Ottawa Fury FC name Julian de Guzman GM, Nikola Popovic head coach

OTTAWA — Julian de Guzman started 2017 by announcing his retirement as a player. He ends it firmly ensconced in the front office of Ottawa Fury FC.

In between, the former Canadian international served as the United Soccer League team’s assistant coach and assistant general manager before being bumped up to interim head coach and GM in mid-August after Paul Dalglish resigned both roles.

On Thursday, the team appointed de Guzman as GM and Nikola Popovic as the club’s head coach.

“Julian’s commitment to this club and its success is tremendous and he has earned this opportunity,” Fury president John Pugh said in a statement. “The leadership and astuteness that we’ve seen from Julian as a player has been matched in the management role that he’s held since mid-August.”

Popovic left his position as head coach of Swope Park Rangers, Sporting Kansas City’s USL team, in mid-November.

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He was an assistant to former Fury coach Marc Dos Santos during the Rangers’ inaugural 2016 campaign before taking over as head coach in 2017. Swope Park made the USL Cup final both years, losing to the New York Red Bulls 2 and Louisville City FC.

Popovic, a dual citizen of Serbia and Portugal, began his coaching career in 2005. He made stops in Portugal, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Spain, United Arab Emirates and Qatar prior to arriving in Kansas City.

De Guzman, 36, earned a record 89 caps for Canada during a distinguished playing career in France, Germany, Greece and Spain as well as Major League Soccer and the North American Soccer League.

De Guzman finished his playing career as captain of Ottawa.

The Canadian Press