Graham Arnold has made the surprise decision to resign as the coach of the Australian national football team, the Socceroos, following their shaky start to the third phase of Asian World Cup qualifying. Arnold’s decision comes after a wave of criticism from fans and pundits after the team suffered a shocking 1-0 loss to Bahrain on home soil and a disappointing 0-0 draw away against Indonesia.
This decision marks the end of Arnold’s second stint as Socceroos coach, spanning six years. He previously served as the team’s interim coach from 2006 to 2007. The decision comes as a surprise, particularly given that just days prior, Football Australia boss James Johnson had publicly expressed his confidence in Arnold, urging him to continue and steer the team back on track.
In a statement released by Football Australia, Arnold explained his reasoning: “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 programme. I’ve made the decision to resign based upon what’s best for the nation, the players and Football Australia. I’ve given absolutely everything I can to the role, and I am immensely proud of what has been achieved during my tenure.”
Arnold informed Football Australia of his decision earlier this week, and the board accepted his resignation. The organization has stated that they are focused on appointing a new head coach before the next round of World Cup qualifiers in October.
James Johnson commented on Arnold’s resignation, stating: “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. We will act swiftly in appointing a new head coach to ensure continuity and stability… and who can build upon the foundations which Graham leaves behind. Time is of the essence, and we are fully committed to making the transition as smooth as possible.”
