Arnold to guide Socceroos in Asian Cup Qualifiers

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced that Graham Arnold had been appointed interim Coach of the Australian Socceroos for their next two Asian Cup qualifying matches.

Australia takes on Kuwait at Aussie Stadium on 16 August and Lebanon at Adelaide Oval on 31 August as it attempts to qualify for the finals of the Asian Cup to be played in July 2007.

“While our long term Coaching arrangements are critical, in the immediate term our priority is to optimize the preparation of our squad for the forthcoming Asian Cup qualifiers,” said FFA CEO Mr. John O’Neill.

“The players and management will benefit from the certainty, and indeed continuity that this announcement provides.”

“We have every confidence that Graham Arnold who has been involved as Assistant Coach for the past six years and has filled in previously, will keep the team progressing on the right track.”

Arnold, who is currently in Europe, took the reins for the Socceroos first Asian Cup qualifier, resulting in a 3-1 win over Bahrain in Manama during February.

“It’s important that there is continuity within the coaching structure as we look to our next major competition, the Asian Cup,” said Arnold.

In order to allow the players and coaching staff to focus on the upcoming matches, the FFA will not make any further comment on the national coach position until it is in a position to provide substantive new information.