NEW DELHI: Tony Popovic was appointed as Australia’s new coach on Monday. This decision came just three days after Graham Arnold‘s unexpected resignation following the team’s poor start in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Popovic, a member of Australia’s ‘golden generation,’ earned 58 caps for his country. He had a distinguished playing career with long stints in England with Crystal Palace and in Japan with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
After retiring, the 51-year-old primarily coached in Australia.His most notable achievement was winning the Asian Champions League title in 2014 with Western Sydney Wanderers, which was only the club’s second year in existence.
“I am extremely honoured to be given this opportunity,” Popovic stated 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.”
Most recently, Popovic was in charge of Melbourne Victory until the end of the last A-League season. He chose not to renew his contract after leading the four-time champions to a loss in the Grand Final.
Football Australia aimed to secure a permanent coach before their next World Cup qualifier against China on October 10. This game is crucial for the Socceroos, who need a win to revive their campaign for a sixth consecutive World Cup appearance.
A rare home loss to Bahrain and a draw with Indonesia in Jakarta led Arnold to resign last Friday. As a result, Australia finds itself five points behind group leaders Japan, occupying fifth place.
The top two teams in the group will automatically qualify for the 2026 finals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The third and fourth place finishers will move on to another round of preliminaries.
The previous two Australian coaches, Ange Postecoglou and Arnold, both left the job. Expectations for Popovic might be higher following Australia’s round of 16 run at the Qatar World Cup two years ago.
“Tony 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.”