Legendary Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink returns to help coach Australia ahead of World Cup

The architect of Australia’s return from FIFA World Cup exile in 2006 is back.

Guus Hiddink famously coached the Socceroos back to the World Cup finals after a 32 absence in a thrilling qualification period that culminated in the winning penalty shoot-out against Uruguay at the MCG.

The Dutch coach also steered Australia into the final 16 at the World Cup and if not for a contentious penalty issued against Lucas Neil in the match against Italy, the Socceroos could have made the quarter finals.

It was a golden era for the Socceroos, now current coach Graham Arnold is hoping Hiddink’s influence can rub off on the current squad. 

The Socceroos qualified for the 2022 World Cup in the same dramatic fashion as 2006, this time against Peru and on foreign soil in Doha. 

As the players prepare for a final send off against New Zealand before the Qatar World Cup, Arnold has invited the retired Hiddink to come into camp and help inspire the current crop of Socceroos. 

Hiddink was an influential and inspirational coach that resurrected Australian football

And Hiddink is thoroughly enjoying the experience, saying some of his fondest memories were of his time in charge of the Socceroos. 

‘I’m very delighted to go there,’ Hiddink said in a video released by Football Australia.

 ‘Every now and then when I talk about my career with people, I always highlight my experience with the Socceroos. 

`This is one chapter in my career which gave me a lot of energy. I met very kind people and very open-minded people, which I liked very much.

‘All the players in the beginning – regarding the World Cup qualification – were not very confident, because there was failure in the past. I liked very much the commitment of our players … [but] I had to look for a balance in the team, not just to go for 100 or 110 per cent commitment in the fighting spirit.

‘I had to seek and search for more balance between the commitment and also the tactical executions of what I want to play strategically … the tactical creation for those players. It was nice, because when players are committed, then you can work with them.’

Hiddink also said that Arnold played a key role in Australia’s success in 2006 and hailed his progression to the head coach role of the Socceroos.  

‘I had a lot of good people in my staff. The lead man was of course Arnie, who gave me a lot of information about players, and I needed his information and his contribution. We worked very well together,’ he said. 

‘I think Graham Arnold made a tremendous achievement, tremendous development in his coaching career. I knew him, of course, as a player in the early days in the Dutch league, that he was very committed as well. 

John Aloisi of Australia celebrates scoring the winning goal in the penalty shoot-out during the second leg of the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Australia and Uruguay

‘And then he made a transfer to being a coach. In the beginning to be honest, there was a little bit, in my opinion, a lack of confidence – ‘can I do this? Can I do this?’ – yes, of course you can.

‘If you see what he has achieved club wise … but also now with this achievement of the Olympic team and also with the national team, he has done a great job.’

 Arnold said it was not only an opportunity for Hiddink to inspire the current Socceroos, but also a valuable chance for Aussies to say farewell and thank you to the Dutch coach for everything he had contributed to Australian football. 

Arnold and player Ajdin Hrustic celebrate after winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 intercontinental play-offs match between Australia and Peru

‘Not only is it important that we seek to recognise people that have made an enormous contribution to sport in our nation, but I believe having Guus in camp will inspire the players picked for our two-match series against the All Whites – all of whom will be competing for a place in our final FIFA World Cup squad which will be announced in November,’ Arnold said.

‘Guus is a great storyteller, so I can’t wait to see the effect he has on this current generation of Australian players. Many of our boys know of his feats and achievements internationally but have never had the opportunity to meet him. 

‘This is also going to be a great opportunity for football fans to say ‘thank you’ to Guus for his work for Australian football in 2005 and 2006.’