SYDNEY: Tony Popovic was named as the new coach of Australia on Monday, three days after the shock resignation of Graham Arnold in the wake of the team’s poor start to the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

A member of Australia’s ‘golden generation’, the former centre half won 58 caps for his country during a playing career that included long stints in club football in England with Crystal Palace and Japan with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Since retirement, the 51-year-old has mainly coached in Australia with his crowning achievement being the Asian Champions League title he won with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014, only the second year of the club’s existence.

“I am extremely honoured to be given this opportunity,” Popovic, who has signed a deal through the 2026 World Cup finals, said in a news release.

“To be entrusted with guiding our national team is a privilege I do not take lightly. I believe that we have the talent and determination to make our nation proud.”

Popovic was in charge at Melbourne Victory until the end of the last A-League season, when he opted against renewing his contract after leading the four-times champions to a loss in the Grand Final.

Football Australia were keen to make a permanent appointment before the next World Cup qualifier against China on Oct 10, a match the Socceroos must win to get their campaign for a sixth straight appearance at the World Cup finals back on track.

A rare home loss against Bahrain plus a draw with Indonesia in Jakarta prompted Arnold to stand down last Friday with Australia five points adrift of group leaders Japan in fifth place.

The top two in the group will qualify automatically for the 2026 finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada with the third and fourth place finishers advancing to another round of preliminaries.

The last two Australian coaches of the Socceroos, Ange Postecoglou and Arnold, have walked away from the job and expectations might be higher for Popovic after the run to the round of 16 at the Qatar World Cup two years ago.

“Popovic’s appointment represents an exciting new era for the Socceroos at a critical stage,” said FA chairman Anter Isaac.

“His leadership, beginning immediately, will be vital as we head into the upcoming qualifiers.”

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2024