Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

Popovic sacked by J-League Cerez

J-League side Cerezo Osaka says it has fired manager Ranko Popovic due to the club's poor results.

J-League side Cerezo Osaka has fired manager Ranko Popovic due to the club's poor results.

The 46-year-old Serb, who holds an Austrian passport, took the helm of the Osaka club in March at the start of the season after coaching other J-League outfits Oita Trinita, Machida Zelvia and FC Tokyo since 2009.

But Cerezo, the current team of Uruguay striker Diego Forlan, have since struggled with four wins, five losses and four draws, despite acquiring Forlan ahead of the World Cup in Brazil, to stand 13th in Japan's top flight.


1 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world