MadKaw Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Tony Popovic has dramatically exited the Western Sydney Wanderers a mere week out from the opening of the 2017/18 A-League Season Reports have indicated that Popovic received & accepted a shock offer from Turkish side Karabukspor, a inconsistent, occasionally relegated side who have gone through coach after coach in the past 5 years. His tenure at the Wanderers resulted in the club becoming the first ever Australian winners of the Asian Champions League, while domestically his output was less than expected after he failed to add to the single A-League Premiership the club won in their inaugural season. After rejecting multiple offers from clubs in England & China after winning the Asian Champions league, he has finally accepted what appears to be a quite mediocre club for his first major opportunity overseas. The awful timing sees the Wanderers scrambling to find a replacement manager to take charge of the Round 1 fixture against Perth Glory. One minor benefit for whoever the new coach will be is that unlike previous seasons, the Wanderers recruited well & early, putting together a strong squad with all 5 foreign spots filled early into pre-season. The benefits have shown as the Wanderers have made their way into the FFA Cup semi-finals and have been touted as a top 4, if not top 2, squad in the A-League. It is likely that Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer & CEO John Tsatsimas has already potentially scouted new staff as Popovic's contract was expiring at the end of the season, and the obvious targets include Ante Milicic, currently an assist with the Australian National Team, Josep Gombau, who is in charge of the Australian U23/Olympic team. Should the club want to look to promote coach from the NPL they could seek out the services of Mark Rudan, Chris Taylor from South Melbourne, or Mark Crittenden from Blacktown City. Ian Crook will run the club in a caretaker fashion until an appointment is made. Ultimately the club will need to move forward quickly from the "Popovic Era", find a coach that can bring quick success to a club that has not won a title for the past 3 seasons. Popovic's style was highly authoritarian, and said to be total control over the football side of the club. It will be an adjustment for the players & staff regardless of who takes over the role, and whoever wins the job will have high expectations from day one. View full article JackDoff 1 Link to comment
DCWSW Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 This seems very legit. Very poor form if he quits a week out from the season and a day after he's in the team photo DinoPresinger and tardotz 2 Link to comment
octa9ona11 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 It sounds legit... Terribly poor form if he bails on us a week from the season after having such a successful pre season. I've thought for the last 12 months its time for him to move on but this timing is horribly selfish. Link to comment
Burgerman Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 What DA FAQ even ABC reporting it, must have had beef with Lederer or something like that as no way he would just quit like this. Tranquilo and DamnedUnited 2 Link to comment
jaepee36 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 True according to my journo mate. Sources are credible. Gah. Link to comment
Prydzopolis Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Smithies reporting that he had an agreement with Lederer that he could leave at any time if the right opportunity came his way.... Poor form? More bizarre, for the first time in our history we have had the best preparation and recruitment (you can bet that much of that would have come from Popa himself) and now decides to walk away? Turkey too? Cut throat place, no room for error, go through coaches like no tomorrow but must have been the right offer for him to move. I’m thinking along the lines of control of club (recruitment, back room staff, top to bottom) and contract (certain guarantees about length, remuneration etc etc). Don't know who his agent is, but I know he is a shark. It will be on top dollar. EmMac and DinoPresinger 2 Link to comment
Prydzopolis Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 5 minutes ago, Burgerman said: What DA FAQ even ABC reporting it, must have had beef with Lederer or something like that as no way he would just quit like this. Just now, Prydzopolis said: Smithies reporting that he had an agreement with Lederer that he could leave at any time if the right opportunity came his way Link to comment
GK21 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 This is upsetting. Another disrupted season. JackDoff, Smoggy and Jimspade 3 Link to comment
lloydy136 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Careful what you wish for team #popaout....... StringerBellend, DamnedUnited, Prydzopolis and 8 others 11 Link to comment
MadKaw Posted October 1, 2017 Author Share Posted October 1, 2017 Looks like the deal had already been done.This was posted 3 days ago in Turkey. Karabükspor agrees with Anthony Popovic IHA September 28, 2017Spore The red-blueness team had an agreement on every issue with the Croatian Anthony (Tony) Popovic, who was originally from Croatia. Kardemir Karabükspor found his technical director in Australia. The red-blueness team had an agreement on every issue with the Croatian Anthony (Tony) Popovic, who was originally from Croatia. The 44-year-old coach who accepted Karabükspor's offer is expected to make his final decision today and be in Istanbul tomorrow. JackDoff 1 Link to comment
wendybr Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Stunned.... Who will replace him then? Not that I think he's by any means irreplaceable...but bizarre and very awkward timing for sure. JackDoff, Carns, Smoggy and 1 other 4 Link to comment
Jukes01 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Look we knew this was coming one day but the timing of this is ABSOLUTELY AWFUL. We now have to consider who the next manager of the team will be. I think we have a great assistant in Carrasco and he should be given the opportunity considering he is there and would continue the work from Tony Popovic. I think if Milicic wants the job he should also be considered but if I am to be fair Carrasco can make a fine appointment for the club and would do a great job. We should promote this role within. He is more than ready for the role. Valter43, wendybr, DinoPresinger and 3 others 6 Link to comment
wengerboy Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Well, walk out is accurate, no way he would do this few days out if there weren't serious problems within the club. Link to comment
lloydy136 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 seems strange that he would take this and not the palace or japan offers that were rumoured previously. are they giving him full control unlike the previous offers or is there a bigger story behind the scenes. this will be tough to recover from regardless of how we look on paper compared to last season. Carns, JackDoff, DamnedUnited and 2 others 5 Link to comment
Jukes01 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 3 minutes ago, wengerboy said: Well, walk out is accurate, no way he would do this few days out if there weren't serious problems within the club. We don't know the circumstances and I dont think we should speculate. My understanding was that Tony always had an agreement with Lederer that if the right opportunity came his way that he would consider leaving the club for that opportunity. I just don't think its a great opportunity to tell you the truth. He left us for a struggling Turkish side that looks like they will be relegated. Managing a team in Turkey is a fickle business so there is no guarantee he will even last a season there. It is going to be a struggle, however, if he turns the team around then it will only add to his growing list of achievements on his resume. Prydzopolis and BrightSpark 2 Link to comment
GunnerWanderer Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Mack must be at the pub celebrating haha football never a dull moment rudan? milicic? bring back bleigberg! Prydzopolis, DinoPresinger and BrightSpark 1 2 Link to comment
Edinburgh Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 The Turkish article mentions the new coach was to arrive in turkey before now. did I read somewhere that Milicic was in Turkey??? Link to comment
Jukes01 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 2 minutes ago, GunnerWanderer said: Mack must be at the pub celebrating haha football never a dull moment rudan? milicic? bring back bleigberg! Surely we have to include Carrasco in the mix. Someone like Mike Mulvey will also apply. We should get some international interest but I don't see any reason why Carrasco can't do this job and do it well. Link to comment
marron Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 9 minutes ago, wengerboy said: Well, walk out is accurate, no way he would do this few days out if there weren't serious problems within the club. Maybe he was upset about how undisputed the preseason was. Neverbloom, JackDoff and DinoPresinger 2 1 Link to comment
xxBrandonxx Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Damn, I really had high expectations this season. Valter43, mintoff, DinoPresinger and 3 others 6 Link to comment
lloydy136 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 milicic would be the obvious choice I think - keeps things within the western sydney family and it would be a natural progression for his career. would be disappointed if we went with an a-league retread like mulvey. Prydzopolis, wendybr, DinoPresinger and 1 other 4 Link to comment
sonar Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 (edited) Any official response from the club or Popovic himself..? #Gombau in Edited October 1, 2017 by sonar Prydzopolis and MajorMelons 2 Link to comment
Paul01 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 13 minutes ago, Edinburgh said: The Turkish article mentions the new coach was to arrive in turkey before now. did I read somewhere that Milicic was in Turkey??? I heard Milicic on a pod and was calling from Zagreb Croatia. Prydzopolis and Edinburgh 2 Link to comment
JackDoff Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Wow! ....fuuck!! ....SHIIT!!! WTF??!!! NOW??!!! Oh well, was going to happen one day , timing could've been better though, but when that fat juicy $$$ carrot is waved infront of you ,there's no waiting. He's young with a young family....make hay while the sun shines Thx Popa, you're a WSW legend !! Edinburgh, sonar, wendybr and 7 others 10 Link to comment
Paul01 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 1 minute ago, lloydy136 said: milicic would be the obvious choice I think - keeps things within the western sydney family and it would be a natural progression for his career. would be disappointed if we went with an a-league retread like mulvey. There was an issue that forced Brisbane to sack Mulvey. I am not sure what is was but cheaper to sack a head coach than have a multi-million dollar law suit. JackDoff and Prydzopolis 2 Link to comment
lloydy136 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 gatt reporting kalac gone too. JackDoff, StringerBellend, Neverbloom and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment
Jukes01 Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 I just think it sends a really good message if we promote within the club or consider someone like Milicic who was at the club and left for a great opportunity. Both Carrasco and Milicic are the two best candidates as far as I am concerned, there is a certain continuity as well and familiarity with the club. With only a week before the new A-league begins it would be unfair on a new coach to take on a team that he has just inherited with no input. It would just set the club and the new coach for failure. Stick with what we know and send a positive message that coaches who are/have been associated with the club will get opportunities when presented to them. It's not like they are not good coaches either so it makes more sense to me to go this route. lloydy136, Prydzopolis, hoops and 3 others 6 Link to comment
Unlimited Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Well, ****. Prydzopolis, DinoPresinger, StringerBellend and 6 others 9 Link to comment
sonar Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 4 minutes ago, Unlimited said: Well, ****. My words exactly...! lol Neverbloom, EmMac, tardotz and 2 others 3 2 Link to comment
EmMac Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Well faark. I don't begrudge Popa his ambition, but his timing sucks to say the least. Its odd tho that he's left for a low ranked side. Idk, seems like there's more to this. Again, the timing is bonkers Prydzopolis, sonar, Valter43 and 3 others 6 Link to comment
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