Graham Arnold

Graham Arnold, born on August third, nineteen sixty-three, is a distinguished Australian football manager and former player, currently serving as the head coach of the Iraq national team. His coaching journey began in two thousand when he first took the helm of the Australian men's national soccer team, known as the Socceroos. Following the dismissal of head coach Frank Farina in two thousand five, Arnold collaborated with Guus Hiddink during the Socceroos' campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, leading the team to the second round of the finals.

After Hiddink's departure, Arnold briefly stepped in as the interim coach of the Socceroos. He achieved significant success by qualifying Australia's U23 men's national soccer team, the Olyroos, for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His expertise continued to shine as he assisted Pim Verbeek in the qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Arnold's managerial career flourished at the Central Coast Mariners from two thousand ten to two thousand thirteen, where he guided the club to both a Premiership and a Championship.

Arnold's accolades include being inducted into the Football Federation Australia Football Hall of Fame. He later enjoyed a successful tenure with Sydney FC, securing two Premierships, one Championship, and an FFA Cup. In two thousand eighteen, he succeeded Bert van Marwijk as the head coach of the Australian national team after the FIFA World Cup. Under his leadership, Australia qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, achieving their most successful campaign to date, with multiple group stage victories and a place in the Round of 16.

Arnold's impressive record in the A-League includes managing the fourth most games (two hundred eleven) and achieving the third most wins (one hundred sixteen) in the competition's history. He boasts the best career unbeaten percentage of any A-League manager at eighty-one point five percent and is one of only three managers to have won multiple A-League championships. Following his resignation from the Australian national team in September twenty twenty-four, Arnold was appointed as the head coach of the Iraq national team, continuing his impactful career in football.