Graham Arnold resigns as Socceroos coach ahead of next World Cup qualifiers

Graham Arnold has stepped down as Socceroos head coach with immediate effect.

Arnold has been in dialogue with Football Australia this week, ironing out an exit strategy from a role he has held since 2018, and has now resigned before Australia’s next World Cup qualifier in October.

The 61-year-old’s departure comes after the Socceroos picked up just one point from a possible six in their opening two games of third round World Cup qualifying. Australia fell to Bahrain earlier this month and then were held scoreless in a 0-0 draw with Indonesia.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the players, my staff, Football Australia, and our passionate fans for their unwavering support,” Arnold said in a statement. “The Socceroos have a bright future ahead, and I’m confident they will continue to excel.

“I’ve given 40 years of service to Australian football, with the last six years in my role as Socceroos’ head coach. I said after our game against Indonesia that I had some decisions to make, and after deep reflection, my gut has told me it’s time for change, both for myself and the program.

“I’ve made the decision to resign based upon what’s best for the nation, the players and Football Australia.”

In his six-year reign, Arnold led Australia to their best-ever finish at a World Cup and two quarter-final exits at the Asian Cup.

Arnold went precariously close to getting the sack in 2022 when Australia blew their hopes of direct World Cup qualification and had to rely on Andrew Redmayne’s penalty shootout heroics against Peru to reach the showpiece event in Qatar. Once there, Australia knocked over Denmark and Tunisia before narrowly falling to eventual champions Argentina at the last 16 phase.

Following Australia’s performance in Qatar, Arnold was rewarded with a new four-year deal by FA and turned down approaches to coach at club level to guide the Socceroos to the 2026 tournament, which will take place in USA, Canada and Mexico.

Arnold said in June of this year that he believed he had a squad capable of reaching the semi-finals in North America in two years’ time. But the former Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners boss has opted to walk away from the final two years of that deal after an underwhelming start to the third round of qualification.

The Socceroos suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Bahrain on the Gold Coast before a frustrating stalemate against Indonesia. Those two results in which the Socceroos failed to score, have left Australia second bottom in group C and their hopes of securing a top-two finish and automatic qualification on shaky ground.

The Socceroos host China in Adelaide on 10 October before heading to face undefeated Japan in Saitama on 15 October.

“While we respect his decision and are saddened to see Graham leave the national team set-up, this scenario is not uncommon in international football,” James Johnson, Football Australia CEO, said in a statement. “We will act swiftly in appointing a new head coach to ensure continuity and stability, particularly as we approach the crucial second window of the Asian qualifiers next month.”

Arnold was visibly frustrated after the Indonesia draw and vowed to go away and have “a really good think about things”. While many interpreted that throwaway line to suggest he would revamp his squad and tactics – Arnold’s critics have frequently bemoaned Australia’s lack of cutting edge against perceived “smaller” teams – the Socceroos manager was instead considering his position.

Arnold’s exit leaves FA facing a mad scramble to find a coach to step into the role on an interim basis as they also continue a search for the next permanent Matildas coach.

The Socceroos will need to announce a squad for the October window fixtures with China and Japan in a little over a fortnight.