Latest news with #ex-Socceroos
Perth Now
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Graham Arnold's Iraq appointment confirmed
Graham Arnold's appointment as Iraq coach has been confirmed, with the ex-Socceroos mentor's staff to include a former A-League coach and a member of Australia's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad. Arnold has arrived in Baghdad to start the task of preparing Iraq for World Cup qualifiers next month against South Korea and Jordan. The 61-year-old Arnold – who has taken over from sacked Spaniard Jesus Casas – resigned as Socceroos coach in September last year after having been in role since 2018. He guided Australia to the 2022 World Cup, where the Socceroos reached the round-of-16 before being knocked out by eventual champions Argentina. Iraq is currently in third place in Group B in third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers. The Iraqis are a point behind second-placed Jordan and four points adrift of group leaders South Korea. The top two nations from each of the three third-round groups will qualify for next year's World Cup. A fourth round of AFC World Cup qualifiers will involve the nations finishing third and fourth in each group. Arnold's coaching contract will be extended if he is successful in securing World Cup qualification for Iraq. His coaching staff is set to include his former Socceroos assistant Rene Meulensteen, as well as ex-Newcastle Jets coach Robbie Stanton and former Socceroos goalkeeper Zejlko Kalac, who was part of Australia's 2006 World Cup squad. Stanton, who only last weekend completed a two-year stint with the Jets, is already in Baghdad with Arnold.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
New Roar coach has lofty ambitions
New Brisbane Roar coach Michael Valkanis will relish the challenge of restoring the fallen giants to their former glory, saying it had been 'sad' to see the demise of the three-time A-League champions. Once the toast of Australian football in playing a brand of football never previously seen in the A-League and winning titles, the Roar have almost become irrelevant. Poor results over the past two seasons has finally led to the sacking of coach Ruben Zadkovich, with former Adelaide United captain and ex-Socceroos defender Valkanis given the task of lifting Brisbane out of the doldrums. News Corp Australia reported last month that 50-year-old Valkanis was set to become the Roar's new coach, with the club confirming on Tuesday the departure of Zadkovich and his assistant Chris Coyne after Brisbane won just five of its 26 games this season to only finish above cellar dwellers Perth Glory. The Roar's woeful form also led to a further drop in attendances, with the club's average home crowd at Suncorp Stadium falling to 5463. New Brisbane Roar coach Michael Valkanis wants to restore the club to its former glory. George Salpigtidis Credit: News Corp Australia 'We've got to take certain steps and need to recreate what once upon a time existed here,' Valkanis told News Corp on Tuesday. 'Playing for Adelaide United and coming here, it was pretty special because it felt like a European game, and having been following the A-League lately, I was just sad to see how Suncorp Stadium was just empty. That can't be so. 'We need to create an environment that's going to allow the people to do their best work in, become better players, become better people and all have one shared vision of where we want to take this club. 'We need an identity that the Roar previously had in terms of playing an entertaining brand of football that's going to excite people, and it's very important that we reconnect with the community, bring people back to Suncorp Stadium, make that place exciting and create not only an intensity through the way we play, but having that intensity that the supporters brought as well. 'That's the challenge, and it's a challenge that we can meet and be able to turn things around.' Valkanis – whose most recent coaching job with Turkish team Adana Demirspor lasted less than three months before he parted ways with the club in September last year – has spent the best part of the past eight years in Europe after having cut his coaching teeth in the A-League as a caretaker boss of Adelaide United and Melbourne City. He had head coaching roles with Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) and Eupen (Belgium) and was an assistant to ex-Melbourne City coach John van't Schip at Dutch clubs PEC Zwolle and Ajax, and the Greek national team. 'The one thing I've leant in Europe is the coaches and the staff work bloody hard, and enough is enough,' said Valkanis, whose has brought with him to Brisbane a Spanish assistant coach, Borja Lema, and a Greek analyst, Nektarios Grija. 'This coaching group will outwork anyone. The values I believe in, we live by, and the players will feel it.' Valkanis and his staff will need to hit the ground running, with the Roar in action next Wednesday night in an Australia Cup playoff against Wellington Phoenix in Darwin. 'This game is about next season and is of super importance,' Valkanis said 'We have to finish off this season on a good note and show our intent for what we're going to try to create next season.'
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Kisnorbo lands permanent role with Japan's Marinos
Patrick Kisnorbo will follow in the footsteps of Ange Postecoglou once more after being handed the permanent head coaching position at J-League club Yokohama F. Marinos. Kisnorbo walked out on Melbourne Victory just seven games into this A-League Men season to take an assistant's role under the Marinos' English manager Steve Holland. But when Holland was sacked a fortnight ago after picking up just one win from the Marinos' 11 opening games, Kisnorbo was handed the top gig on an interim basis. That move has now been turned into a permanent position, with Kisnorbo tasked with dragging the five-time J-League champions off the bottom of the table. "Taking the reins of such a prestigious club with a rich history and passionate fan base is a dream come true for me," Kisnorbo said. "My goal is to foster a team that not only plays attractive and competitive football but also embodies the values that our supporters hold dear. "Together we will strive for success, establishing a strong connection between the team and the community. "I believe that football is not just a game; it's a shared experience that unites us all." Kisnorbo follows the path blazed by Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat, both of whom led the club to titles in Japan. The ex-Socceroos defender, who led Melbourne City to the ALM double in 2021, will be hoping for a smoother passage in his second taste of head coaching overseas. The 44-year-old was appointed manager of Troyes in 2022, but could not save the club from relegation from the French top flight. He had his contract terminated after more struggles in Ligue 2, the Australian axed after claiming just three wins across a 40-game span in France.
