Graham Arnold has resigned as Socceroos coach, leaving Football Australia in a scramble to find a replacement ahead of next month’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.

Arnold had been under immense pressure since Australia’s 1-0 defeat to Bahrain on the Gold Coast and the 0-0 draw in Indonesia earlier this month, which has put the team’s chances of direct qualification for the 2026 tournament in peril.

He met FA bosses earlier this week and chose to step aside for the good of the Socceroos, sources speaking under the condition of anonymity as they are not authorised to speak publicly have told this masthead.

Australia are fifth in Group C in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and meet bottom-placed China and top-placed Japan next month. Only the top two teams in the group will qualify directly, while the teams in third and fourth still have a chance of making it via the fifth round of qualifiers and beyond.

The loss to Bahrain was only the second time since 1981 that the Socceroos have suffered defeat in a World Cup qualifier on home soil, and in that match and the one played in Jakarta, Arnold’s side struggled to create meaningful chances in the face of defensively minded opposition – a recurring problem during his reign.

He said after the draw with Indonesia that he had to go away and “think about things”, but few expected him to quit of his own accord.

The Candidates

The resignation of Arnold has left Football Australia with a tough task. They need to find a coach who can guide the Socceroos to the 2026 World Cup. Here are some of the candidates:

Kevin Muscat

Cut from a similar cloth to Ange Postecoglou, under whom he served his apprenticeship at Melbourne Victory, the former Socceroos defender appears the strongest Australian option - but might not be available. Muscat has the mentality and ruthless approach required to grind this Socceroos cohort through qualifying.

Herve Renard

A bit of a nomad, but the emotive Frenchman has outperformed expectations at almost every turn. After qualifying Morocco for the 2018 World Cup, he qualified Saudi Arabia for the 2022 tournament and in Qatar oversaw a famous group-stage win over eventual champions Argentina. Known for high-tempo pressing and lifting players to new heights.

Nick Montgomery

The most successful Central Coast Mariners coach since, well, Graham Arnold, and wildcard option that could reap massive rewards. Now a member of Postecoglou’s coaching staff at Tottenham, Montgomery is only 42 but has already proven his capacity to develop youth while also overseeing experienced players.

Tony Popovic

It feels apt that this year marks the 10-year anniversary of Popa’s Western Sydney Wanderers winning the 2014 Asian Champions League. Untested as a manager at international level, and known for demanding complete control over programs and backroom staff, which would require some compromise from Football Australia.

John Aloisi

Was one of the names doing the rounds during the 2022 World Cup, when it was not yet clear if FA would offer Arnold a contract extension - or if he would even accept one. The Socceroos great has ebbed and flowed in terms of success as a manager but overhauled the culture after being appointed at Western United in 2021, taking the club from 10th place the previous season to A-League Men champions the next. 

An End of an Era for the Socceroos

“After careful consideration, I believe it’s time for fresh leadership to guide the team forward,” Arnold said in a statement.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the players, my staff, Football Australia, and our passionate fans for their unwavering support. The Socceroos have a bright future ahead, and I’m confident they will continue to excel.

“I’ve given 40 years of service to Australian football, with the last six years in my role as Socceroos’ head coach. 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 program.

“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 will go down as one of the most successful coaches in Australian history, having guided the Socceroos to their best-ever World Cup campaign at Qatar 2022, beating Tunisia and Denmark and testing eventual champions Argentina in the round of 16.

However, the remainder of his tenure has been a struggle, having failed twice to steer the Socceroos past the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup. The qualification process for Qatar almost saw him lose his job, with Australia only getting there after Arnold’s bold gambit to send in the unheralded Andrew Redmayne as goalkeeper for their penalty shootout against Peru.

While sources have said “alarm bells” had been ringing at FA after the previous international window, chief executive James Johnson publicly backed Arnold and refused to provide an answer when this masthead pressed him on whether he would survive if the Socceroos’ results continued to nosedive.

With their clash with China at Adelaide Oval less than three weeks away, FA has to act quickly. Already on the search for a full-time replacement for Tony Gustavsson as Matildas coach, they must now find someone to take the reins of the Socceroos.

“Graham Arnold’s departure marks the end of an era for Australian football,” Johnson said.

“His contributions to the sport and the Socceroos are there for all to see. Under Graham’s leadership, we achieved remarkable milestones that elevated Australian football on the global stage. Graham’s passion and dedication have left an indelible mark on the team and Australian football.

“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, particularly as we approach the crucial second window of the AFC Asian Qualifiers next month.

“Our focus now shifts to finding the right candidate who can build upon the foundations which Graham leaves behind and guide the team forward with confidence. Time is of the essence, and we are fully committed to making the transition as smooth as possible to keep the Socceroos on track for continued success.”

The Socceroos’ qualification hopes are now in the hands of a new coach. Who will it be?