Arnold remembers ex-Socceroos boss as ‘nicest person’

THE man who worked most closely with Pim Verbeek at the helm of the Socceroos has paid tribute to the Dutchman (pictured) after his death from cancer at 63.

Graham Arnold was appointed as Verbeek’s assistant with the Australian team in late 2007 after being its interim head coach, but what could have been an awkward marriage became a friendship that led to Verbeek attending Arnold’s wedding in 2015.

“Football is a dog eat dog environment, and it can be a horrible world,” Arnold said yesterday. “But Pim was probably the nicest person you’d ever find in the world.”

The Socceroos’ head coach had been the assistant since 2000 under Frank Farina and Guus Hiddink, before a yearlong stint as interim head coach while Football Federation Australia courted and signed Dick Advocaat for the 2010 World Cup campaign.

When Advocaat reneged and Verbeek was parachuted in, it fell to Arnold to brief him on the players in the few weeks until Australia’s first qualifier in February 2008.

“When Dick decided to stay in Russia and FFA started a new search, I knew of Verbeek because I’d met him with Guus in Holland previously, and even then it was clear immediately what sort of a guy he was,” Arnold said.

“Such a polite, goodnatured man. People forget that we had only played a few Asian Cup qualifiers, this was our first pathway into Asia to qualify for the World Cup, and it was tough.

“But Pim qualified us with games to spare, the top team in Asia, and he was so passionate about his job.

“His communication with the players was fantastic.

“I’m not sure you’ll find a player with a bad word to say about him.”

Several players from that period paid tribute to Verbeek.

Former goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer tweeted of hearing “very sad and heartbreaking news today of Pim Verbeek’s passing. He was an amazing human being, a true gentleman with an infectious smile. Someone I have had the privilege to call a friend”.

Craig Moore described him as a “lovely man who I was lucky enough to work with at club and national team level. RIP Pim”.