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Tom Smithies Football Editor
From: The Daily Telegraph
August 28, 2014 9:30PM
WANDERERS boss Tony Popovic masterminded his side’s remarkable Asian Champions League victory on Wednesday after turning down the chance to become head coach of Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Following Western Sydney’s defeat of Guangzhou Evergrande to reach the ACL semi-finals, The Daily Telegraph has learned that Popovic was approached by a trusted intermediary late last week about returning to the south London club where he spent years as a player and assistant coach.
It’s understood that though Popovic was flattered by the approach, he responded that as a contracted coach, any approach had to be made to Western Sydney first.
Sources in the UK say that in a subsequent conversation, it was made clear that Popovic’s commitment to taking the Palace role was essential before any formal approach was made to Western Sydney.
In response Popovic ruled himself out of the Palace job on Sunday, content to continue leading Western Sydney’s astonishing journey from formation to the upper levels of Asian football.
That will continue in just under three weeks with a semi-final against FC Seoul over two legs, intensifying the spotlight on Popovic.
Only 10 days ago, on the eve of the first leg against Guangzhou, Popovic made clear he had had no official approach from Palace, and wished his old club “good luck” in their search for a manager.
At that stage Palace were on the verge of appointing former Cardiff boss Malky Mackay — until last Wednesday, when a series of offensive text messages alleged to have been sent by him at Cardiff were revealed by the UK media.
Finally two days ago Palace appointed Neil Warnock for his second spell at the club, having been spurned by a series of candidates including Popovic and ex-Spurs boss Tim Sherwood.
It had been assumed that Popovic would find it hard to refuse an approach from Palace, where he was centreback and captain from 2001-2006.
In 2011 he returned to the club as No 2 to Dougie Freedman, a former Palace teammate appointed to the manager’s role.
That partnership was only broken up when Football Federation Australia approached Popovic to be the foundation coach of their new club, on a salary of $400,000 a year, a role that Popovic agonised over before accepting.
Ultimately it is seen as inevitable within the Wanderers that his record in guiding the team to two grand finals and a premier’s plate in two years — and now the semi-finals of the ACL — will attract interest from overseas.
The former Socceroo is believed to have mapped an ideal career path as a coach that would take in a spell in Asia before moving to Europe.
Earlier this year he was approached by English side Norwich to succeed Chris Hughton as well as Korean side Ulsan Hyundai, but similarly knocked back both approaches.
Since Western Sydney changed ownership he is said to have forged a strong relationship with new chairman Paul Lederer, who accompanied the team to China for Wednesday’s game.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that Western Sydney will keep all of their prize money, with Football Federation Australia having scrapped previous arrangements to split ACL winnings among all A-League clubs.
Getting to the semi-finals has earned the club $120,000, and reaching the final would raise that to $750,000 as runners up or $1.5m as winners.
Tom Smithies Football Editor
From: The Daily Telegraph
August 28, 2014 9:30PM
WANDERERS boss Tony Popovic masterminded his side’s remarkable Asian Champions League victory on Wednesday after turning down the chance to become head coach of Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Following Western Sydney’s defeat of Guangzhou Evergrande to reach the ACL semi-finals, The Daily Telegraph has learned that Popovic was approached by a trusted intermediary late last week about returning to the south London club where he spent years as a player and assistant coach.
It’s understood that though Popovic was flattered by the approach, he responded that as a contracted coach, any approach had to be made to Western Sydney first.
Sources in the UK say that in a subsequent conversation, it was made clear that Popovic’s commitment to taking the Palace role was essential before any formal approach was made to Western Sydney.
In response Popovic ruled himself out of the Palace job on Sunday, content to continue leading Western Sydney’s astonishing journey from formation to the upper levels of Asian football.
That will continue in just under three weeks with a semi-final against FC Seoul over two legs, intensifying the spotlight on Popovic.
Only 10 days ago, on the eve of the first leg against Guangzhou, Popovic made clear he had had no official approach from Palace, and wished his old club “good luck” in their search for a manager.
At that stage Palace were on the verge of appointing former Cardiff boss Malky Mackay — until last Wednesday, when a series of offensive text messages alleged to have been sent by him at Cardiff were revealed by the UK media.
Finally two days ago Palace appointed Neil Warnock for his second spell at the club, having been spurned by a series of candidates including Popovic and ex-Spurs boss Tim Sherwood.
It had been assumed that Popovic would find it hard to refuse an approach from Palace, where he was centreback and captain from 2001-2006.
In 2011 he returned to the club as No 2 to Dougie Freedman, a former Palace teammate appointed to the manager’s role.
That partnership was only broken up when Football Federation Australia approached Popovic to be the foundation coach of their new club, on a salary of $400,000 a year, a role that Popovic agonised over before accepting.
Ultimately it is seen as inevitable within the Wanderers that his record in guiding the team to two grand finals and a premier’s plate in two years — and now the semi-finals of the ACL — will attract interest from overseas.
The former Socceroo is believed to have mapped an ideal career path as a coach that would take in a spell in Asia before moving to Europe.
Earlier this year he was approached by English side Norwich to succeed Chris Hughton as well as Korean side Ulsan Hyundai, but similarly knocked back both approaches.
Since Western Sydney changed ownership he is said to have forged a strong relationship with new chairman Paul Lederer, who accompanied the team to China for Wednesday’s game.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that Western Sydney will keep all of their prize money, with Football Federation Australia having scrapped previous arrangements to split ACL winnings among all A-League clubs.
Getting to the semi-finals has earned the club $120,000, and reaching the final would raise that to $750,000 as runners up or $1.5m as winners.
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