Socceroos coach Graham Arnold wants his legacy to include a government-funded national “home of football” as he gets to work on building on Australia’s memorable run at last year’s World Cup.
Football Australia confirmed on Monday that Arnold had signed a new multi-year deal to remain in charge of the Socceroos until the end of the team’s 2026 World Cup campaign.
The contract, worth up to $6 million, will also involve Arnold providing mentorship to the coaches of Australia’s men’s youth national teams, supporting FA’s chief football officer Ernie Merrick with talent identification and pathways, and working with FA “to ensure football – grassroots to the elite – has access to the best facilities and infrastructure”.
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Those desired facilities, which need government-funded assistance, include somewhere for Australian football to call home.
“It‘s not just getting the football right – the government needs to help,” Arnold said.
“We‘ve been underfunded for years … and it’s time that they stepped up.
“We have here in Australia so many fantastic kids that can do something special, and it’s our job to help those kids fulfil their dreams.
“The funding will help the programs but, again, the home of football is crucial. (It’s) something that we‘ve missed out on that every other sport gets.
“We’re a national team. We play worldwide and we’ve got nothing. We’ve got nowhere to go.
“If we had a perfect facility that they (the government) would help us with … it could be training grounds to run the pathways, it‘d be a great little stadium that we could play in, and we can have a museum to respect all those players like the Harry Kewells, the Timmy Cahills, and the Johnny Warrens that have done so much for Australian football that will not be forgotten.”
Arnold’s contribution to Australia football, both as a player and a coach, should also be hailed, according to FA chief executive officer James Johnson.
“There’s really no one else that I can think of that really personifies what a Socceroos great is in this country than Graham himself,” Johnson said.
“Graham has contributed to some of Australian football’s most iconic moments, but his exploits as the Socceroos head coach have propelled him into a league of his own.
“Under Graham‘s tenure, the Socceroos were able to deliver world-class performances and nurture the next generation of players.”
Arnold said he was only getting started and promised to build on the Socceroos’ effort of winning two matches at last year’s World Cup and reaching the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time since 2006.
“The hunger to continue in the role has never been stronger and I know I have more to give to the Socceroos program and Australian football, where I want to deliver more smiles for our fans as we did in Qatar (at the World Cup),” said Arnold, who rejected coaching offers at both club and national team level in Europe and the Middle East to remain in charge of the Socceroos.
“Every time I put that Socceroos shirt on or I’m around the Socceroos, I bleed green and gold.
“Whenever you‘re in the Socceroos culture or you’re with the Socceroos, it’s always a special moment.
“It‘s been a tough road at times, but I have so much belief in the group of players and the great staff that I’ve got that this is just a start.
“The last (time) in Qatar was a fantastic achievement, but there’s plenty more to come, and I truly believe that and so I’m really looking forward to what’s in front of us.”
The Socceroos will return to action in March in Australia with a friendly against a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent as preparations start for next year’s AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.
— NCA Newswire
