Graham Arnold resigns as Socceroos manager
Source: Sky News Australia
Graham Arnold has quit as Socceroos manager, less than a month before Australia plays its next World Cup qualifier.
Sources familiar with negotiations said Arnold had been in talks with Football Australia this week, ironing out an exit strategy from a role he has held since 2018.
“This week, Graham Arnold offered his resignation, and we are confirming that the Football Australia board has accepted that resignation,” chief executive James Johnson said.
“This resignation transpired very quickly. It come off the back of our last match in the qualifiers against Indonesia. I want to say very clearly that we appreciate Graham Arnold. He’s had a great run for the Socceroos and also for Australian football.”
Johnson said he believed Arnold was tired and had run “out of gas”.
Arnold, meanwhile, said it was time for change.
“Leading the Socceroos has been the pinnacle of my career and a true honour,” the 61-year-old who is the Socceroos’ longest-serving coach, said.
“I’m incredibly proud of our achievements – from breaking records to nurturing new talent and making history on the global stage.
“After careful consideration, I believe it’s time for fresh leadership to guide the team forward.
“I’ve made the decision to resign based upon what’s best for the nation, the players and Football Australia.
“I’ve given absolutely everything I can to the role, and I am immensely proud of what has been achieved during my tenure.”
Arnold’s departure comes after the Socceroos picked up just one point from a possible six in their opening two games of third round World Cup qualifying earlier this month.
Australia fell to Bahrain earlier this month and then was held scoreless in a 0-0 draw with Indonesia.
The Socceroos host China in Adelaide on October 10 before heading to face undefeated Japan in Saitama on October 15.
Johnson said FA would act “swiftly” to find a replacement and not install an interim coach.
“We are already on the market for a new coach. We know the market. We know who is available,” he said.
“I want to confirm that we will move quickly to appointing a permanent coach before the next window. And hopefully, in the coming days or next week, next week or two, we would like to convene you here with us so we can share the news of who the new Socceroos coach will be.”
Arnold’s exit brings an end to a six-year reign of highs and lows.
He oversaw Australia’s best finish at a World Cup and two quarter-final exits at the Asian Cup.
But he also went precariously close to getting the sack in 2022 when Australia blew its hopes of direct World Cup qualification and had to rely on Andrew Redmayne’s penalty shootout heroics against Peru to get to Qatar.
Once there, Australia knocked over Denmark and Tunisia before narrowly falling to eventual winner Argentina at the last-16 phase.
Following Australia’s performance in Qatar, Arnold was rewarded with a new four-year deal by FA. He turned down approaches to coach at club level to guide the Socceroos to the 2026 tournament, to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Arnold said in June that he believed he had a squad capable of reaching the semi-finals in North America in two years’ time.
But the former Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners boss has instead opted to walk away from the final two years of that deal after an underwhelming start to the third round of qualification.
The Socceroos suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Bahrain on the Gold Coast before a frustrating stalemate against Indonesia.
Those two results in which the Socceroos failed to score, have left Australia second bottom in group C and its hopes of securing a top-two finish and automatic qualification on shaky ground.
Arnold was visibly frustrated after the Indonesia draw and vowed to go away and have “a really good think about things.”
While many interpreted that throwaway line to suggest he would revamp his squad and tactics – Arnold’s critics have frequently bemoaned Australia’s lack of cutting edge against perceived “smaller” teams – the Socceroos manager has instead been considering his position.
Arnold met FA bosses earlier this week and indicated he would be willing to step aside after a challenging six-year tenure. His exit leaves FA on the hunt for a senior coach at the same time as they search for the next permanent Matildas coach.
The Socceroos will need to announce a squad for the October window fixtures with China and Japan in a little over a fortnight.
-with AAP