Sept 30, V7N - Newly appointed Australia head coach Tony Popovic is quickly reshaping the Socceroos' coaching staff following the departure of Graham Arnold. On Monday, Popovic announced the appointments of his long-time deputy Hayden Foxe and former teammate Paul Okon as assistant coaches.Foxe, who previously worked with Popovic at the Western Sydney Wanderers and Perth Glory, brings valuable experience to the role.

Okon, who last served as an assistant coach at Club Brugge KV in Belgium, also adds depth to the coaching team. These changes come just a week after Popovic was named Arnold's successor, following Arnold's resignation due to a disappointing start in Asia's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Popovic's new staff will replace Arnold's long-serving assistant René Meulensteen and Luke Wilkshire. Additionally, Frank Juric has been confirmed as the goalkeeper coach, taking over from John Crawley. In a statement, Popovic expressed confidence in his team's collective experience and expertise, which he believes will be crucial for the Socceroos moving forward.The first challenge for Popovic and his staff will be the upcoming World Cup qualifier against China on October 10.

This match is critical for the Socceroos, who currently sit in fifth place in Group C, five points behind leaders Japan. Australia has struggled in the qualifiers, suffering a rare home defeat to Bahrain and drawing with Indonesia.To qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North America, Australia needs to secure a top-two finish in their group, with the third and fourth place teams entering another round of preliminaries.

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