WHAT’S NEXT, ARNIE

FUTURE UNCLEAR FOR ROOS COACH

GRAHAM Arnold loves to plan. Obsessing over every little detail, ensuring every single moment in Socceroos camp counts.

Yet, going into this World Cup, one rather significant plan remains unresolved: his own future.

“My contract is over with the last kick of the ball at the end of the tournament,” Arnold says. “For the first time in four-and-a-half years I have my own future back in my own hands.”

Football Australia has placed on hold possible extension talks with Arnold, who has held down the Socceroos’ top job since 2018. A lot has happened in the years between.

The stresses and strains of qualifying in a global pandemic took their toll, as did the Socceroos’ loss of form in the final stages of the qualifying group stage, which pushed Arnold to the brink of losing his job before June’s playoffs. It was only when Football Australia powerbrokers saw first-hand in Saudi Arabia, the last group qualifying game, the tightness of the bond between Arnold and the players that the decision was made to allow him to push on.

With the benefit of an extended camp in June, Arnold and his staff devised a plan to propel the underdog Australians past UAE and Peru to a fifth straight World Cup. The Peru triumph, where the Socceroos tactically stunned the South Americans right up to the point of Andrew Redmayne’s entrance, has opened up many possibilities for Arnold.

CODE Sports understands two overseas clubs and a national federation have made initial enquiries as to Arnold’s availability post-qatar. It is also understood Football Australia is open to offering Arnold an extension.

Arnold is adamant his contract limbo will not be a distraction once the squad starts assembling in Qatar from late next week.

“No, not at all,” Arnold says. “Looking forward to going to the World Cup and enjoying it. No distraction about it. Others around the world know I’m available.

“The organisation wants to see, I think, how we perform in games. It’s their decision.

“I have the great choice to do what I want to do.”

Should Arnold stay, he is clear about what the Socceroos job should entail.

“It’s not about sitting around just doing the Socceroos, doing five camps a year for ten days,” he says. “Drives me insane.

“If they want me to stay, I want to stay involved in the elite pathways, helping Australians fulfil their dreams.”

Arnold sees the senior job as a chance to help coaches of the underage national teams - Brad Maloney (under 17s), Trevor

Morgan (under 20s) and Tony Vidmar (under 23s) - having guided the Olyroos to their first Games since 2008, and then shocking Argentina in the group stage in Tokyo before falling short against Spain and

Egypt.

He is immensely proud of helping seven members of that 21-man squad secure overseas deals.

He knows that rejuvenation of the

Socceroos squad will need to continue after this World Cup, and the elite pathways need to produce players ready for international competition.

“There will be 20 or so players from the 55-man squad we submitted who are too old for the new campaign and you have to move on quickly,” he says. “Those players won’t make 2026.”

Eventually, Arnold pulls himself up about the future. There is a World Cup to plan for and the final selection of the 26-man squad this Tuesday morning (AEDST) is occupying most of his thoughts. He will then set his sights on making sure the training schedule is spot on in the lead up to the November 22 showdown with France.

His future can, and will, wait.

“It’s more about going to this World Cup with a fresh, clear mind,” he says. “I can’t wait for this first game and to do Australia proud.”