Graham Arnold reflects on decision to step down as Socceroos boss

After departing his role as Subway Socceroos head coach today, Graham Arnold leaves behind an impressive legacy, with several notable milestones achieved across his second stint at the helm.

We sat down with Arnie earlier today, as he reflected on the reasons behind his decision to resign, his achievements across the last six years in charge and the special relationships that will remain forever.

Here’s what he had to say.

On how he’s feeling after an emotional few days

Obviously, after the two games against Bahrain in Indonesia, and I said after the Indonesia game, that I had some big decisions to make. I followed my gut, and have gone with the decision that, after 40 years' service and six years at the helm of coaching the Socceroos, it's time for change and time for me to move on.

And it's been a tough decision, but once again, it's a gut decision - something that I've always followed - and I believe it's the right one.

On why now felt like the right time to make the decision to step down

I've got to be honest, and I always am, I have struggled a little bit since the Asian Cup loss. I truly went to that Asian Cup thinking that we were going to win it.

Probably over the last six months, I've tried to convince myself to keep going, to keep going, to keep going. And as I said, in my gut, this just hasn't felt right.

Reflecting on the environment that he arrived in six years ago compared to the one that he leaves today

100% completely different. And the generation of players is changing as well. It can't be just the same all the time. I think I'd probably be one of three coaches in the whole world that has stayed on in a national team job for six years, and that's Hajime Moriyasu from Japan, Didier Deschamps from France and Gareth Southgate [from England].

And it's tough, especially when you're coaching your own nation, and because you don't want to let your own nation down, and that's based on the decision that I've made.

On what he’s been able to achieve in his six-year tenure

I've bled green and gold for 40 years, and I look back at the tenure of six years and where I had to rebuild. I coached the Olympic team and developed those players quite quickly. It was a quick, quick fix to create depth.

Obviously, COVID hit and being stuck away for six months and not being able to come back to Australia and see family and friends was also a tough time. But, everything happens for a reason and you gave all those sacrifices and everything, and we got paid back with the World Cup, where we finished 11th in the world - the greatest Socceroos team in history.

Even being voted as number one coach at the World Cup by L’Equipe magazine is something special, and I just feel again that the boys have given me everything they've got, and I can't be more thankful for their sacrifices and everything that they've done.

On what it has meant to lead the nation for so long

It's one that I know my mum and dad would be extremely, extremely proud of. And they're still looking down from upstairs. They're tapping me on the shoulder as well, and saying, ‘hey, it's time to move on, time for a new journey in life’. For all coaches, it happens. All around the world with coaching, everyone has their day, and it's a long term, six years.

These days in coaching, it can last mostly two years, three years max. But again, I'm brave enough to make this big decision. I've made some big decisions over my six-year tenure, and I just feel that again, I'm doing what's best for everyone else. And I'm also thinking of Graham Arnold.
 

Tweet: https://twitter.com/Socceroos/status/1836974954820293103
On how special the journey has been

You can't fathom it. If someone had said to me many, many years ago that I was going to go to four Olympics, three World Cups. And two World Cups where we made the last 16, with Guus Hiddink and myself - if you said that was going to happen, I would never have believed it.

But it just shows if kids and people have dreams in their lives and goals in their lives, that everything is achievable and possible, but it takes a lot of hard work and passion. And again, that passion side at the moment is the one that's making me make this decision.

On the special bond with the players and staff

I had special bonds with players at the Central Coast Mariners and the Golden Generation as they call it in 2006 - I’m still in touch with all of them. The Sydney FC boys too and it will be the same with the Socceroos. It's all the boys. I love them like sons and that's how I manage. I'm their father. They're my sons.

And they've achieved something special, but I want them to achieve more, and I honestly will be sitting back watching them very, very proudly. I know what it takes to do, what it takes to get to these types of things. The staff have been incredible. They're not just staff members. They're brothers now, and as I said, they'll be lifelong friendships.

On one moment that stands above all others across his time in charge

I don't think there's just one. I think the Andrew Redmayne penalty shootout [versus Peru], and obviously the whole World Cup - there's just so many moments and so many memories. You can't put them into one. But, I wouldn't have had these extra two years if Redmayne didn't save that penalty, and I wouldn't have had a World Cup. So, that was probably one of the biggest turning points of my reign.