Tony Popovic linked to potential Premier League gig

Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic has been linked to the Premier League, with a management vacancy set to open up in the coming weeks.

Head coach of the Australian national team, Popovic has enjoyed a successful stint in international football, guiding the Socceroos through the World Cup qualifiers and into the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Following Australia’s Round of 32 exit, Popovic’s contract with the Socceroos was extended, seeing him through to the end of the AFC Asian Cup.

However, with the tournament in Saudi Arabia postponed, Popovic’s future with the national team has come into question.

While the FFA may be swift to offer Popovic a further contract extension, reports from The Athletic have linked the 53-year-old to Premier League club Crystal Palace.

Palace, who currently sit bottom of the Premier League with just two wins over their first 10 games, are expected to sack manager Pierre Sage after just 16 games in charge.

After another league defeat, this time at the hands of Liverpool, Sage’s Palace has recorded the worst defensive record in the league with 24 goals conceded.

With the French manager expected to be moved on rather quickly, reports have suggested that Popovic – who spent five seasons as a player at Crystal Palace from 2001-2006 – is being considered for the soon-to-be vacant role.

This isn’t the first time Popovic has been considered at Crystal Palace.

After spending 18 months with the South London club as an assistant manager in 2011, the Australian was offered the opportunity to succeed outgoing manager Tony Pulis in 2014.

It was an offer that Popovic declined, but it wasn’t the only offer from Palace after Pulis’ replacement, Neil Warnock, was sacked less than six months into his tenure.

Popovic remained at Western Sydney before enduring stints in both Turkiye and Greece before taking over the national team.

Per The Athletic, Palace will look to appoint their next manager within the upcoming two-week international break, with Thomas Frank, Sean Dyche, Vitor Pereira also considered as potential candidates.