Create an experience with Graham Arnold

Graham Arnold is the current Head Coach of the Socceroos.

It is his second stint after taking over in 2006 after the FIFA World Cup in Germany, where he served as assistant coach with Guus Hiddink.

Arnold also represented Australia 56 times as a striker during an international career spanning 12 years, scoring 19 goals.

Playing Career:

Started his playing carer with junior leagues before joining Sydney club Canterbury Marrickville. From 1984 to 1990, Arnold played 178 games and scored 67 goals with Sydney United. He was named 1986 NSL Player of the Year and top scorer with 17 goals. Arnold first won Australian selection in a friendly against Tasmania in 1985. His 14-year senior career started against Red Star on July 31, 1985, when he scored in three successive games. Arnold’s first 'A' international was against Chinese Taipei in the 1986 World Cup qualifiers in Adelaide, where he scored his first Socceroo goal. He went on to play in the 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns, 1988 Olympic Games and Bi-Centenary Gold Cup. In the late 1980s, Arnold moved overseas to play in Belgium, Japan and Holland where he became prominent with Roda JC (Holland) as a leading striker. He returned to Australia in 1998 to join Northern Spirit in the National League as inaugural coach where he also played in 28 matches and scored five goals for an overall total of 225 NSL games and 72 goals. Arnold played for Australia in 88 matches, including 56 A internationals and scored 33 goals, 19 at A level.

Coaching Career:

Graham's coaching career started in 1998, when he was appointed player/manager of the Northern Spirit FC. In 2000 he went to work as assistant coach of the Australian national team where he supported them through the 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign. He continued in various national team capacities until 2010 when he assumed the role of manager at A-League club Central Coast Mariners, guiding them to two Premierships and a Championship. In May 2014 Graham was appointed to manager of Sydney FC, winning two A-League Premierships, a Championship, and an FFA Cup.  In his time as an A-League coach, he won the Coach of the Year on three occasions.  After the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Arnold took over as head coach of the Socceroos and U-23's. In January 2020 he guided the U-23's to the Tokyo Olympics, the Olyroos' first Olympic Games in 12 years. June 2022 saw Arnold's Socceroos qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup culminating in a tense penalty shootout vs Peru. After 1,008 days of a grueling qualification program, navigating COVID-19 challenges, player crisis, and more.