We are pleased to announce that Ranko Popović has been appointed as head coach, and Takashi Tsukada has been appointed as interpreter.
Head Coach
Ranko Popović
Date of Birth
June 26, 1967
Nationality
Serbia/Austria
Coaching Career
Playing Career
FK Partizan Belgrade (1988–89, Yugoslavia) – FK Leotar Trebinje (1989–90, Bosnia and Herzegovina) – FK Partizan Belgrade (1990–92, Yugoslavia) – FK Spartak Subotica (1992–94, Yugoslavia) – Ethnikos Piraeus (1994–95, Greece) – UD Almería (1995–96, Spain) – SK Sturm Graz (1996–2001, Austria) – TuS FC Arnfels (2001–04, Austria) – SV Pacheren (2004–06, Austria)
Comment from Head Coach Ranko Popović
"I am deeply honored and incredibly happy to receive an offer from a great club like Kashima Antlers. This season, I've had a wonderful time with the club and players at Vojvodina, and honestly, I hadn't considered going to another club, but I decided to accept this offer. The opportunity to work for a great club like Antlers is the biggest reason for my decision. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the president, sporting director, players, and everyone involved with Vojvodina for respecting my decision. To all Antlers supporters, I want to show you attractive and energetic football that makes you want to come to the stadium! Let's fight together!"
Comment from Football Director Shigeo Yoshioka
"We have invited Ranko Popović to be the new head coach of Kashima Antlers. In selecting a coach, we emphasized updating our attacking play, which has been a challenge in recent years, including this season, and building attacking plays systematically. Coach Popović's strengths lie in his aggressive and organized football style, and his ability to quickly implement tactics. We believe he is the right person to lead Antlers as our new head coach. The fact that we haven't won a title in several years is a heavy burden, and as the head of reinforcement, I feel responsible for the situation, including the continuous change of coaches. Winning titles is the club's unwavering goal, and that will not change in the seasons to come. We will firmly support the coach and fight unitedly towards victory, without forgetting Antlers' traditional strength of allowing players to perform at their best."
