Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Graham Arnold

Overseas Clubs:                                 

Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan), NAC Breda (Netherlands), Charleroi (Belgium), FC Liege (Belgium), Roda JC (Netherlands)

NSL Clubs - Player                             

Sydney United, Northern Spirit (Australia)

NSL / A-League Clubs – Coaching     

Northern Spirit, Central Coast Mariners

Green & Gold Honors:                        

Player: Socceroo appearances - 88       Goals:  33

World Cup campaigns:  1989, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009

Socceroos coach - Asian Cup 2007

Olyroos coach 2008 Olympics

Diegos Verdict:                                  

Green and Gold blood runs through Arnie’s veins.

An ornament to the Aussie game who lost some of his sheen when he took over the Socceroos in caretaker capacity in 2007. Having put out cones for Farina, Hiddink and Verbeek he has a lot to offer the game. Hopefully a spell coaching in the A-League might unleash the wealth of knowledge that lies dormant in the great man.

The Diegos love ‘Grandpa’ Arnold.

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Graham Arnold

Arnie on the old lady in the crowd…

Diegos: "To say that you've had tumultuous couple of weeks is an understatement.

First you signaled your retirement from playing by handing your boots to an old lady in the crowd. Then you handed your Northern Spirit coaching clipboard and whistle to the same old lady in the crowd. And whilst she's applied for the player / coach job at Spirit, you've gone on to become full time assistant coach of the Socceroos.

The Diegos guess that you've gone through the whole spectrum of emotions. How are you feeling right now?”

Arnold: "At the moment I'm feeling pretty relaxed. I'm having a couple of weeks off after being in charge of the Northern Spirit, full time for the last 18 months.

As you guys have pointed out that old lady is pretty busy at the moment. I certainly had mixed emotions leaving Northern Spirit, a club that I was responsible for setting up and then going full time with the national team. It's a position I'm honoured to be taking on. I'm looking forward to the task ahead." 

Soft Sombrero Moment February 2001

Arnie on the Socceroos assistant job…

Diegos: "When Socceroo boss, Frank Farina screamed 'I need Arnie now' did you have any hesitation about taking on the number two job with the Socceroos?"

Arnold: "When Frank asked me, he showed me the program for the year with the Socceroos and I knew then that combining both the Spirit job and the Socceroo job, as I have done, would be virtually impossible.

The decision wasn't really all that hard to make because I never made the World Cup as a player after four attempts and, for me, the next best thing is to go as an assistant coach. Northern Spirit's form wasn't great either so I guess that made the decision even easier."

Diegos: "The Diegos have a saying ' If you ever want to drop of the face of the earth without a trace, just become an assistant coach'.

No one ever has any idea what assistant coaches do, especially assistant coaches to the national team.

Before you vanish into thin air, can you tell us what your role will be throughout the 2002 World cup campaign?"

Arnold: "I'm the type of person who likes to take the back seat and leave all the pressure to someone else.

You guys are right; the assistant job is not one that makes the headlines.

I'm just there to support Frank Farina and offer a different opinion at times. Probably the main reason Frank chose me is because I'm a pretty trustworthy guy and I have a good relationship with the players playing in Europe. I played with 95% of them and I get on well with them. I guess Frank wants one good cop and one bad cop, thankfully I'm the good one."

Soft Sombrero Moment February 2001

Arnie on the Northern Spirit…

Diegos: "We all want Northern Spirit to work for many reasons - the crowds, the face painting and the Friday night North Sydney pub and football crawl.

Sadly one thing that we have learnt since Spirit's inception is that it's difficult to keep the hype going if the team can't win. Now that the old lady in the crowd looks like getting the job for next season, what's your theory on why Northern Spirit have lost their way on and off the field?"

Arnold: "We did a lot of marketing and promotion in the first year and we probably haven't done the same in the last two years. Going out to the schools and the shopping centres has taken a back seat in the last 18 months.

Sydney is a city that loves winners and I guess that's the most important thing. If they get a winning team and strengthen the squad considerably with a couple of really big names, I'm sure the crowds would come back to the level of the club's first year."

Diegos: “You’ve been quoted as saying that you feel that the Glasgow Rangers link with the Spirit has had a negative effect on the size of crowds at North Sydney oval this season.

Accurate view or merely some scurrilous Diego tabloid reporting?"

Arnold: "I was misquoted there. I said that lot of people may think that just because Glasgow Rangers are involved, we're just going to be a Scottish based club, but this is not the case. Rangers want Northern Spirit to be the same as it always has been. All they are doing is making the club financial and looking forward to a promising partnership in the future."

Soft Sombrero Moment February 2001

Arnie on the ‘away game from hell”…

Diegos: " Towards the end of the month, you, Frank and the rest of the intrepid Socceroos will have to face up to the 'away game from hell' in Bogotá against Colombia.

In a place where there is no such thing as a friendly game, the locals don't like it when one of their own scores an own goal and the drug cartels give the pep talk at half time, Australia are in for a stern test.

Putting aside the fact that we may never see you and the Socceroos again, it is exactly what is needed at this stage of our preparation?

Arnold: "I will certainly be checking my bags before I come home that's for sure.It is a game that's extremely important for our preparation, not only for the result but also the experience of going to a South American country and a hostile situation.

It will be good experience for the players, Frank and myself and a great chance to see the conditions that we will be playing under. Playing South American teams is totally different to playing European teams and with the possibility of playing Colombia away in 10 months it will be an invaluable experience for us."

Diegos: "Thanks Arnie. The Diegos reckon the initial challenge for you, Frank and the boys is too return safely from Colombia. Then there's the small matter of winning the 2002 World cup. We're not sure which of the two will be harder but the Diegos will be with you every step of the way except of course, that we won't be going to Bogotá. Sorry. Adios amigo."

Arnold: "Thanks Diegos. Perhaps the Northern Spirit old lady will come instead. Adios Diegos."

Soft Sombrero Moment February 2001

Arnie the good cop…

Diegos: “Congratulations on your appointment to the Socceroo coaching staff, under Frank Farina. Most good partnerships adopt the good cop bad cop routine. 

In the Socceroo camp which one will you be, the good cop or the bad cop?"

Arnold: " Hopefully I’ll be the good cop. Frankie’s got a bit of a hot streak in him and from my point of view, it would be nice to be the good guy for once.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Arnie on ‘Club versus Country’ issues…

Diegos: "You and Frank Farina at times placed your club future in jeopardy by choosing, throughout your playing career, to represent the Socceroos against your club's wishes. Rarely does the current crop of Socceroos choose their country over their club.

What will your expectations of Australians playing abroad be when it comes to choosing between club and country?'

Arnold: “It’s not an easy call is it? I got suspended a couple of times overseas when I couldn’t get back for the national team. The important thing is that we maintain a good communication with the players and their clubs. In addition, it’s important to set a program in place so that the relevant players have plenty of notice of upcoming games.

If we schedule internationals on FIFA sanctioned weekends like the Brazil series is then hopefully, we won’t have too many problems.

Frank wants to go over to Europe in the next few weeks to meet with David O’Leary of Leeds and Alex Ferguson of Manchester United so that at least, they can put a face behind the faxes they receive asking for Aussies players to be released. We want to establish a program that works in with the individual club programs, so that we can help each other out.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Arnie on investing in the Northern Spirit…

Diegos: “It seems that the faith you have in the future of the Northern Spirit is as strong as ever. In the off season it was reported that you, former Socceroo, Robbie Slater and UK recruit, Ian Crook, liked the club so much that you decided to purchase a stake in it.

What's it like having ownership in the club that you are coaching and are you a little worried about going into partnership with someone who has the surname 'Crook'?"

Arnold: “You’re probably right about that ‘Crook’ statement. I did invest in the club. The reported figures were not right. It’s an interest we’ve undertaken primarily to try and put something back into Australian soccer. I believe in what the Northern Spirit is doing. It’s woken up the other teams here in Sydney.

Marconi has announced that they are now going to spend half a million dollars on marketing in the coming season and Parramatta Power is doing the same. If all the other clubs can do similarly off the field then the NSL will be in good hands.

I honestly believe that Australian soccer is on the verge of a lot of success. They’ll be big hype around the Olympics next year and if we can qualify for the World cup in 2002 together with a forever improving national league, then the future of Australian soccer looks promising.”   

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Arnie on Robbie Slater’s Green and Gold chances…

Diegos: " Robbie Slater was recently peeved at not being considered for the Socceroo games against Manchester United. In your opinion as a friend and club coach, what are his chances of being selected for the Green and Gold once again?"

Arnold: “Gee that’s good question isn’t it? If I say no he may not want to play for the Northern Spirit again!

Robbie put his hand up against Manchester United because of the problems Soccer Australia was having getting so many overseas players back for the series.

Robbie has never said to me that he wants to be part of the Socceroos if they are at full strength. He just thought that because there were so many overseas players out for that Manchester United game he might as well put his hand up if Raul Blanco wanted him to. Raul didn’t want him so that was the end of story.”

Diegos: “Since your appointment to the Socceroos has he, in a pathetic attempt to get selected, been disgustingly nice to you, shouting you drinks, doing your laundry and generally hoping to appeal to your softer side?"

Arnold: “That’s not enough is it? Robbie is still fit and playing well enough but he did retire a couple of years ago and he has never mentioned anything to me since.”

Diegos: “Thanks Arnie. After Robbie Slater does your laundry can you get him to do a load of our jock straps? Adios Amigo!”

Arnold: “Thanks Diegos. No offense guys, but I wouldn’t wish that upon my worst enemy. Adios Diegos!”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999