Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has revealed he knocked back an approach from Scottish club Hibernian because he’s “got a job to do” with the Australian team looking to build on last year’s World Cup success.
Arnold, who signed an extension as national coach after taking the Socceroos to the Round of 16 in Qatar last year, had been linked to the vacancy at Scottish Club Hibernian, based in Edinburgh, and confirmed they reached out to talk to him after sacking manager Lee Johnson last week.
But as he confirmed the national recall of one of Hibs three Australians, Martin Boyle, for the September 10 clash with Mexico in Dallas, Arnold said he loves his job with the Socceroos too much to consider another offer.
“It was an honour that Hibs rang me and offered me the job but I‘ve got a job to do here,” Arnold said on Friday after unveiling his squad for the September 10 friendly.
“I will say I love coaching our nation, I feel I‘ve got a great job.
“For me it‘s all about Mexico, getting ourselves ready for that and developing and helping our boys in Australia.
“I spoke to their owner and at this moment the timing‘s not right.
“I have a job on my hands here and I have full focus on the Socceroos.”
Arnold has his senior brigade of captain Mat Ryan, Aziz Behich, Mitch Duke, Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie all locked for the trip to the as part of a squad which also features five uncapped players.
Fresh off a move to EFL Championship side, Middlesborough FC, Sam Silvera earns his call up, along with goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer from Charlton Athletic FC as understudy to Ryan and Tom Glover.
Defender Cameron Burgess, who emigrated from Aberdeen to Australia as an 11-year-old will also join the squad for the first time while Alessandro Circati returns for his second senior national team camp after seeing plenty of game time with Parma Calcio 1913 in Serie B in Italy. this season, while Nick D’agostino (Viking FK) will also join the camp in Dallas.
Boyle has been recalled for the first time since he suffered an ACL injury on the eve of last year‘s World Cup campaign in Qatar where the Socceroos were knocked out by eventual champions Argentina after making it through to the Round of 16.
Arnold said he’d been impressed by the Boyle’s form on his return from injury. .
“You‘ve got to give the guy full credit, he had the operation in November last year and nine months later he’s back,” Arnold said.
“Most players take 12 months so he‘s he’s done exceptionally well and hit the ground running straightaway with Hibs.
“It‘s great to have him back and if anyone does deserve anything it’s Boyley because he copped that injury just before the World Cup.”
Arnold also said the chance this window presents to the younger members of his squad was an exciting one with the Asian Cup on his immediate radar before the 2026 World Cup being played in the US, Canada and Mexico.
“Playing Mexico is a great opportunity for the entire group, allowing us to not only test ourselves against quality opposition, but also familiarise ourselves with playing in the United States as we look towards 2026,” Arnold said.
“We’re coming up against top Central American opposition in front of what I’m sure will be a lively home crowd, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the squad approaches and responds to that challenge.
“We’ve brought several younger players into this camp to give the coaching staff a glimpse at how they can perform both within our system and on the international stage. We’ve closely monitored the form they’re bringing from their clubs, and I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen overall.
“The new members of the squad will have the benefit of working alongside many of our established, senior players, who will play an important role in instilling the values and principles of our group.”
