NEXT COACH IN LINE
Arnie to replace Bert, after Bert is finished replacing Ange
GRAHAM Arnold will take over as Australia coach after the World Cup, replacing Dutchman Bert van Marwijk who was hired on a short-term basis to guide the team in Russia, football officials announced yesterday.
The Sydney FC coach was one of the main candidates to replace Ange Postecoglou, who quit in November after the Socceroos beat Honduras in an intercontinental playoff to qualify for Russia 2018.
But “Arnie”, a former Socceroos caretaker boss, wanted to see out his contract with the ALeague side and ruled himself out of contention.
Instead van Marwijk, who took the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final, was appointed in January on a fivemonth contract.
“Arnie is clearly in our opinion the best person for the job, not just the best Australian but the best person for the job,” said Football Federation Australia chairman Steven Lowy, in announcing the four-year deal.
“His pedigree as a footballer and as a coach of the Socceroos themselves some years ago, but his success more recently with both the Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC has clearly given Arnie the right to be put forward for the job.”
Sydney-born Arnold has international experience, having been assistant to former Socceroos coach Frank Farina between 2000-2005 and then Guus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek. He managed the team in the 2007 Asian Cup for 12 months, making the quarter-finals.
Arnold stayed as Verbeek’s assistant, including at the 2010 World Cup, before coaching the Central Coast Mariners, where he led them to the 2013 title.
More recently he guided Sydney to the title last season.
The 2019 Asian Cup will be his first major tournament back in charge of Australia.
The 54-year-old will leave Sydney FC at the end of the ALeague season in May. Arnold refused a pay rise and fresh offer from the Sky Blues in favour of the Australian job in what he said was an “extremely difficult” decision.
“My commitment to Sydney FC is 110 per cent to the end of this season,” he said.
“It (the Socceroos job) is obviously a tough job but one I’m really excited (about) and look forward to.”
Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow said the loss was a blow.
“We didn’t want Graham to leave and we offered him a substantially bigger and longer contract to stay,” Barlow said.
“But the lure of coaching his country has ultimately proven too much, and having complied with the terms of his contract, we would not stand in his way.”
IT (THE SOCCEROOS JOB) IS OBVIOUSLY A TOUGH JOB BUT ONE I’M REALLY EXCITED (ABOUT) AND LOOK FORWARD TO. GRAHAM ARNOLD