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  • Popovic Abandons WSW On Brink Of Season

    mack

    By mack

    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.

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    StringerBellend

    StringerBellend

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, xxBrandonxx said:

     

    Thought he was only here because of Kalac. Though I cant really see him going anywhere else besides back to Sydney.

    I assumed he came here to play, he wasn't going to get his spot back over Vukavic and wasn't to know he'd leave.

    as for going back to sydney I thought that bridge had been well and truly burned 

    • Popular Comment
    Erebus

    Erebus

    Posted

    • Popular Comment

    Crook doesn't want to be head coach. His calling is the youth academy. He is stepping up because he has to.

    Foxe is with the players every day since he has been a part of the coaching team for the last few years. Makes sense for him to take over in the interim.

    I don't know what people expected? It was always going to be either of them since they are within the structure. WSW as a club aren't going to get some random to come in as an interim. The club has stronger foundations than that.

    Hence why they are most likely talking to Milicic. Bring him back to what he started and now he has the no.1 job. He knows what is required and understands the club. Its the smart choice. Lets not forget, the reason why Ante came to WSW is because Heart chose Aloisi over him. He wanted no.1 but helped his mate out to establish WSW. It got him the assistant national job but his aspirations you would think would still to be a head coach.

    lloydy136

    lloydy136

    Posted

    Yep agree. Happy to have foxe/crook handle things for as long as needed. This next appointment is critical. Clubs generally find it very very difficult when a long term successful manager leaves a club - it can take months to recover and stabilise - think the victory after merrick left. Sometimes the club never recovers - think charlton after curbishley left.

    Folks need to stay calm and not over react if we have a couple of dodgey results with foxe. Club has to play the long game here - a lot rides on the decision.

    I like that we are staying in house with foxe in the interim and hope we go with milicic and rudan as his assistant for the same reasons, with perhaps a new spanish coach to fill the carrasco role.

    Horus

    Horus

    Posted

    59 minutes ago, Wanderer74 said:

    skip to 2:30 (or watch the whole thing for the nostalgia)

     

    Almost forgot what a little **** Al-Shamrani was....

    • Popular Comment
    luisenrique

    luisenrique

    Posted

    • Popular Comment

    No one did more to take us from our embryonic stage, awkwardly parading Mooy, Appiah and Elrich and getting changed in offices, to where we are now, the only Aussie team to win the ACL, the second most members in the league (despite a seven year disadvantage), and an entity that strikes fear into the heart of the afl's laughable attempts to conquer Western Sydney. 

    No one did more to give us so many memorable moments...I can't even begin to imagine how much of a toll being our manager over five years would have taken...hell, just take a look at his hair loss. Not to mention putting up with the minority of dickheads turning up to training with stupid banners. 

    Sometimes you need a change, and no-one can begrudge him that after five years. The timing isn't great, but without him we would have a lot worse problems than having to find a new manager. I think people underestimate how important success in that first season was...it could all have fizzled out if we were just making up the numbers. 

    No matter what happens from now on, he will always be the most important manager this club ever had. I really hope it goes well for him in Turkey, and hopefully we'll see him climbing the European managerial ladders soon.

    Paul01

    Paul01

    Posted

    4 minutes ago, luisenrique said:

    No one did more to take us from our embryonic stage, awkwardly parading Mooy, Appiah and Elrich and getting changed in offices, to where we are now, the only Aussie team to win the ACL, the second most members in the league (despite a seven year disadvantage), and an entity that strikes fear into the heart of the afl's laughable attempts to conquer Western Sydney. 

    No one did more to give us so many memorable moments...I can't even begin to imagine how much of a toll being our manager over five years would have taken...hell, just take a look at his hair loss. Not to mention putting up with the minority of dickheads turning up to training with stupid banners. 

    Sometimes you need a change, and no-one can begrudge him that after five years. The timing isn't great, but without him we would have a lot worse problems than having to find a new manager. I think people underestimate how important success in that first season was...it could all have fizzled out if we were just making up the numbers. 

    No matter what happens from now on, he will always be the most important manager this club ever had. I really hope it goes well for him in Turkey, and hopefully we'll see him climbing the European managerial ladders soon.

    He will beat Postecoglou to a top Euro league.

    btw second most members in the league despite starting with a boutique stadium with a 20000 capacity with no room to grow.

    As John Tsatsimas said, Popa will always be a Wanderer. I wish him success on taking our passion to the world.

    FarisMee

    FarisMee

    Posted

    It's unanimous Poppy built a great culture at WSW.     The team is already focused & primed & ready to conquer the HAL in 2017.  That's what Poppy has drilled into them - "2017 will be our year!!"

    Foxe has been his deputy or thereabouts for 4 years.  He's absorbed Poppy's way of things.  I hope he takes hold of the reigns like Poppy's has shown him and he guides WSW to victory in 2017.  What a fairy-tale that would be.  Local lad exceeds Poppy and wins the HAL.   Shop around outside and discard Foxe will be discarding what remains of Poppy's influence and culture.

    Zelinsky

    Zelinsky

    Posted

    You just have to love google translate

    ---

    Kardemir Karabükspor has agreed to negotiate on all issues Croatian-born Australian coach Tony Popovic will be in Turkey on Friday due to air retrenchment. Kardemir Karabükspor Club President Hikmet Ferudun Tankut said in principle that a 44-year-old technical man, whom they understand on every occasion, will be traveling in Turkey on Friday because he will travel between the continents. President Tankut said in his statement to the IHA, "We agreed with Popovic, we completed all the procedures yesterday. Our trip will be in Ankara on Friday because it will be a journey between the continents. The reason for the delay was that both our teacher and his assistants had visa issues. We took them. He will travel for about 25 hours. There is no problem for the moment. Nasipse will be in Ankara on Friday and we will sign a formal contract with your foot on the dirt. In addition, our team will play a friendly game against Genclerbirligi on Saturday due to the national match. Our team will meet in Ankara on Friday evening. We will watch the team on Saturday and then we will start preparations for the Kayserispor match at our own facilities with the team from Monday. 

    btron3000

    btron3000

    Posted

    7 hours ago, luisenrique said:

    No one did more to take us from our embryonic stage, awkwardly parading Mooy, Appiah and Elrich and getting changed in offices, to where we are now, the only Aussie team to win the ACL, the second most members in the league (despite a seven year disadvantage), and an entity that strikes fear into the heart of the afl's laughable attempts to conquer Western Sydney. 

    No one did more to give us so many memorable moments...I can't even begin to imagine how much of a toll being our manager over five years would have taken...hell, just take a look at his hair loss. Not to mention putting up with the minority of dickheads turning up to training with stupid banners. 

    Sometimes you need a change, and no-one can begrudge him that after five years. The timing isn't great, but without him we would have a lot worse problems than having to find a new manager. I think people underestimate how important success in that first season was...it could all have fizzled out if we were just making up the numbers. 

    No matter what happens from now on, he will always be the most important manager this club ever had. I really hope it goes well for him in Turkey, and hopefully we'll see him climbing the European managerial ladders soon.

    ...and come back to WSW in the twilight of his career when we inevitably hit a rough patch. After making a name for himself overseas he can shock the football world by quitting a top European job to return to his home town club.

    SomeGuy1977

    SomeGuy1977

    Posted

    11 hours ago, Wanderer74 said:

    skip to 2:30 (or watch the whole thing for the nostalgia)

     

    2:35 Popa: "Get the **** over here" :)

    beatsurrender

    beatsurrender

    Posted

    Tsatsimas said Wanderers had been inundated with enquiries and applications after Tony Popovic resigned as head coach on Sunday morning.

    “It’s been crazy, I’m actually grateful that you’re here because it’s taken me away from the emails and phone calls,” Tsatsimas said.

    “It highlights to us the magnitude of the club and how big it has become in a very short time.

    “We have some of the most outstanding elements that a football club requires.

    “We’ve got a new stadium on the horizon, we’ve got a fantastic academy that’ll be the envy of all sporting organisations across the road, our academy is developing some outstanding juniors.

    “International interest has been amazing. It’s left us flabbergasted but indicative of where this club has come in such a short period of time.”

    Tsatsimas reiterated his statement on Sunday that Wanderers will take their time to get the right man for the job.

    magicwand

    magicwand

    Posted

    6 hours ago, btron3000 said:

    ...and come back to WSW in the twilight of his career when we inevitably hit a rough patch. After making a name for himself overseas he can shock the football world by quitting a top European job to return to his home town club.

    I wonder how adoring and misty eyed everyone will be if Popa returns to manage an A-League "home town club" that doesn't happen to wear red and black.... and well before he reaches the twilight years of his career.  The odds of that happening might not be that long.

    wswnick

    wswnick

    Posted

    http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/10/04/exclusive-milicic-be-offered-wanderers-job-muscat-radar

     

    Socceroos' assistant coach Ante Milicic will be offered the vacant head coaching role at the Western Sydney Wanderers, with the only sticking point whether or not the club can match his salary expectations.
     
    Source: 
    SBS The World Game
    4 OCT 2017 - 2:55 PM  UPDATED 10 MINS AGO
    The World Game can exclusively reveal the club has decided that Milicic, who spent two years at the club as an assistant to the recently-departed Tony Popovic, will be offered the position during his stint in Sydney with the Socceroos next week, provided financial terms can be met.

    However, it has also emerged that if Milicic cannot be secured, some of chairman Paul Lederer’s football advisers feel their playing list would be better aligned to an experienced coach with considerable success.

    That has led the club to consider talking to Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat, who has been allowed to slip into the last year of his contract.

    While he has been recommended to Lederer as the most suitable option among the current A-League coaching fraternity, the club has so far respected Muscat’s current arrangement and made no contact with the ex-Socceroo, his management or Melbourne Victory.

    In an exceptionally successful three-and-a-half-year stint, Muscat has never missed a final series and made two grand finals, lifting the A-League championship in 2014-15.

    But what has ignited the Wanderers’ possible interest in Muscat is that the Victory board have not yet offered their coach a new contract, meaning he could soon be on the market.

    There is certainly no guarantee that the Milicic will accept the job, having recently uprooted his family from Sydney to Croatia. Milicic, whose family roots are traced back to Hvar, speaks fluent Croatian and takes annual holidays in the nation of his heritage.

    After winning the Asian Champions League in 2014, Popovic re-negotiated his deal and was estimated to be earning just under $700,000 – a competitive figure by international standards and more than double most other A-League coaches.

    The Wanderers' budget is expected to be somewhat lower this time around.

    But Milicic will not be tempted without a significant upgrade to his current package. He is rumored to be earning $230,000 per year, which would make him the best-paid assistant coach in Australia.

    Having played two years for HNK Rijeka, Milicic is understood to have moved to Zagreb to support the professional ambitions of his son, a highly-talented junior.

    The deal was sanctioned by national coach Ange Postecoglou – who headhunted Milicic to leave the Wanderers in the first place – and has been rubber-stamped by FFA chief executive David Gallop, on the proviso that Milicic extensively scouts the Socceroos’ European-based players in the lead-up to the 2018 World Cup.

    However, Postecoglou admitted this week that he would allow the departure of Milicic or his other assistant, Josep Gombau, who have both been linked to the Wanderers' job.

    “Absolutely. If that’s what they wanted to do they’d certainly have my blessing,” Postecoglou said this on Tuesday.

    “That’s why they’re here. I want them to be the best they can be. They’re no different to the players.

    “If an opportunity came along and it disrupted things here we’d cope with that. It’s not just my decision — they’re employed by the organisation, they’re not employed by me. But I wouldn’t have any issues, I’d be excited for them.

    “I think Ante will be an outstanding coach, I’d appoint him at an A-League club. I think he’s done a fantastic apprenticeship, he would be a fantastic appointment.”

    The club kicks off their A-League campaign at home against Perth Glory on Sunday night.

    wswnick

    wswnick

    Posted

    http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/the-covert-agent-ante-milicic-offered-wanderers-coaching-job/15nmswlnrngqe1f43tuxku9vvv

    EXCLUSIVE: Goal's resident spy reveals the Socceroos assistant has been offered the job but will only take it on his strict conditions


    Western Sydney Wanderers have offered their vacant coaching role to No.1 target Ante Milicic, who has responded he will only consider the job on his terms with a big-money contract.

    The Covert Agent can reveal Wanderers owner Paul Lederer has made contact with Milicic but the Socceroos assistant wants $1.5 million over three seasons and full control of the football department, including bringing in his own coaching team, if he were to take over from Tony Popovic.

    It is understood Milicic will not be budging from this position after turning down the Newcastle Jets in the off-season because similar terms could not be met - a discussion he had before the Hunter club appointed current coach Ernie Merrick.

    Milicic has only recently relocated his family to Croatia with the football development of his talented 14-year-old son Daniel the number one factor, and is keen to be financially compensated for a move back to Australia.

    Wanderers owner Paul Lederer is a big fan of Milicic's coaching style - which is more flexible and attacking than the discipline-heavy approach from Popovic.

    The club has yet to decide whether they will meet Milicic's terms.

    matty

    matty

    Posted (edited)

    Milicic

    Muscat

    Gombau

    Would be my order of preference. $500k for Milicic, get it done! 

    Edited by matty
    Prydzopolis

    Prydzopolis

    Posted

    What was Popa on when he first signed?

    Milicic! 500,000! FFS! Is certainly ambitious and the only sticking point as I see him getting full control of the football side of the club. Think it should be performance based, happy to increase on the $230,000 but 500k at the outset?

    Muscat is purely a red herring and purely used as a bargaining tool in negotiations. Gombau would be the default option, not my ideal choice but he could do a job.

    I imagine that they are in contract talks with agents now if the Gombau talk and above articles are true. All comes down to the finer details.

    FarisMee

    FarisMee

    Posted

    WSW want to take their time to get it right??

    It's not rocket science.  If Milicic is willing to work for three years @ $250000 P.A. less than Poppy...........

    Prydzopolis

    Prydzopolis

    Posted

    1 minute ago, FarisMee said:

    WSW want to take their time to get it right??

    It's not rocket science.  If Milicic is willing to work for three years @ $250000 P.A. less than Poppy...........

    Bro, 1.5m over 3 seasons = 500k

    DCWSW

    DCWSW

    Posted

    Just now, Prydzopolis said:

    Bro, 1.5m over 3 seasons = 500k

    He said less than 'Poppy' 

    implying that he's earning 250k less p.a. than Popa was.

     

    Wasn't the rumour anyway that Popa was on over a mil a year?

    FarisMee

    FarisMee

    Posted (edited)

    3 minutes ago, Prydzopolis said:

    Bro, 1.5m over 3 seasons = 500k

    Further up in the thread somewhere it was said Poppy renegotiated his contract after the Asian Cup glory and is/was on $750,00 per season.

    Edited by FarisMee


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