In brief
- Tony Popovic took over as the Socceroos’ head coach in October 2024.
- He is known for a defensive set-up that absorbs pressure and launches fierce counterattacks.
“Driven, focused, single-minded, with a great attention to detail.”
This is how Perth Glory’s media manager, Gareth Morgan, characterizes Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic, reflecting on the time when Popovic led the A-League team between 2018 and 2020.
These attributes not only propelled Popovic to the World Cup as a player but have also paved the way for his return as a coach two decades later, marking him as the first Australian to both play for and coach the national team on football’s grandest stage.
Now in his second year steering the Australian men’s national team, the 52-year-old Popovic is recognized for implementing a disciplined defensive strategy that withstands pressure and initiates powerful counterattacks.
This distinct style was evident during the Socceroos’ 2-0 triumph over Türkiye in their World Cup opener on Sunday.
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
While World Cup training camps are kept under wraps to protect tactics, Morgan offered a glimpse into the demanding routine the Socceroos are likely following as they take to football’s biggest stage.
“I’ve never seen a defence worked so hard on the training ground,” Morgan told SBS Croatian of Popovic’s managerial style at Perth Glory.
“We played a back five at the time, and they were just drilled relentlessly day in, day out.
“It was almost like autopilot in terms of knowing where the other players were.”
Morgan said Popovic was the most “detail-driven” coach he had worked with, revealing he closely monitored players’ diets and fitness programs.
“I’m pretty sure he banned tomato ketchup because of the sugar content,” he said.
“He’s massive, absolutely massive on nutrition, recovery, doing all the right things.
“He sort of took that to a new level, really, at our club when he was here.”
Morgan said players always knew where they stood with Popovic.
“There were non-negotiables in terms of training and punctuality and a lot of other things like that. Certainly, he ran a tight ship, I think it’s fair to say,” he said.
“He has a presence about him, and I think the physicality helps that, there’s an intensity about him as well.”
That uncompromising approach also extends to team selection.
While favouring a conservative set-up, Popovic has also shown he is willing to take bold selection calls.
On Sunday, he made arguably the biggest gamble of his managerial career, benching veteran goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan in favour of Patrick Beach, who was making just his third international appearance.
Vice-captain Jackson Irvine was also left out, with Popovic selecting a youthful line-up that included 21-year-old Paul Okon-Engstler and 20-year-old Nestory Irankunda.
The gamble paid off. Beach made eight saves, including a full-stretch dive to tip a powerful strike onto the post, while Irankunda opened the scoring after a perfect overhead pass from Okon-Engstler.
Who is Tony Popovic?
Popovic started his playing career at Sydney United in 1989, making 162 appearances over seven seasons, before moving to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan’s top division.
The centre-back moved to English side Crystal Palace, also playing a season in Qatar before returning to Australia to play for Sydney FC, where he retired in 2008.
He also played 58 games for Australia and appeared at the 2006 World Cup, making him the first Australian to represent the Socceroos as both a player and head coach.
After coaching Western Sydney Wanderers to the A-League premiership and AFC Champions League title, Popovic had spells in Türkiye, Perth, Greece and Melbourne before replacing Graham Arnold as Socceroos coach in 2024.
Arnold took the Socceroos to the Round of 16 in Qatar in 2022 but oversaw a disastrous start to the third round of their qualifying campaign, which included a shock loss to Bahrain and a 0-0 draw against then-129th-ranked Indonesia.
Popovic’s appointment was met with mixed reactions from fans, but he oversaw an unbeaten run through qualifying — including seven consecutive wins — steering the Socceroos to automatic qualification for the first time since 2014.
His contract extension — announced before Sunday’s win over Türkiye — was somewhat of a surprise, given a weak World Cup campaign would put Popovic firmly in the coaching shop window.
But after a dream start to the tournament, Popovic is clearly enjoying the moment.
“I’m loving every part of the journey, and every day is a new day, and there’s new challenges and it’s all exciting,” Popovic recently told Australian Associated Press in camp.
“I do pinch myself sometimes. I’m blessed with the greatest job that you can have.
“It’s a group of young men that really have a strong ambition and the staff that wants to help be the best we can be. So I think I’m very fortunate.”
— In collaboration with SBS Croatian and with additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.