[size=6]Popovic head coach for new Sydney club [/size]

Former Qantas Socceroos defender Tony Popovic has been appointed as the inaugural head coach of the new Sydney club representing western Sydney in the Hyundai A-League.

Popovic has resigned as a coach of English Championship club Crystal Palace to accept this appointment. He was previously an assistant coach of Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-League.

Popovic made 61 appearances and scored nine goals for the Qantas Socceroos, including the 2006 FIFA World Cup and played over 400 club matches in an illustrious playing career in Australia, Japan, UK and Qatar.

The executive chairman of the new Sydney club, Lyall Gorman, said Popovic was the natural choice for the role.

“Everyone in the game knows and respects Tony’s leadership qualities as a player in the Socceroos and in 400 games of club football,” Gorman said.

“There’s no doubt Tony will bring those qualities to the new club. He has the coaching skills and the character to be successful in the A-League and his heritage in western Sydney makes him a fine ambassador for the region.

“I’m delighted to have a man of the stature of Tony Popovic as one of the pioneers of the new club in western Sydney.”

Popovic welcomed the challenge of establishing a new club in the heartland of Australian football.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to coach the new club in western Sydney and I’m really excited about the mission ahead of us,” Popovic said.

“I grew up in west Sydney and learned my football there, but it’s the challenge of a start up club in football’s heartland that has brought me home.

“I know the region has a great passion for the game, fantastic junior ranks and thousands of life-long fans. These are ingredients that can help make our club a success.”

TONY POPOVIC – CAREER
Born: 4 July 1973, Sydney
Main playing position: defender
Qantas Socceroo honours: 61 appearances (9 goals) from 1994 to 2006, including 2006 FIFA World Cup

Other Australian representative honours:
U-17 - 1989 U-17 World Cup (Scotland)
U-20 - 1991 U-20 World Cup campaign qualifiers
U-23 - 1992 Olympic Games (Barcelona)

Club playing career:
1989-1997 Sydney United (Australia) 162 appearances (15 goals)
1997-2001 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan) 87 appearances (12 goals)
2001-2006 Crystal Palace (England) 123 appearances (6 goals)
2006 Al Arabi (Qatar) 17 appearances (2 goals)
2007-2008 Sydney FC (Australia) 27 appearances (1 goal)
Total national league: 416 appearances (36 goals)

Coaching career:
2008-2011 Sydney FC (Australia) assistant
2011-2012 Crystal Palace (England) assistant
2012- New Sydney Club (Australia)
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Popovic-head-coach-for-new-Sydney-club/47377

from melbourne heart forum:

"Have it on good word Alex Terra and Carlos Hernandez are taking their young families to the West of Sydney.... Good move for both of them"

I think that might be alittle premature.

The coach has only just started his role, and just about every player off contract has been linked to a WS deal. Theres only 23 spots remember :)

Womens Fans of West Sydney Aleague

May 12 @ 12:53pm by WOWS_WestSydney

We are the first women supporter group in the Aleague.

We will be having monthly catchups of interactions with our New West Sydney team.

Discussing all Aleague events, travelling to the game in a group, conduct at the games and exposure for our fanatics. Will be discussing our home meeting at a particular club which will be our HQ and join up with other West Sydney Groups. Our social networking will keep us together as a group and to publish our local meetings. Follow us on twitter: @WOWS_WestSydney

http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/your-news/story/womens-fans-of-west-sydney-aleague/

After all the hype, all the waiting, the anticipation... we are set to sign our first player.

Mark Bridge.

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Bridge and Petratos crossing over to Sydney's west

by: Ray Gatt, A-League From: The Australian May 26, 2012

YDNEY FC duo Mark Bridge and Dimitri Petratos are expected to be unveiled as the new western Sydney franchise's first signings next week.

The Weekend Australian can reveal the deals for Bridge, one of the most experienced strikers in the competition, and the 19-year-old Petratos are likely to be finalised within days. The moves come with the blessing of the Sky Blues.

A two-time A-League championship winner, Bridge's impending signing is a coup for the club that is also believed to be interested in former Italian international defender Fabio Grosso.

It also comes amid news a likely western Sydney target, former Socceroos goalkeeper Clint Bolton, has decided to have one more season in the A-League, but it will be at Melbourne Heart.

Bridge, 26, will be an invaluable pick-up as he has been a consistent scorer in the national competition since it kicked off in 2005. He started his A-League career at Newcastle and scored the goal against Central Coast that won it the grand final in the 2007-08 season.

...Bridge proved his worth as a big-match player when he also scored in Sydney FC's 2009-10 success over Melbourne Victory, becoming the only player to score in two A-League grand finals.

Injuries did not help his cause last season, restricting him to just 12 starting appearances, plus six from the bench.

Petratos, a quick, strong-running attacker, broke into the Sky Blues' first team in the 2010-11 season, creating a huge impression when he started in 18 games and scored three times.

However, he seemed to struggle last season and was restricted to just 13 starts.

Bolton's decision to stay with the Heart has all but assured that former Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Ante Covic will sign with western Sydney. Covic was named Victory player of the year after a series of stunning performances.

Despite this, new coach Ange Postecoglou preferred to release him.

With Tony Popovic back in England to settle his affairs before a permanent return to coach the new franchise, the club has been forced to move quickly to sign players with less than five months to go before kick-off.

It is understood contracts have gone out to a number of players to be signed by Monday, with Tarek Elrich high on the list.

Popovic is also close to finalising his backroom staff, with Ante Milicic to be assistant coach and former Socceroo Ron Corry to be goalkeeper coach. Corry was the man who gave Popovic his senior club start when he was in charge at Sydney United in the old national league.

Meanwhile, Bolton's re-signing is a massive boost for the Heart and the A-League.

The 36-year-old, who had been contemplating retirement, has been a stand-out goalkeeper in a career that has spanned 20 years.

"I'm looking forward to the next stage of the Heart's evolution," Bolton said.

"I really want to be a huge part of John Aloisi's first big step as head coach and make sure he has all the support we can give him as a playing group."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/bridge-and-petratos-crossing-over-to-sydneys-west/story-fn63e0vj-1226367419858

As I said in the rumour mill. This is going to be very different for me. I have been fortunate enough to support Man United my whole life and only seeing top class quality being signed. Every single player is a good player.

Eric Djemba-Djemba, Bebe, Manucho and Dong Fangzhuo disagree :lol:

Throw in a Massimo Taibi(the Blind Venetian) and Jordi Cruyff and I think you've nailed every single one of SAFs busts.

Cruyff, that's the one I was missing :lol: Although tbf to Taibi he was actually a decent keeper, just did horribly at United.

Quite a few announcements in the melting pot. Just try to be patient with us. There is a lot happening behind the scenes. #NewSydneyClub -- New Sydney Club (@NewSydneyClub)

Anybody understand trademarks? As of today the 4 names for the new West Sydney side (in potential configurations of West Sydney, Western Sydney and Sydney West) were today (I think) accepted and are now listed as "Accepted - Awaiting Advertisement". These are Wanderers, Wolves, Athletic and Strikers.

Interesting...

First five official signings to be announced for west Sydney ...players Elrich , haliti, bridge and cole. John Tsatsimas general manager -- Ray Gatt (@Gatty54)

The western Sydney club appears close to sealing the signature of Newcastle Jets defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley with Corry expected to be announced as goalkeeping coach.