Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has a “burning ambition” to problem for main titles after extending his tenure till 2026.
Football Australia confirmed on Monday that Arnold had signed a brand new deal to stay accountable for the Socceroos till the tip of the 2026 World Cup.
The contract, reportedly price $6 million, will even contain Arnold offering mentorship to the coaches of Australia’s males’s youth nationwide groups, help FA’s chief soccer Officer Ernie Merrick with expertise identification and pathways, and work with FA “to ensure football – grassroots to the elite – has access to the best facilities and infrastructure”.
“In addition to success on the field over the next four years, I want to help deliver results for football in the form of bespoke infrastructure for our game across Australia,” Arnold mentioned.
“Football is the world game, where for a country of 26 million people, we certainly overachieve based upon the funding and investment our game receives.
“For our sport not to have a national home of football, and for the Socceroos to not receive any high-performance funding is something I want to support Football Australia to resolve over the next four years.
“As we saw, a successful FIFA World Cup campaign unites and inspires all Australians like nothing else does, and it is in the national interest to support both our senior national football teams”.
Under Arnold, the Socceroos final 12 months reached the knockout levels of a World Cup finals event for the primary time since 2006, and it took eventual champions Argentina to finish their memorable Qatar 2022 run.
“I love Australia and I love Australian football, and nothing in football can ever match the elation, pride and sense of achievement, I and the entire set-up felt in Qatar,” Arnold mentioned.
“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.
“I approach the next four years with a clean sheet, which is underpinned by a burning ambition to provide more opportunities to our leading emerging and established talent, whilst challenging for major titles starting with the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar next year.”
FA chairman Chris Nikou mentioned: “What Graham and the entire squad achieved under the most challenging of circumstances during the last FIFA World Cup campaign was exceptional, and we are delighted that we have secured his services for a further four years.
“Football Australia is ambitious, where we expect continued progress and results from our senior and youth national teams, and through our discussions with Graham over recent weeks, we know our thinking is aligned on the future direction of Australian football and the Socceroos.”
Football Australia chief govt officer James Johnson mentioned Arnold and the Socceroos had united the nation “like never before” with their efficiency in Qatar, which included wins over Tunisia and Denmark.
“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.
“He cares deeply about Australian football, and we are thrilled that he has committed to Football Australia to help us continue to bring our vision for the game to life.”
Source: www.news.com.au
