Graham Arnold on his time with the Socceroos, Ange Postecoglou’s success and what’s next

Graham Arnold is set to break the record for the most matches in charge of the Socceroos this week. He touches on his time in the top job, plus his relationship with Ange Postecoglou and more.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold interview. Picture: David Caird

Graham Arnold doesn’t want any adulation when he sets the record for most matches in charge of the Socceroos this week.

At least not until he feels he has truly earnt the honour.

Arnold says his nine-match caretaker stint in 2006-07, which included Australia’s Asian Cup debut, should not count towards the games tally which will move past his close friend Frank Farina to outright first with 59 internationals at the helm of the national side after Thursday night’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh at AAMI Park.

Now 17 years on, he sees the decision to take the reins at the request of Australian football’s governing body as a mistake which almost ruined his managerial career before it had started.

“I would have preferred the interim period not to have been included in this ‘reign’, because I have to be honest – I wasn’t up to coaching the Socceroos back then,” Arnold said after arriving in Melbourne for the first round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold. Picture: David Caird

“The learning process that I went through at that time was probably the best I could have had, but also looking at yourself in the mirror to really wonder, ‘Am I going to be a coach or not?’ I walked away from that knowing I really wanted to be a coach, but I had to change myself.

“I did my coaching career back to front. If I could give some advice to young coaches, it’s to stay in club coaching until you’re mid-50s, 60s, and then go national team, whereas I did it the other way round.”

Six months before Arnold stepped back into the Socceroos’ role for a second time came Ange Postecoglou, who is now the biggest name in club football following an extended stint managing our national side.

Postecoglou’s exit from the Socceroos’ job was ugly. Arnold is relieved for his friend it gave him time to build towards his blistering start to the English Premier League season in charge of Tottenham.

“I think Ange got out of national team coaching just in time to be able to have another club career,” Arnold said.

“It would have been too late for him to have this five-year stint at Yokohama Marinos, Celtic … it’s just mind blowing where he’s come from.

“His success is just incredible … I caught up with Ange (in August), he sorted me out with tickets and I was in the stands watching Tottenham against Manchester United … I had goosebumps.”

Arnold said Postecoglou will be to Australian managers what Liverpool star Craig Johnston was to players in forging a path to Europe’s top clubs.

“All of a sudden Kevin Muscat’s name is getting mentioned, linked to Rangers, Millwall, those type of clubs and Michael Valkanis is an assistant at Ajax,” Arnold said.

“It doesn’t surprise me, because sometimes when you have fewer resources and less money to work with, you have to be a better technician, a better coach.

“Having to develop players yourself and scout, recruit players – I honestly think one of Ange’s biggest strengths is recruitment.

“Everywhere he has been – Brisbane Roar, I know he wasn’t at Melbourne Victory very long, Celtic … I can’t remember him buying one dud, a single player who has been a waste of money.”

Ange Postecoglou (L) and Graham Arnold share a laugh.

Arnold speaks fondly of his time leading Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC – except, he jokes, the one grudge he holds against “Big Ange” – the 2011 A-League grand final in which Postecoglou’s Roar snuck past the Mariners in a penalty shootout in front of more than 50,000 at Suncorp Stadium.

Arnold would not shut the door on a return to club coaching following his Socceroos tenure, but said it was unlikely at 60 he would be able to reboot his career at club level.

Arnold knocked back clubs including Scottish Premier League side Hibernian this winter and is laser-like focused on guiding Australia through qualifying to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

While it briefly threatened his coaching career, he thinks his “back to front” start with the Socceroos has armed him with the tools to forge a sustained period of success for the national side.

Maligned during the last round of World Cup qualifying and only recognised once Australia had advanced from its group at the finals and pushed Argentina to the brink in the round of 16, Arnold feels the groundwork he laid during his unusual stint as Australia’s Olympic team manager deserves more credit for setting up the Socceroos’ run.

It was a bold move to take the reins of the Olyroos after being appointed national manager, which could have cost him his position had he not qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

“I was there at the 2018 World Cup in Russia – I’m watching (Tim) Cahill, (Mile) Jedinak, (Mark) Milligan and (Robbie) Kruse in a very old group of players … I was thinking, ‘What the hell have I done?’” Arnold said.

Arnold coaching at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Picture: Facebook / Socceroos

“I was questioning where I would get my next batch of players from, so I got home from the World Cup and went straight into a board meeting, and I said to them as well as (former FFA boss) David Gallop, ‘I want to coach the Olympic team as well’.

“I had to push hard, Gallop said, ‘No, you don’t need that extra pressure. If you don’t qualify for the Olympics you’ll cop shit from the media and everywhere, you can’t do it’.

“I had to find a way to get help during the FIFA friendly windows when (the Socceroos) played as well, and Gary van Egmond came in … we all did it for nothing. I just felt at the time I had to get some younger players in, otherwise we’d have no depth.”

Members of that Olyroos squad, including Riley McGree, Keanu Baccus and Nathaniel Atkinson, have become important cogs in the national set up, along with the central defensive pair who performed so strongly in Qatar, Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles.

“In camp we don’t get much time to train, and the tactical side might just be a single video session, but because I’ve had time with these two groups of 20 guys over the last four years they know exactly what I want from them,” Arnold said.

“The kids from that Olyroos squad have been coming through and they immediately know exactly how I want them to play.”

One of few players left from the Asian Cup success before Arnold took over is Massimo Luongo, who has just returned to the Socceroos’ squad after a four-year absence following strong form with Championship side Ipswich.

Arnold barking orders from the sideline. Picture: Getty Images

Arnold said he had learnt a lesson from September’s 2-2 draw with Mexico in Dallas after a pair of errors allowed their opponents back into the game when Australia held a 2-0 deep in the second half.

“It’s crucial you have the blend right – It’s OK to have a lot of young players, but you need senior players and good leaders around them,” he said.

“Against Mexico, you look at the players I had on the field in the last 10 minutes when we folded a bit, they were all kids … they didn’t deal with the pressure of 75,000 Mexicans in the stands going crazy.”

Arnold is happy with the mix of the youth and experience, which includes Aziz Behich and Mitchell Duke who will be 35 at the next World Cup.

His big focus in the first part of the qualifying cycle is building depth with his bookends – finding an heir to goalkeeper Mat Ryan and a physical presence to lead the Socceroos’ attack.

Arnold tipped uncapped forward Kusini Yengi to impress if given the opportunity either against Bangladesh at AAMI Park or against Palestine next week in Kuwait.

“I’m still searching for the No.9,” Arnold said. “I’m not saying it’s a problem area on the pitch, but when you look at the A-League over the last 10 years, nearly all clubs have had foreign No.9s and foreign strikers.

“I’ve tried in the last six months looking at other ways, changing shapes, but Yengi is doing well at Portsmouth. I think he is a No.9 and a physical presence.”

Originally published as Graham Arnold on his time with the Socceroos, Ange Postecoglou’s success and what’s next