Popa to Crystal Palace as Assistant Coach

[midfielder]

HHHHHHHHHHHMmmmmmmmmmmm according to the OZ this is a first ... good luck and could be the making of the next Aussie born Socceroo coach...

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/crystal-palace-appoints-popovic/story-fn6aue9t-1226000461411


FORMER Socceroo and Sydney FC assistant coach Tony Popovic sees his appointment to the English Championship struggler Crystal Palace as a stepping stone to one day managing a Premier League club.

Popovic announced yesterday he was quitting the Sky Blues to link with Doug Freedman as assistant manager at the south London club on a 2 1/2-year deal.

The lanky former defender is going back to a club he once captained during a five-year stint.

He becomes the first home-grown product to go on and coach in the English game.

Former Sydney FC assistant Ian Crook enjoyed a brief spell as an assistant at championship promotional hopeful Norwich City, but he was English-born.

Popovic, 37, who earned 58 senior caps for the Socceroos and is a product of southwest Sydney club Sydney United in the old NSL, joins the Palace coaching staff where former Socceroo coach Terry Venables had two spells in charge from 1976-80 and again in 1998-99.

"It was always a dream of mine to coach in Europe," Popovic told The Weekend Australian.

"I played alongside Doug (Freedman) and was flattered when he asked me to join his coaching staff.

"Our aim is to stay up, with the Eagles currently struggling in 21st place, one above relegation from the championship.

"It was great to have been given the captain's armband when I was at Selhurst Park. Now the job will be (to help the club stay up).

"I've had a great journey as a player and enjoyed my time working alongside Vitezslav Lavicka since retiring.

"Now my goal is to become a coach at the highest level of the game."

Popovic had been tipped to take over at Sydney, at least temporarily, had head coach Lavicka been sacked after a horror run.

But Lavicka has turned the Sky Blues' fortunes around with a late-season run of good results which has them on the cusp of qualifying for the finals.

"Tony Popovic is one of Australia's most talented up-and-coming coaches, which has been clearly recognised by Crystal Palace," Sydney FC vice-chairman Scott Barlow said in a statement.

Popovic played 123 games for Crystal Palace between 2001 and 2006.

He returned to the A-League in 2007, joining Sydney FC where he immediately was installed as captain. After 19 appearances he announced his retirement before taking an assistant coaching role with Sydney FC, a position he has held since.

"This is too great an opportunity to knock back," he said of the new appointment. "It will help me further enhance my skill set as I work towards becoming the best coach I can be."

 

[Wee-mac]

Excellent news for football in Australia.