Ante Milicic frontrunner to replace Tony Popovic as coach of Western Sydney Wanderers
SOCCEROOS assistant Ante Milicic has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Tony Popovic as coach of Western Sydney Wanderers after his shock exit from the A-League club.
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SOCCEROOS assistant Ante Milicic has emerged as a frontrunner to replace Tony Popovic in what would be a romantic return to Western Sydney Wanderers.
Milicic and his family relocated to Croatia post Confederations Cup last July, to focus on scouting Australia’s European-based players ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
However, the Herald Sun understands that Milicic, Popovic’s first assistant, is interested in returning to Wanderland to assume his first professional head coaching role after one of Australia’s most thorough apprenticeships.
SHOCK: POPOVIC QUITS WANDERERS TO COACH IN TURKEY
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COACHING LEGACY: POPVIC A LEGEND DESPITE POORLY-TIMED EXIT
NEW JOB: POPOVIC TO COACH CLUB THAT HAS HAD EIGHT COACHES IN 32 MONTHS
Complicating matters is fact that the Socceroos are in the midst of the World Cup playoffs while Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer and two other board members are overseas.
It’s believed that Lederer will make the ultimate call, while it’s unclear whether Milicic, 43, has broached the topic with Postecoglou with Football Federation Australia officials on Monday night saying that he was unavailable for comment.
Fellow Socceroos assistant Josep Gombau and former Sydney United coach Mark Rudan are both interested and in contention, with the club having received in excess of 200 CVs.
It’s believed that the club would not poach a coach from a rival A-League club, ruling out emerging Brisbane Roar coach John Aloisi.
Milicic’s interest comes as Socceroo James Troisi said the underrated Turkish top flight would provide ambitious Popovic, who departs on Thursday, with a great platform after he signed for relegation battlers Karabukspor.
Troisi, who spent four years in Turkey with Genclerbirligi and Kaysperispor (2008-12), admitted it would be challenging but said doors could open.
“If you can coach and play in Turkey, you can probably coach and play in most other countries in the world, you’ve get pretty thick skin,’’ Troisi said.
“It’ll definitely be a test for him, but Popa has a strong character which is what you need in that country and that league.
“To be honest I don’t think people know too much about the Turkish league, but if you look at, especially the top three, four clubs, they compete against some of the best in Europe.
“Their support base is some of the best in Europe. It’s a very tough league, so I think it’s a good step for him to move back there instead of going to an England straight away. It’s similar to a player, possibly more difficult.
“Sometimes in those countries the owners have a bit of a say, so hopefully he can stamp his authority and implement his style.
“Language is a bit of a difficult one, you have translators but (sometimes things gets lost in translation).’’
Milicic helped mastermind the Wanderers’ extraordinary start to life in the A-League as Popovic’s inaugural assistant from 2012-14 before Ange Postecoglou lured him to the Socceroos ahead of Brazil 2014.
Prior he was assistant coach of another A-League start-up club Melbourne City (then Heart) and went to two FIFA U20 World Cups as Young Socceroos assistant after a year coaching Sydney United.
Originally published as Ante Milicic frontrunner to replace Tony Popovic as coach of Western Sydney Wanderers