Socceroos and in 400 games of club football," Gorman said.

"There's no doubt Tony will bring those qualities to the new club. He has the coaching skills and the character to be successful in the A-League and his heritage in western Sydney makes him a fine ambassador for the region.

"I'm delighted to have a man of the stature of Tony Popovic as one of the pioneers of the new club in western Sydney."

Popovic is set to begin player recruitment as soon as possible, with preseason training to start June 25 ahead of the 2012/13 season commencement in October.

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, fairfield-2165, nsw, australia

First posted May 17, 2012 12:25:11

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Popovic to coach western Sydney side

Updated May 16, 2012 21:01:37

The A-League's new western Sydney franchise will unveil Tony Popovic as its inaugural coach on Thursday after finalising a deal.

It is understood Popovic signed after final talks with Football Federation Australia officials on Wednesday, putting the first major block in place as the team prepares to enter the competition in 2012/13.

The appointment, believed to be on a four-year deal, will be announced at a media conference at 12:00pm (AEST) on Thursday.

It comes after Popovic quit his post and was formally released as assistant coach of Crystal Palace in England, and knocked back an offer from Sydney FC earlier this week.

Sydney FC installed Ian Crook as its coach on Monday.

After assistant coaching roles with Sydney FC and Crystal Palace, Popovic is set for his first head coaching job.

Popovic will be charged with the considerable task of building the club's squad from scratch and will turn his immediate focus to player recruitment.

Adelaide's former A-League player of the year Marcos Flores, Carlos Hernandez, Issey Nakajima-Farran, Tarek Elrich, Kasey Wehrman, Ali Abbas, Michael Thwaite, Adam Griffiths and Ante Covic are among players to have been linked with the club.

Popovic will also be able to draw on his coaching and playing experiences playing in England, Asia and the Middle East in recruiting a squad.

Sydney-born Popovic started his playing career with Sydney United before spells with Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Crystal Palace, Qatar's Al Arabi and Sydney FC.

He was capped 59 times for Australia in 12 years and was part of the Socceroos squad at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The new franchise will likely wait to announce a team name with a series of public forums settling on Athletic, Wanderers, Strikers, Wolves and Rangers as the leading contenders with the team colours tipped to be red, black and white.

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, blacktown-2148, nsw, australia

First posted May 16, 2012 21:01:37

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Popovic torn over Sydney offers: Kalac

Updated May 11, 2012 16:20:04

Newly re-signed Sydney FC goalkeeping coach Zeljko Kalac has done his best to persuade Tony Popovic to coach the Sky Blues next season but says his great mate remains torn over his future.

Crystal Palace assistant Popovic is a man in demand having met with officials from both the Sky Blues and the new western Sydney A-League franchise in recent days about head coaching offers.

Popovic and Kalac were long-standing team-mates for both Sydney United and the Socceroos and the pair met over lunch on Thursday as Popovic sought the advice of his close friend.

Kalac, who re-signed as Sydney's goalkeeping coach for a further season on Friday, said he "tried my best" to talk up a return to the club for Popovic, a former Sky Blues player and assistant coach.

But he predicted sleepless nights for Popovic over the weekend before an expected decision on Monday.

"He's got a lot on his plate at the moment and he probably just wanted to hear my opinion on certain things," Kalac said of the meeting.

"It'd be a difficult decision and you look at both sides of the fence - it'd obviously be great for him to come here and for us to be working together.

"But on the other side, (western Sydney) is a new opportunity for him to start from scratch.

"He'd be torn, he'd be stewing over his decision ... I know him, he won't sleep.

"He's got a couple of great options and I'm sure he'll make the best decision for himself.

"He's a great coach and whoever gets him will be very lucky."

Like Popovic, Kalac is a western Sydney product but said he always wanted to remain with the Sky Blues.

"Last year was my first year in coaching. I really enjoyed it and see the future in the club," he said.

"The future's looking bright for us, so hopefully stick around and start winning some things."

Kalac took delight in overseeing the improvement of shotstopper Ivan Necevski, who displaced Liam Reddy as first choice keeper and was named Sydney's player of the season.

Kalac is helping to short list potential candidates to replace Reddy following his sacking for being drunk on a team flight in March, but no signings will be made before Sydney has appointed a new coach.

He also hoped to see the new western Sydney team prosper and urged Football Federation Australia to embrace the game's multi-cultural roots in the region in their establishment of the club.

"I hope they go back to old school a little bit," Kalac said.

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted May 11, 2012 16:20:04

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