*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 June 2024
Anton Popovitch (Russian: Антон Попович; born 11 July 1996) is a Finnish professional
footballer who plays as a
midfielder for
Veikkausliiga club
Ilves.
Club career
FC Haka
Born in
Valkeakoski, Popovitch played in the youth sector of his hometown club
Haka, before he was promoted to the club's senior squad for the
2015 season in the second-tier
Ykkönen.[2] After the
2019 season,[3] which has been considered his breakthrough season, Haka earned a promotion back to Finland's premier league
Veikkausliiga.[4][5]
KuPS
Popovitch transferred to fellow Veikkausliiga club
Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) ahead of the
2021 season.[6][7] He left the club after the
2023 season, after having spent three years with KuPS and having won two
Finnish Cup championships[8] and three silver medals in Veikkausliiga.[9] Popovitch also represented KuPS in the
UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers in his every season with the club.[10][11][12] He was also named a vice-captain of his team in March 2022.[13]
Ilves
On 16 January 2024, fellow Veikkausliiga side
Ilves announced the signing of Popovitch on a three-year deal.[14][15][16][17] On 23 May 2024, Popovitch scored his first goal for Ilves in the league, in a 3–0 home win over
Inter Turku.[18] On 31 May 2024, in a home match against KuPS, Popovitch made his 100th appearance in Veikkausliiga.
Personal life
Popovitch holds dual
Finnish-
Russian citizenship. He is the son of former professional footballer
Valeri Popovitch, who is the all-time leading goalscorer of Haka and of the whole Finnish top-tier league
Veikkausliiga.[19][20] His brother
Sasha is also a footballer.