Socceroos coach Graham Arnold makes bombshell decision after team’s awful World Cup performances
- The national team has had a tough time in the last two games
- 61-year-old has held the top position since 2018
Graham Arnold is expected to step down as Socceroos manager before Australia’s next World Cup qualifier in October.
Sources familiar with the negotiations have revealed that Arnold has been in talks with Football Australia this week to map out an exit strategy for a role he has held since 2018.
Arnold leaves after the Socceroos took just one of a possible six points from their opening two games of the third round of World Cup qualifying against opponents they could have beaten comfortably.
Australia lost to Bahrain earlier this month and then drew 0-0 with Indonesia.
FA declined to comment when contacted.
In his six years in charge, the 61-year-old Australian has helped produce his best-ever World Cup performance and two Asian Cup quarter-final exits.
Arnold came close to being sacked in 2022 when Australia lost their hopes of direct qualification for the World Cup and were left relying on Andrew Redmayne’s penalty shootout heroics against Peru to reach Qatar.
There Australia defeated Denmark and Tunisia, before narrowly losing to eventual winners Argentina in the round of 16.
Arnold (pictured centre during Australia’s goalless World Cup qualifier against Indonesia this month) is on track to leave the top position he has held since 2018
The 61-year-old led the Socceroos to their best ever performance at a World Cup when they narrowly lost to Argentina in the round of 16 in Qatar
Following Australia’s performance in Qatar, Arnold was rewarded with a new four-year contract by the English Football Association, but he also turned down offers to coach at club level and lead the Socceroos to the 2026 tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Arnold said in June of this year that he believed he had a team that could reach the semifinals in North America in two years.
But the former Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners boss has decided to opt out of the final two years of that deal after a disappointing start to the third qualifying round.
The Socceroos suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Bahrain in Gold Coast, before a frustrating draw with Indonesia.
The two non-scoring results mean Australia now sit second in Group C, with their hopes of a top-two finish and automatic qualification uncertain.
The Socceroos host China in Adelaide on October 10 and play undefeated Japan in Saitama on October 15.
‘Arnie’ walks away with two years left on his contract after turning down club coaching opportunities to stay with the Socceroos
Arnold was visibly frustrated after the draw against Indonesia and promised to leave and ‘think things over again’.
While many interpreted the comment as a sign that he would be revamping his squad and tactics (critics of Arnold have often complained about Australia’s lack of sharpness against the ‘smaller’ teams), the Socceroos manager has instead considered his position.
Arnold met with English Football Association bosses earlier this week and reportedly indicated he is prepared to step down after a challenging six-year tenure.
His likely departure leaves the FA in a desperate scramble to find a manager to take over the role on an interim basis while they continue to search for the Matildas’ next permanent coach.
The Socceroos are due to announce a squad for October’s transfer window matches against China and Japan in just over two weeks.