De Guzman steps back from coaching Fury FC, but keeps GM job

After spending part of last season as Ottawa Fury FC'shead coach, former Canadian soccer star Julian de Guzman will be taking a step back from the pitch this year.

The United Soccer League club appointed de Guzman as the team'sfull-time general manager Thursday, while announcing that Nikola Popovic would go into 2018 as head coach.

De Guzman had been serving in both roles in an interim capacity ever sincePaul Dalglishresigned in Augustafter less than two years with the club.

• 'Still a long way to go': Julian de Guzman on his first days coaching Ottawa Fury FC

In a statement, de Guzman said he was looking forward to focusing solely on the general manager position and "building a club that we can all be proud to support."

Popoviccoached the USL's Swope Park Rangers last season, leading the western conference club to a 17-8-7 record in only theirsecond season in the league.

The Belgrade-born Popovic has coached in eight different countries, including Portugal, Serbia and Italy, Ottawa Fury FC said in a news release.

He also speaks four languages and has coached at the academy, club, and international levels, the team said.