Don Popovic
Encyclopedia
Dragan "Don" Popovic is a retired professional soccer midfielder
and current coach in the United States
. He played professionally in Yugoslavia, Canada and the North American Soccer League
. He later coached in both the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
In 1993 became the director of the youth soccer, Lous Fusz Soccer Club, which has teams playing in the St. Louis Youth Soccer Association
(SLYSA) soccer league .
, turned professional in 1958 at the age 17 year in Yugoslavia. In 1967, he moved to the United States
to play for the St. Louis Stars
of the first National Professional Soccer League
. In 1968, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
to form the North American Soccer League
. That year, Popovic moved to the Kansas City Spurs
where he played at least one full year and perhaps part of another. In 1969, he moved back to the Stars where he finished his NASL playing career in 1971. He then moved to Canada where he played for the Toronto White Eagles of the Canadian National Soccer League
until 1973. That year, he played for the Canadian national team in an exhibition game with Arsenal F.C.
championship. In 1976, the Rochester Lancers
of the North American Soccer League
hired Popovic as head coach. In 1978, the New York Arrows
entered the newly created Major Indoor Soccer League. It drew most of its players from the Lancers and hired Popovic as head coach. He led the Arrows to four consecutive MISL championships (1979-1982). The Arrows fired him at the end of February 1983 and he was hired a week later to coach the Golden Bay Earthquakes. He coached the Earthquakes during the 1983 and 1985 outdoor seasons as well as the 1983-1984 indoor season. The Earthquakes sat out the 1984-1985 indoor season. On 16 December 1984, the Las Vegas Americans
hired Popovic to replace player-coach Alan Mayer
as head coach. When the Americans folded in June 1985, Popovic was hired by the Pittsburgh Spirit
. The Spirit folded at the end of the season and Popovic committed to coaching a team in Portugal. In December 1985, the New York Express
made an offer to hire Popovic. While he began running practices and overseeing player acquisitions and even coached one games in late January 1987, the team never signed him to a contract. When no coaching jobs became available, Popovic entered the real estate business. In 1989, the expansion St. Louis Storm
hired Popovic. He coached the team for nearly three seasons before being fired in March 1992. He was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and current coach in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He played professionally in Yugoslavia, Canada and the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He later coached in both the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
In 1993 became the director of the youth soccer, Lous Fusz Soccer Club, which has teams playing in the St. Louis Youth Soccer Association
United States Youth Soccer Association
The United States Youth Soccer Association is the youth affiliate and largest member of U.S. Soccer, the governing body for soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer includes 55 state youth soccer associations, one per state except for California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas, which...
(SLYSA) soccer league .
Player
Popovic, born in 1941 in YugoslaviaYugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, turned professional in 1958 at the age 17 year in Yugoslavia. In 1967, he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to play for the St. Louis Stars
St. Louis Stars (soccer)
The St. Louis Stars were a soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri that played in the original NASL from 1967 to 1977.-History:The St. Louis Stars, founded in 1967 as a team in the NPSL were the first ever professional soccer team in St. Louis. The team was headed by Bob Hermann who later went on...
of the first National Professional Soccer League
National Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
. In 1968, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
to form the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. That year, Popovic moved to the Kansas City Spurs
Kansas City Spurs
The Kansas City Spurs were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in Kansas City, Missouri. They played their home games at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, former home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals...
where he played at least one full year and perhaps part of another. In 1969, he moved back to the Stars where he finished his NASL playing career in 1971. He then moved to Canada where he played for the Toronto White Eagles of the Canadian National Soccer League
Canadian National Soccer League
The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...
until 1973. That year, he played for the Canadian national team in an exhibition game with Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
Coach
While playing for the St. Louis Stars, Popovic also served as an assistant coach. In 1974, Popovic became the head coach of the Toronto White Eagles. He took the team to the 1975 Canadian National Soccer LeagueCanadian National Soccer League
The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...
championship. In 1976, the Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers
The Rochester Lancers were a soccer team based in Rochester, New York that played in the American Soccer League from 1967 until 1969 and the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1980 at Aquinas Stadium...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
hired Popovic as head coach. In 1978, the New York Arrows
New York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
entered the newly created Major Indoor Soccer League. It drew most of its players from the Lancers and hired Popovic as head coach. He led the Arrows to four consecutive MISL championships (1979-1982). The Arrows fired him at the end of February 1983 and he was hired a week later to coach the Golden Bay Earthquakes. He coached the Earthquakes during the 1983 and 1985 outdoor seasons as well as the 1983-1984 indoor season. The Earthquakes sat out the 1984-1985 indoor season. On 16 December 1984, the Las Vegas Americans
Las Vegas Americans
The Las Vegas Americans were a soccer team based out of Las Vegas that played in the Major Soccer League. They played only one season, 1984 and lost in the first round of the championship that year. The Americans finished their only season in the league with a 30-18 record earning them second place...
hired Popovic to replace player-coach Alan Mayer
Alan Mayer
Alan Mayer, a native of Islip, New York is a retired soccer goalkeeper from the United States. He played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League and earned six caps with the United States men's national soccer team....
as head coach. When the Americans folded in June 1985, Popovic was hired by the Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based out of Pittsburgh and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
. The Spirit folded at the end of the season and Popovic committed to coaching a team in Portugal. In December 1985, the New York Express
New York Express
This article is about the former indoor soccer team.The New York Express were a soccer team based out of Uniondale, New York that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played only one season, the 1986-1987 season. Their home arena was Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum...
made an offer to hire Popovic. While he began running practices and overseeing player acquisitions and even coached one games in late January 1987, the team never signed him to a contract. When no coaching jobs became available, Popovic entered the real estate business. In 1989, the expansion St. Louis Storm
St. Louis Storm
The St. Louis Storm were a soccer team based out of St. Louis that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1989 to 1992. Their home arena was St...
hired Popovic. He coached the team for nearly three seasons before being fired in March 1992. He was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004.
Honors
- 1971 - NASL All League First Team, while playing for the St. Louis Stars
- 1981 - Coach of the Year while coaching the New York ArrowsNew York ArrowsThe New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
- 1983 - Coach of the Year while coaching the Golden Bay Earthquakes
- 2004 - Inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame
Youth Soccer Highlights
Popovic was the head coach for the following championship teams:- 2000 Missouri State Cup, Boys U13 (under 13 years of age)
- 2001 Missouri State Cup, Boys U14 (under 14 years of age
- 2008 Missouri State Cup, Boys U14 (under 14 years of age)
- 2007 Missouri State Cup, Boys U13 (under 13 years of age)
- 2006 Missouri State Cup, Boys U15 (under 15 years of age)
- 2003 Missouri State Cup, Boys U15 (under 15 years of age)
- 2010 Missouri State Cup, Boys U16 (under 16 years of age)