Graham Arnold to remain Australia head coach until 2026

Football

confirmed on Monday that 

will continue as head coach of the Socceroos.

Arnold was the caretaker manager of Australia between 2006 and 2007. He replaced Bert van Marwijk as Australia’s manager after the 2018 World Cup. His team lost in the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, but managed to qualify for

in Qatar, where they managed to qualify from their group for the second time in history. However, they lost with one goal against eventual winners Argentina in the last 16 round.

Football Australia chair, Chris Nikou said:

"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."

“Graham’s not only done well as Socceroos coach, but he’s a great person in the sport,”

Football Australia CEO James Johnson said at a press conference in Sydney.

“He (made) 56 appearances for the Socceroos as a player, he played a leading role in our national teams for over 20 years, and there’s really no one else I can think of that personifies what a Socceroo great is in this country (other) than Graham himself.”

Arnold said:

"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.

"The hunger to continue in the role has never been stronger and I know I have more to give to the Socceroos' programme 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.”

Arnold, who was named the best coach at the 2022 World Cup by French sports newspaper L’Équipe, said Australia’s government should invest more in football and establish a permanent base for the national team.

"It's crazy to think the Socceroos don’t get any high-performance funding from the government,"

he told reporters.

"They don't have a home. How can you have a football culture if you don't have a home?

"Funding will help the programmes but the home of football is crucial. It's something as a sport we’ve missed out on. We've got nothing, nowhere to go."

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