Sydney FC has appointed Graham Arnold as its new Head Coach, Chairman of Sydney FC Scott Barlow announced today.
Sydney FC has appointed Graham Arnold as its new Head Coach, Chairman of Sydney FC Scott Barlow announced today.
The former Socceroos and Hyundai A-League winning coach will sign a three year deal with the Sky Blues until the end of the 2016/17 season.
“On behalf of the Sydney FC Board I would like to welcome Graham Arnold to Sydney FC,” Mr. Barlow said.
“Graham is one of the A-League-s most successful coaches and has a proven track record of producing high quality, winning football teams.
“He brings to the Head Coach-s role a wealth of international and Asian Champions League experience and as a former Socceroos Coach, has dealt with the demands of coaching a high profile team.”
Arnold has lifted silverware in each of his last two full seasons as a coach in the Hyundai A-League, securing the 2011-12 Premiership with the Central Coast Mariners and the 2012-13 Championship a year later. He was also named as the Hyundai A-League Manager of the Year in 2011-12.
The 50 year old was among the favourites to be named Socceroos Head Coach earlier this season, having already served as Head Coach during the 2007 Asian Cup and as Assistant Coach to Guus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek during the 2006 and 2010 World Cup Finals.
“I am extremely excited to be here. It has always been my dream as a Sydney boy to coach Sydney FC, in my view the biggest club in the country,” said Arnold.
“It-s a fantastic opportunity and I-m looking forward to working with the players and coaching Sydney FC to consistent domestic success and Asian Champions League qualification.”
Sydney FC received a huge amount of applications for the role and underwent a detailed selection process to find the best candidate for the job.
“We conducted an extensive search both domestically and internationally and interviewed a short list of very high calibre candidates,” said Mr. Barlow.
“In the end, Graham matched all the criteria and qualities we were looking for and I-m delighted to be able to announce him as our new Head Coach.
“Having been born and bred in Sydney, Graham also matches our drive and ambition to ensure Sydney FC is seen as Australia-s premier football club at home and abroad.”
Arnold takes the Head Coach-s role with immediate effect, with the playing staff due to return to training in June.
The former Central Coast boss has a Hyundai A-League win percentage of 52 per cent having coached in 98 games.
As a player, he represented his country 54 times scoring 19 goals, and played 453 club games stretching across Australia, Belgium and Japan, netting on 161 occasions.
Profile
Name: Graham Arnold
Age: 50
Born: Sydney, NSW
Honours:
2012-13 – Hyundai A-League Championship
2011-12 – Hyundai A-League Premiership
2011-12 – Hyundai A-League Manager Of The Year
Managerial Career:
1998 – 2001 – Northern Spirit
1999 – 2010 – Australia Assistant Coach
2006 – 2007 – Australia
2007 – 2008 – Australia U23
2010 – 2013 – Central Coast Mariners
2014 – Vegalta Sendai
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