Quick turnaround as Tony Popovic shapes as favourite to take over from Graham Arnold

Tony Popovic is shaping as the top candidate to replace Graham Arnold at the Socceroos – but circumstances suggest the coach was approached months before Arnold handed in his resignation letter writes ERIN SMITH.

Tony Popovic is firming as the next Socceroos coach. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images

Former Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic is shaping as the top choice to replace Graham Arnold at the Socceroos and it is likely he was approached about it months ago.

An insider, who did not wish to be named, said Popovic was the first choice to take the job.

Another favourite and also former Victory coach Kevin Muscat has been reportedly ruled out of the running after extending his contract with his Chinese Super League side.

Popovic, who was the highest paid coach in the A-Leagues, guided Melbourne Victory to the grand final last season after a tough 2022/23 season.

In June the club announced it would part ways with the coach.

It is understood he didn’t extend his contract with the club because they weren’t able to match his wage.

At the time it seemed like a strange move – considering the financial struggles of the league and the fact Popovic didn’t have another job lined up.

Popovic has had a successful coaching career since retiring as a player. He has two A-League titles to his name – the first with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2012/13 and the second with Perth Glory in 2018/19. He was also the first coach to guide an A-League club to win the AFC Champions League – finding a new club willing to take on the former Crystal Palace assistant manager shouldn’t have been difficult.

Tony Popovic did not extend his contract with Melbourne Victory. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Following Arnold’s decision to leave the Socceroos mid-contract, Popovic’s movements start to make a little more sense and begs the question if he had been told the job was his if he was willing to wait it out.

Arnold’s job had been on the line several times during his record six year tenure – especially since the Socceroos earlier than expected exit from the 2023 Asian Cup.

Football Australia boss James Johnson said in Friday’s press conference that a new coach would be appointed before the Socceroos faced China in Adelaide on October 10 in their must win World Cup qualifier.

It is a very quick turn around.

Especially when you consider the situation with the Matildas who are also without a head coach.

It was no secret that Tony Gustavsson’s contract would not be renewed following the Olympics – regardless of the result.

Yet a month after it was made official Football Australia are yet to appoint a coach – instead opting to rehire former Matildas coach Tom Sermanni on an interim basis. 

Johnson said the reason they could move so quickly to hire a new Socceroos coach is that they had to be prepared – they were aware of the market and who was available.

The same situation should have applied to the Matildas – given it was known Gustavsson was leaving.

Johnson described Arnold’s departure as unexpected and a shock.

The CEO said the differing approach was due to the Socceroos being in the midst of their World Cup qualifiers and the Matildas being at the start of a new four-year cycle – with the Asian Cup still 18 months away.

Regardless – two weeks seems a very short time frame to approach a coach and negotiate contracts without first moves having already been made.

Perhaps Arnold’s “shock” announcement was more a matter of being the first to strike rather than waiting to be booted out the door.

Originally published as Quick turnaround as Tony Popovic shapes as favourite to take over from Graham Arnold