Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Socceroos greats Mark Schwarzer and Josip Skoko are full of admiration for former teammate turned coach Tony Popovic as he continues the legacy of the 2006 Socceroos with a new generation.
Popovic is the only one to have represented the Socceroos as both a player and head coach. He has also established a coaching staff who all have Socceroos playing experience.
“Now we’re talking about a manager who is going to be the first Australian to play in a World Cup for Australia, but also manage Australia in a World Cup which is the ideal scenario for Australian football, having one of our own managing the team in a World Cup,” said Schwarzer.
“What’s important is you have that legacy.
“Having someone who’s been there as a player and been there as a manager, has the same kind of mentality, has the understanding of what it took, has been part of failed campaigns but also has been part of a successful campaign is vital.”
Current Socceroos are also grateful to have such an experienced coaching group who will be able to provide lots of valuable insights.
“You definitely feel that they have a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience,” said right-back Jacob Italiano. “They’ve been there and done that and that helps.”
Skoko knew 20 years ago Popovic had the right temperament to be an exceptional manager.
“Everybody knew that Popa was going to be a manager, that Popa’s got an extra little bit of discipline in him, which would be great for a team,” Skoko said. “But also that he’s got another side of him.
“He had really good football knowledge, he was a good footballer in terms of playing, he was tough, but he could play as well, and I always thought that that would be a great mix for a manager.”
Skoko also recalled Popovic’s gritty personality in big moments, ready to do whatever it took to get the win.
“The Uruguay games, the second game in Sydney, where in the tunnel he grabbed one of the Uruguayans by the throat, and then in the game he nearly got sent off for elbowing Recoba,” Skoko said.
The Socceroos’ match against Cameroon on Friday night in Sydney will also serve as a 20-year reunion for the World Cup squad of 2006 in the very stadium where Schwarzer’s penalty-saving heroics qualified Australia for their first World Cup in 32 years.
