Ranko Popović

Ranko Popović (Ранко Поповић; born 26 June 1967) is a Serbian football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Kashima Antlers.

Playing career
Born in Peć, SAP Kosovo, SR Serbia, Popović started out at local club Budućnost. He moved to Belgrade in 1985 due to compulsory military service and played for Kneževac in the Belgrade Zone League. In the 1988–89 season, Popović played for fellow Belgrade Zone League club Beograd.

In the summer of 1989, Popović was acquired by Yugoslav First League side Partizan. He was later loaned to Yugoslav Second League club Leotar during the 1989–90 season. After returning to Partizan, Popović made two appearances in the 1990–91 Yugoslav First League.

In 1992, Popović 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, Popović returned to Spartak Subotica until the end of the season.

After playing for two years at Segunda División club Almería, Popović joined 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, Popović made 11 appearances in the UEFA Champions League.

Austria and Japan
Between 2002 and 2006, Popović 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 Petrović at Sanfrecce Hiroshima for over a year.

Serbia
In early 2008, Popović 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, Popović was replaced by Slavko Vojičić.

Return to Japan
In July 2009, Popović 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, Popović 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.

Spain
On 24 November 2014, Popović was appointed at the helm of Spanish Segunda División side Zaragoza, replacing the fired Víctor 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, Popović was named the Segunda División Manager of the Month by the LFP in October 2015. He was dismissed on 20 December 2015, after a 3–1 loss against Gimnàstic.

Thailand and India
In August 2016, Thai League club Buriram United appointed Popović 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 Popović as new manager. He parted ways with the club in May 2018.

Vojvodina
On 11 August 2023, After spending three seasons in Machida Zelvia, Popović took over Serbian SuperLiga club Vojvodina, signing a deal until the end of the season 2023–24.

Kashima Antlers
On 21 December 2023, after a brief half-season at Vojvodina, Popović joined J1 League club Kashima Antlers.

Personal life
Popović also holds Austrian citizenship.

Player
Sturm Graz
 * Austrian Bundesliga: 1997–98, 1998–99
 * Austrian Cup: 1998–99
 * Austrian Supercup: 1998, 1999

Manager
Zlatibor Voda Buriram United
 * Serbian League Vojvodina: 2007–08
 * Thai League Cup: 2016
 * Mekong Club Championship: 2016