Popovic sensationally sacked by Turkish club after just two months

TONY Popovic’s brief foray into European coaching is over, sacked by his Turkish club Karabukspor in the wake of another defeat.

Former Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic has been reportedly sacked by his new Turkish club.

UPDATE: TONY Popovic’s brief foray into European coaching is over, sacked by his Turkish club Karabukspor in the wake of another defeat.

Less than three months after quitting the Wanderers on the eve of the A-League season, Popovic is jobless for the first time since retiring as a player. His consolation will be a payout reported to be around $1.4m, if his now former club decide to honour it.

Karabukspor lost in the Turkish Cup early yesterday and were eliminated on away goals, prompting incoming president Ziya Ünsal to act.

Turkish media advertised his imminent exit for hours before the club made it official, following a run of nine defeats in 11 games since taking over.

Popovic had hoped to survive into January to recruit reinforcements during the transfer window but piad the price for a horrible run of results despite winning his first game in charge. Karabukspor are six points adrift at the foot of the Turkish Super Lig.

Former Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic has been reportedly sacked by his new Turkish club.

Popovic quit the Wanderers on the eve of the A-League season, to take up the chance to become the first Australian to coach in Europe, despite Karabukspor’s record of churning through eight coaches in 32 clubs.

As the Daily Telegraph reports today, the club is in turmoil with the entire board, president and sporting director walking out days after Popovic arrived from the Wanderers.

Only at the fourth attempt was the club able to elect a new board, but it has crippling debts and a number of players have complained to the Turkish FA and FIFA that they have not been paid for weeks.

Assuming the end comes to today it will mark a tenure of just over two months, compared with five-and-a-half years at Western Sydney. The challenge for Popovic will lie in securing the financial balance of his contract, with Turkish clubs notorious for not honouring payouts.

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Originally published as Popovic sensationally sacked by Turkish club after just two months