Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic has quit the club after reaching an agreement to coach Turkish club Karabukspor.
After five seasons at the Wanderers, Popovic confirmed his sudden resignation on Sunday.
“Today is a very difficult day to announce my departure from the Western Sydney Wanderers,” said Popovic, as quoted by The Guardian.
“This was certainly not planned and I understand the timing. It was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. There’s always speculation and this opportunity is in a league that is in Europe and I want an opportunity to coach in Europe.”
His departure came just a week before the kick-off to the new A-League season, thus left the Wanderers in a desperate search for a new coach.
The 44-year-old took charge of Wanderers when they first entered the A-League in 2012. He guided the club to the Premier’s Plate and grand final in their first season before the historic Asian Champions League title in 2014.
