Ranko PopoviÃÂ (; born 26 June 1967) is a Serbian football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of J1 League side Kashima Antlers.
Born in PeÃÂ, SAP Kosovo, SR Serbia, Popoviàstarted out at local club BuduÃÂnost. He moved to Belgrade in 1985 due to compulsory military service and played for Kneà ¾evac in the Belgrade Zone League. In the 1988âÂÂ89 season, Popoviàplayed for fellow Belgrade Zone League club Beograd.
In the summer of 1989, Popoviàwas acquired by Yugoslav First League side Partizan. He was later loaned to Yugoslav Second League club Leotar during the 1989âÂÂ90 season. After returning to Partizan, Popoviàmade two appearances in the 1990âÂÂ91 Yugoslav First League.
In 1992, PopoviÃÂ switched to Spartak Subotica. He spent two and a half years there, before moving abroad to Greece and joining Ethnikos Piraeus in the summer of 1994. Six months later, PopoviÃÂ returned to Spartak Subotica until the end of the season.
After playing for two years at Segunda División club AlmerÃÂa, Popoviàjoined Austrian side Sturm Graz in the summer of 1997, aged 30. He spent the next four seasons with the club, winning back-to-back championships in 1998 and 1999. In addition, Popoviàmade 11 appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
Between 2002 and 2006, PopoviÃÂ served as player-manager of Austrian lower league sides TuS FC Arnfels and SV Pachern. He subsequently moved to Japan in the summer of 2006, assisting his compatriot Mihailo PetroviÃÂ at Sanfrecce Hiroshima for over a year.
In early 2008, PopoviÃÂ returned to his homeland to take charge of Serbian League Vojvodina club Zlatibor Voda. He led them to promotion to the Serbian First League, before they merged with Spartak Subotica. In May 2009, PopoviÃÂ was replaced by Slavko VojiÃÂiÃÂ.
In July 2009, PopoviÃÂ accepted an offer to coach J League club Oita Trinita, which had experienced 14 consecutive defeats in the season. In his first six matches, the team only won once, but in the last 10 matches of the season, it did not lose once (five wins and five draws). This result earned him an offer to coach the team for the next season, but the team nearly went bankrupt and his contract had to be canceled.
In December 2010, PopoviÃÂ was appointed manager of Machida Zelvia. He subsequently went on to become manager of some of the most recognized clubs in Japan, including FC Tokyo and Cerezo Osaka.
On 24 November 2014, Popoviàwas appointed at the helm of Spanish Segunda División side Zaragoza, replacing the fired VÃÂctor Muñoz. He led the team to the 2015 Segunda División play-offs, but fell short, losing to Las Palmas on the away goals rule. While at Zaragoza, Popoviàwas named the Segunda División Manager of the Month by the LFP in October 2015. He was dismissed on 20 December 2015, after a 3âÂÂ1 loss against Gimnàstic.
In August 2016, Thai League club Buriram United appointed PopoviÃÂ as the club manager to fill the vacant role after the dismissal of Afshin Ghotbi. He left the position in June 2017 after receiving a three-month ban by the Thai FA (FAT) for slapping his team's physio after a league game earlier that month.
In September 2017, Indian Super League side Pune City appointed PopoviÃÂ as new manager. He parted ways with the club in May 2018.
On 11 August 2023, After spending three seasons in Machida Zelvia, Popoviàtook over Serbian SuperLiga club Vojvodina, signing a deal until the end of the season 2023âÂÂ24.
On 21 December 2023, after a brief half-season at Vojvodina, Popoviàjoined J1 League club Kashima Antlers. Popoviàhas some mixed results at the start of the season but an 11 game unbeaten streak in the middle of the season saw Kashima solidly in the top 3 of the league. However, results started to drop off and in spite of a 4âÂÂ0 league victory over Albirex Niigata, Popoviàwas dismissed with Antlers sitting in 4th in the table and only 6 games left in the season.
PopoviÃÂ also holds Austrian citizenship.
Sturm Graz
Zlatibor Voda
Buriram United