Football Federation Australia (FFA) announced several additions to the Socceroos staff on Thursday as Australia’s senior men’s national football team transitions into a new era under one of the A-League’s most successful managers.
Highly experienced Dutch coach René Meulensteen has been appointed as an Assistant Coach to Arnold, while Andrew Clark (High Performance Coordinator (Sports Science), Phil Coles (High Performance Coordinator (Physiotherapy), and Doug Kors (Senior Technical Analyst) have also joined the Socceroos set-up.
FFA CEO David Gallop, in confirming that Arnold will also handle the U-23 squad, was excited about the Australian national team’s prospects.
“Since Graham officially started as the Socceroos Head Coach he has built a strong coaching staff around him. We welcome his initiative to take on the Under-23’s and we believe these changes also enhance our ability to build future generations of successful national teams, which aligns closely with FFA’s strategy.
"He has taken a keen interest in understanding the entire FFA landscape over the past few weeks, meeting with stakeholders across the country, including our A-League clubs.
“We are looking forward to this new phase for our national teams and our game. We are finalising plans for internationals in the lead up to the AFC Asian Cup to give the Socceroos the best chance to win the Championship again,” Gallop said.
The decision for Arnold to oversee the Australian U-23 team programme as well as the Socceroos will ensure a larger number of Australian players based locally and overseas are exposed to the same systems and standards on an ongoing basis, ensuring a more seamless transition for younger players when they progress to senior football.
Arnold was optimistic about his new challenge.
“We are entering another important period of our game with the AFC Asian Cup just over four months away. Our new management team will play a vital role in ensuring we are best prepared to defend our Asian title and develop players for the future,” said Arnold
“We have some excellent talent emerging in Australia and also many young Australians who are playing overseas, so having someone with Rene’s stature based in Europe will open doors to ensure we are identifying the right talent at the right time.
“Adding the Under-23 team to our structure will also mean our younger players are exposed to the same systems and processes from the early stages of their international football development, making the transition into senior international football smoother for them."
Meulensteen will be based in Europe and will be responsible for monitoring current and potential national team players. He has joined the Socceroos after enjoying a successful career across the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
Meulensteen’s time in football has seen him manage teams in Qatar, Denmark, Russia, England, Israel, and India, in addition to working for a significant period as one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s closest confidants at Manchester United.
During his tenure as first team coach at Manchester United, Meulensteen helped the Red Devils secure an impressive three English Premier League titles, and one UEFA Champions League crown and is credited with helping to develop some of United’s finest footballers, including Cristiano Ronaldo.
Clark has followed Arnold to the Socceroos from Sydney FC. The pair have developed a strong understanding and professional bond over the past eight years, having worked together in the A-League at Central Coast Mariners and the Sky Blues, as well as in Japan at Vegalta Sendai.
Clark will lead the Socceroos’ progressive Sports Science department, which includes monitoring Australia’s national team players in and out of camp, as well as tailoring programmes to maximise performance.
For Coles, 2018 marks a return to the Socceroos. He previously worked as a senior physiotherapist for Australia between 2007 and 2010 under both Arnold and Pim Verbeek. Since departing the Socceroos, Coles has worked in the Premier League with Liverpool FC, the National Rugby League with the Newcastle Knights, and most recently in the NBA with San Antonio Spurs.
Like Clark, Kors joins the Socceroos from Sydney FC. Kors worked as a key member of Arnold’s technical team at the Sky Blues between 2014 and 2018, helping the men from Allianz Stadium secure two Hyundai A-League Premierships, one Hyundai A-League Championship, and one FFA Cup title during his tenure.
Australia's defence of the AFC Asian Cup starts with a tie against Jordan on January 6, 2019. Their other opponents in Group B are Palestine and Syria.
Sources: Football Federation Australia, AFP
