Nikola Popovic is a Portuguese/Serbian football coach. Popovic is known for a very attacking and attractive style of play based on possession and high pressure. A UEFA Pro licensed coach – the highest UEFA license available, Popovic has coached in nine countries, speaks four languages.
Coaching career
Born in Belgrade, SR Serbia, back then capital of SFR Yugoslavia, Popovic was raised in Lisbon, Portugal where he began his career with CD Olivais e Moscavide in the Segunda Divisão. Following the 2006–07 season, Popovic moved to FC Vihren Sandanski in the Bulgarian A Football Group. Returned to Portugal to Segunda Liga side Varzim SC, where he won the Liga Intercalar. Popovic enjoyed a stint as an assistant coach with the Cape Verde national team in 2010, before joining Spanish Segunda Division B side AD Ceuta helping guide the club to the Copa Del ReyRound of 32 – the club’s best ever showing in the tournament falling to eventual runners-up, Barcelona. Later that same season, Popovic linked up with Bulgarian side Chernomorets Burgas in the Bulgarian A Football Group, helping the side to a quarterfinal appearance in the Bulgarian Cup. He then moved to the United Arab Emirates joining Al Dahfra for the 2011–12 season as an assistant to Baltemar Brito – Jose Mourinho’s former assistant coach – helping them win the Vice President Cup. Popovic then took charge of Sertanense FC in the Portuguese Second Division – his first head coaching role in 2012–13. He then joined Qatar’s Aspire Academy in 2014, before returning to Portugal and Benfica B in 2015. In 2016 goes to Swope Park Rangers, USL Championship, and reaches 4 consecutive Finals winning 2 Titles. Nikola was Head Coach of Swope Park Rangers for the 2017 season. After one season as United Soccer League side Swope Park Rangers as an assistant coach in 2016, Popovic was named as the Head Coach of the side on 21 November 2016. During his first season as Head Coach of Swope Park Rangers, Popovic helped the side win the Western Conference Championship and eventually reaching the league final for the second season in a row. The team performed a very attractive style of football based on possession and high pressure. On 21 December 2017, it was announced that Popovic would take over as Head Coach of the Ottawa Fury of the United Soccer League. In May 2018 wins award of USL Coach Of The Month and reached the Semi-Finals in the Canadian Championship. In 2019, Nikola brings his very attractive and effective style of football based on possession and high pressure. In the same season manages to have the most successful start of the season in Ottawa Fury FC, achieves most goals scored in history of the Club and Qualify for the USL playoffs for the first time in history of the club in USL. In the Canadian Cup the Team also reached the Semi-Finals. In 2020, Nikola is invited by Hélder Cristóvão to assist him in DAC1904. Popovic worked already before with Hélder in Benfica, and now join him at Dunajská Streda, Slovak Super Liga. Popovic has also done internships with Inter Milan, Portugal Under-21s and Serbia and Montenegro Under-21s.
Personal
Popovic holds dual Portuguese and Serbian citizenship. He speaks Portuguese, English, Serbian, Spanish and has a good understanding of Italian and French. Popovic is often invited by Portuguese sports and news television channels to comment and analyze national and internationals soccer matches.
