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Key Points
- Graham Arnold left the Socceroos last week.
- Tony Popovic’s first head coaching role was for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
- He won the Asian Champions League with the club.
Tony Popovic has been appointed the new coach of the Socceroos, succeeding .
The 51-year-old has been in coaching for more than a decade, and led the Western Sydney Wanderers to the AFC Champions League title in 2014.
His most recent role was as coach of A-League Men side Melbourne Victory, the club finishing runner-up in 2024.
Popovic said on Monday he was grateful for the chance to lead the national team.
“I am extremely honoured to be given this opportunity to lead the Subway Socceroos as head coach. It’s a role that comes with great responsibility, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity,” he said.
“This is undoubtedly a very proud moment for myself and my family. To be entrusted with guiding our national team is a privilege that I do not take lightly.
“I fully understand the weight of responsibility and the high expectations that come with this position. The Subway Socceroos have a rich history and a passionate fan base, and I’m committed to living up to those expectations.”
Football Australia CEO James Johnson described Popovic as an “ideal choice” for head coach.
“Tony’s proven leadership and strategic football acumen combined with his deep understanding of Australian football, our players, and what it means to be a Socceroo, makes him the ideal choice to lead our national team moving forward.
“His international experience, particularly across Asia, both as a player and a coach, further strengthens his ability to navigate the global football landscape and drive success for Australia on the world stage.
“We have moved swiftly to secure the best possible candidate for this crucial role. Our prompt action reflects our commitment to maintaining the momentum and success of the Socceroos program, especially as we are at the beginning of the critical Third Round of AFC Asian Qualifiers…”
Australia has started poorly in the latest round of World Cup qualifying, losing 1-0 to Bahrain and drawing 0-0 with Indonesia. The Socceroos are ranked 23rd in the world, while Bahrain are 81st and Indonesia 134th.
Only the top two teams in each group qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup with the third and fourth-placed teams progressing to the next round of qualifying. Australia are fifth after the first two games.
Popovic’s first challenge will be against China on 10 October in Adelaide, and then Japan five days later in Saitama.
Popovic led the Wanderers to an Asian Champions League title in 2014. Source: Getty
Who is Tony Popovic?
Tony Popovic started his professional career at Sydney United, making 162 appearances over seven seasons, before moving to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan’s top division.
The defender moved to Crystal Palace and was club captain, and then returned to Australia to play for Sydney FC.
He played 58 games for Australia and appeared at the 2006 World Cup.
Popovic was the inaugural coach of Western Sydney Wanderers in the 2012-13 season and led the team to the premiership. A year later the Wanderers won the AFC Champions League — a story shown in the SBS documentary Came From Nowhere.
He coached briefly in Türkiye, returned to Australia to take charge of Perth Glory, then moved to Greek side Xanthi FC.
In April 2021, Popovic returned to Australia again and took charge of Melbourne Victory.