HOME is not where the Heart is for Ante Milicic.

It's back in western Sydney alongside his close friend and the A-League's newest coach Tony Popovic. Milicic, the Melbourne Heart's highly rated assistant, has turned his back on a two-year contract to join Popovic at the new western Sydney outfit.

It is understood the 38-year-old has accepted a four-year deal by the A-League's newest franchise, where he will take up the assistant coach's role.

Milicic has become one of the most sought-after coaches in the A-League with Brisbane Roar also offering him a job.

He was offered a five-year contract by Roar's new owners the Bakrie Group to work alongside Ange Postecoglou's replacement Rado Vidosic.

However, the lure of returning to Sydney and joining forces with the highly rated Popovic proved too great for the ambitious coach.

The pair broke into senior football with NSL side Sydney United together and have retained a close bond as their careers took them to Europe before returning home.

Milicic was believed to have been bitterly disappointed to have lost out to John Aloisi for the Melbourne Heart senior post, having been groomed by Heart as a senior coach in waiting.

Popovic has returned to Sydney after he and former Crystal Palace teammate Dougie Freedman masterminded an extraordinary turnaround during the last 16 months at their former club.

Threatened with relegation to League One when then joined, they staved off relegation in their debut season before securing a mid-table finish and a Carling Cup semi-final run which included a quarter-final victory over Manchester United.

Heart will now commence their search for a new assistant and former Socceroos defender Hayden Foxe, who is doing his UEFA coaching badges with Aloisi, could be in the mix.

Meanwhile, new Sydney FC coach Ian Crook has made his first major A-League signing by securing the services of former Iraqi international Ali Abbas on a two-year deal.

The snaring of the attacking midfielder is the first blow in what promises to be a hard-fought battle to sign players with the new and unnamed western Sydney side coached by Popovic.

Abbas, 25, was a member of Iraq's 2007 Asian Cup-winning team and has spent the past three years with the Newcastle Jets.

Abbas agreed to terms over the weekend and trained with the Sky Blues yesterday.

Crook is delighted to have signed the gifted speedster who is sure to add plenty of punch to Sydney's attacking stocks.

"I believe Ali is a fantastic addition to the squad and will have a big impact on the team," he said.

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Originally published as Ante's heart is back in Sydney