Gabriel Popovic

Gabriel Popovic (born 28 July 2003) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for A-League Men club Perth Glory.^[1][2] Born in Westminster, England, to Croatian-Australian parents, Popovic holds dual Australian and Croatian nationality and measures 1.88 metres (6 ft 2 in) in height.^[1] He is the son of Tony Popovic, a former Socceroos captain who currently serves as head coach of the Australia national team, and the younger brother of Kristian Popovic, a midfielder for A-League club Macarthur FC.^[1][2] Popovic began his youth career at Sydney United 58 before signing with Perth Glory, where he made his professional debut on 7 August 2019 in the FFA Cup against Western Sydney Wanderers at age 16.^[3] During the 2019–20 A-League Men season, he featured in 13 matches for the senior team, including a substitute appearance in a pre-season friendly against Manchester United.^[2][4] After limited opportunities in subsequent seasons with Perth Glory's youth setup, he pursued opportunities in Europe, joining Greek club Xanthi on a free transfer in October 2020.^[5][6] In 2021, Popovic moved to Croatian second-division side NK Rudeš, where he played until signing with Italian Serie C club Catania for €10,000 in August 2023.^[5][6] His time in Italy included loans to US Fiorenzuola 1922 in early 2024 and Puteolana 1902 in 2025, during which he gained experience in lower-tier professional football.^[7][6] Popovic returned to Perth Glory on 29 August 2025, marking a homecoming after spending two seasons abroad.^[8][5] He has represented Australia at youth international levels, including eight caps for the under-20 team (as of September 2022).

Early life and family

Early life

Gabriel Popovic was born on 28 July 2003 in Westminster, England. His early childhood was spent in England, coinciding with his father Tony Popovic's tenure as a defender for Crystal Palace from 2001 to 2006.^[9] In 2007, the family relocated to Australia following Tony Popovic's signing with Sydney FC, where he played until his retirement in 2008.^[9] This move marked the beginning of Popovic's upbringing in Sydney, immersed in an environment shaped by his family's longstanding connection to professional football. Popovic's initial experiences with the sport were informal, influenced by growing up in a household centered around football due to his father's career as a prominent Australian international and club player.^[1] From a young age, his physical development stood out, reaching a height of 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) and naturally gravitating toward the striker position.^[1]

Family

Gabriel Popovic was born on 28 July 2003 in Westminster, England, to Croatian-Australian parents. He holds dual Australian and Croatian nationality. His father is Tony Popovic, a former professional defender who played 139 matches for Crystal Palace in English football from 2001 to 2006 and earned 58 caps for the Australia national team, including participation in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.^{[10][11][1][12]} Tony's career also included notable stints with Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan and Sydney FC in Australia, where he transitioned into coaching after retiring in 2008.^[11] He has an older brother, Kristian Popovic, born in 2001, who is also a professional footballer and plays as a midfielder for Macarthur FC in the A-League (as of November 2025). The Popovic brothers grew up immersed in the sport, with both making their professional debuts under their father's coaching at Perth Glory.^[13][14] The family relocated from England to the Sydney area in Australia around 2007, coinciding with Tony's signing for Sydney FC and subsequent coaching roles in the region.^[10] This move provided a stable environment for Gabriel's early development. Tony's professional ethos of discipline and relentless work ethic significantly influenced Gabriel's growth as a centre-forward, as Tony often emphasized the importance of dedication in his sons' budding careers during family discussions and training sessions.^[4]

Club career

Youth career

Popovic began his organized youth football journey with an early affiliation to Sydney United 58 FC in New South Wales, Australia, prior to 2016, where he developed foundational skills through local youth programs associated with Football NSW.^[15] In 2016, at the age of 13, he joined the Western Sydney Wanderers academy, spending the next two and a half years (until December 2018) training under professional structures and competing in youth leagues, including the Football NSW Youth Leagues.^[16] During this period, Popovic participated in high-profile youth matches, such as the 2018 Guangzhou International Championship against Palmeiras, and contributed to the team's efforts in the Football NSW U18 Grand Final, scoring in penalty shootouts.^[17][18] In early 2019, Popovic transferred to the Perth Glory academy, where he quickly established himself as a regular in the PGFC Academy First Team during the 2019 National Premier Leagues (NPL) campaign.^[2] As a powerfully-built forward standing at 1.88 meters tall, he emerged as a promising centre-forward known for his physical presence and goal-scoring potential in youth setups.^[2][1]

Perth Glory (2019–2020)

Gabriel Popovic transitioned from Perth Glory's youth academy to senior football during the 2019 season. He made his professional debut on 7 August 2019, coming off the bench in the FFA Cup Round of 32 match against Western Sydney Wanderers, where he showed glimpses of potential against an A-League opponent.^[19] In the 2019 National Premier Leagues Western Australia (NPL WA) season, Popovic established himself as a regular feature for the Perth Glory Academy First Team, contributing to their campaign as a powerfully built forward.^[2] Popovic earned his A-League debut on 9 November 2019, entering as a late substitute for Perth Glory in a 1–1 draw against Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium, a moment orchestrated by his father and head coach Tony Popovic amid a numerically disadvantaged match following a red card.^[20] Throughout the 2019–2020 A-League season, which was shortened and relocated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Popovic received limited first-team opportunities, appearing in 13 matches for Perth Glory.^[21] After the season concluded in August 2020, Popovic opted to seek professional development overseas, concluding his initial stint with the club.

European career (2020–2025)

In 2020, Popovic transferred to Skoda Xanthi in Greece on a free deal, marking his entry into European professional football.^[22] During the 2020–2021 season, he primarily featured for the club's U19 team and did not record any first-team appearances, limited by opportunities in the senior squad.^[16] Seeking more playing time, Popovic joined NK Rudeš in Croatia on August 26, 2021, also on a free transfer.^[23] Over the next two seasons (2021–2023), he received regular minutes in the Croatian second division (2. HNL) after Rudeš's relegation from the top flight, allowing him to build experience as a centre-forward in a competitive environment.^[24] On August 10, 2023, Popovic signed a contract with Catania in Italy's Serie C until 2025.^[7] His time with the club was marked by brief first-team involvement, supplemented by loan spells to further his adaptation to Italian football. In February 2024, he was loaned to US Fiorenzuola 1922, another Serie C side, until the end of the season.^[5] To gain additional experience, Popovic was loaned to Puteolana 1902 Internapoli in Serie D on January 9, 2025, for the remainder of the 2024–2025 campaign.^[22] These moves across Greece, Croatia, and Italy highlighted his ongoing development amid the challenges of transitioning between leagues and cultures, honing his role as a physical centre-forward in varied European settings.^[25]

Perth Glory (2025–present)

Gabriel Popovic rejoined Perth Glory on 29 August 2025, signing a short-term contract following the end of his stint with Catania in Italy's Serie C.^[26][1] He was assigned squad number 16 upon his return.^[27] As a centre-forward, Popovic has been positioned as a key striking option for the 2025–26 A-League Men season, drawing on his experience gained during his European career from 2020 to 2025 to bolster the team's attacking depth and provide competition up front.^[26][1] Perth Glory head of football Ross Pelligra highlighted the move as a step in supporting Popovic's ongoing development and international ambitions, including potential involvement with the Australia U23 squad for the AFC U23 Asian Cup.^[26]

International career

Youth international career

Gabriel Popovic earned his first call-up to the Australia U-20 national team, known as the Young Socceroos, in October 2022 for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023™ qualifiers held in Kuwait.^[28] At the time, the 19-year-old striker was playing for Croatian club NK Rudeš, where his emerging form as a goal-scorer had caught the attention of national team selectors.^[28] In the qualifiers, Popovic played a pivotal role in Australia's successful campaign, topping Group H with maximum points from victories over Kuwait, India, and Iraq. He demonstrated his clinical finishing by scoring twice in the 4-1 win against Kuwait, including a confidently converted penalty and a composed strike shortly before halftime, helping establish a commanding lead.^[29] Later, in the decisive 1-0 triumph over Iraq, Popovic netted the winner in the second half, sliding in to finish a low cross from teammate Matthew Dench and securing qualification for the continental finals.^[29] These performances underscored his growing prowess as a target man in high-stakes youth internationals. Popovic retained his place in the squad for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup in March 2023, hosted in Uzbekistan, where Australia advanced to the quarter-finals.^[30] During the tournament, he continued to refine his positioning and aerial ability, notably scoring Australia's goal in the quarter-final draw against hosts Uzbekistan—a sharp finish in the second half that forced extra time before a penalty shootout exit.^[31] This international exposure at the U-20 level allowed Popovic to adapt to varied defensive setups and physical demands, enhancing his overall development as a forward capable of delivering in competitive environments.^[31]

Senior international career

Gabriel Popovic holds eligibility for the senior international teams of Australia, Croatia, and England due to his birthplace and family heritage. Born in Westminster, England, on 28 July 2003, while his father Tony Popovic was playing professionally for Crystal Palace, he acquired Australian citizenship through his father, who earned 58 caps for the Socceroos as a defender between 1995 and 2006.^[25][32] As of November 2025, Popovic has yet to receive a senior cap for either nation, despite representing Australia at youth levels and being called up to the U23 training camp.^[1] Popovic's potential pathway to the senior Australian team is influenced by his father's prominent history with the Socceroos, now extended by Tony's appointment as head coach in 2024. His recent return to Perth Glory on a short-term contract for the 2025–26 A-League season supports his ongoing career development and international aspirations, with monitoring for call-ups based on his form in the domestic competition.^[32][33]

Career statistics

Club statistics

Gabriel Popovic's club career statistics encompass his appearances, goals, and assists in various domestic leagues and competitions, primarily in youth and senior levels across Australia, Greece, Croatia, and Italy. The following table provides a season-by-season overview of his professional and youth club engagements.^[34][23] A breakdown of Popovic's statistics by key competitions highlights his limited but progressive involvement in senior leagues, with recorded appearances in cup competitions during this period.^[34][23][35]

International statistics

Gabriel Popovic represented Australia at the youth level with the U20 national team, accumulating 8 appearances and 5 goals primarily in 2022–2023. These included contributions in key competitions such as the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers and the 2023 tournament, where he featured prominently as a forward.^[36][29] As of November 17, 2025, Popovic has no senior international appearances for the Australian national team.^[1]