Where there’s a will to win: rivalry of Graham Arnold and Kevin Muscat sets scene for Big Blue

FROM teammates to duelling grand final coaches — the rivalry between Graham Arnold and Kevin Muscat is a complicated mix of friendship, professional pride and a ferocious will to win.

The pair share an intense competitiveness. Picture: George Salpigtidis

From international teammates to duelling grand-final coaches — the rivalry between Graham Arnold and Kevin Muscat is a complicated mix of friendship, professional pride and a ferocious will to win.

The latest instalment unfolds on Thursday night as Victory try to prevent Sydney running away with the league once more, and little would give Muscat more pleasure.

It’s hardly the master and the apprentice, but with 10 years’ difference in age — and Arnold’s decade or more of extra coaching experience — it’s maybe no surprise he has had the edge in recent encounters.

Yet Muscat enjoyed their early contests far more. After Arnold took over at Sydney the first three Big Blues were draws, but Muscat emerged victorious in the following three — including the 2015 Grand Final.

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Muscat and Arnold in their Socceroos days.

Since Victory’s win in the Australia Day fixture two years ago, though, Sydney are unbeaten in the last five. The angry tirade Muscat fired off as he left the field in the fixture almost a year ago spoke volumes for the personal competition.

“There’s no question they’re mates but it’s the old issue of what happens when you cross the white line, it’s the same for coaches,” said Archie Thompson, the striker who played with and for Muscat at Victory but also under Arnold for the Socceroos.

“If anything Arnie has had the better of it, especially of late, and I think it’s a matter of experience. Musky is getting there and he’s already a very good coach.

“But you get the feeling Arnie knows when to change things around, when to make a substitution, which tactics are necessary.

“Musky is learning that side of the game, and he’ll undoubtedly get there. But you can’t buy the experience Arnie has, and I think that’s the difference at the moment.”

The pair share an intense competitiveness. Picture: George Salpigtidis

To add a little subplot, both men feature in dispatches about who will coach the Socceroos after the World Cup. Arnold, it’s widely assumed, is a shoo-in, yet if he decides the hassle of the role is too much, Muscat is the only other serious domestic candidate.

In Arnold’s previous iteration in the role, as interim Socceroos boss, Muscat helped him immeasurably as a playing lieutenant. That erstwhile closeness just feeds the rivalry now.

“Both Arnie and Musky remember what it was like to be a player, they don’t lose sight of that, and it helps them to understand players,” said Thompson. “I’ve always said Musky will be good enough to coach the national team, just with a bit more experience.

“What you hear from players is how good a man manager Arnie is. To be able to massage the egos, to deal with players who think they should be in the team but aren’t, that’s a real skill.

“For now, I’d like to see Arnie get the job. He’s earned the right with his experience, not just his success.”

Originally published as Where there’s a will to win: rivalry of Graham Arnold and Kevin Muscat sets scene for Big Blue