Graham Arnold
Graham Arnold, the current Australia national football team manager

The role of an Australia national football team manager was first established in 1965 with the appointment of Tiko Jelisavčić. Before this, the Australia team was selected by a committee, a process in which Australia would select coaches and trainers to prepare the side for single games.

Twenty men have occupied the post since its inception; five of those were in short-term caretaker manager roles.

History

Full-time era begins (1965–1969)

Before 1965, the Australia national soccer team had been under the leadership of a selection committee and a trainer. Appointed in 1965, Tiko Jelisavčić had been the first Australia manager. In his first game as manager,[1] he led Australia to a 1–6 loss against North Korea at Stade Olympique, Phnom Penh in the 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification.[2] with Australia failing to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Czech Jozef Vengloš was appointed in 1967 when he managed three games all against Scotland, losing all three games.[3] The rest of the matches played in 1967, were managed by Hungarian manager Joe Vlatsis, where he managed 23 games, winning thirteen, drawing seven and losing three.[4] Vlatsis also failed to qualify for the 1970 FIFA World Cup after losing to Israel in the Final Round of the qualification zone.

Rasic in World Cup (1969–1978)

Rale Rasic was appointed as head coach in 1970 at just 34 years of age, and in 1974. After three failed attempts, he led Australia to the 1974 World Cup as coach. After the World Cup, the Australian Soccer Federation sacked Rasic, replacing him with Englishman Brian Green. Rasic and others believe that he was dumped because he was not seen as being a real "Aussie." He has stated, "They took from me something that I was doing better than anyone else. I was a true-blue Aussie and nobody can deny that. I taught the players how to sing the national anthem."[5]

Green was later coach for Australia in 1975 and 1976.,[6] with him winning two, drawing three and losing three. At the end of 1976, Jim Shoulder went on to coach Australia in the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification from 1976 to 1978. After failing to secure Australia's qualification to the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, Shoulder was sacked,[7] and replaced by German Rudi Gutendorf.

Nations Cup success (1978–1989)

Alf Ramsey
Rudi Gutendorf managed the Australia team that won the 1980 OFC Nations Cup.

Rudi Gutendorf was appointed in mid-1979, where his first game managed was against New Zealand which Australia lost for the first time in 25 years.[8] At the start of 1980, he managed three games against Czechoslovakia which had the opposition manager as former Australia manager, Jozef Venglos.[9] This was also a time where Australia entered their first Oceania Nations Cup, which was won in the Final against non-FIFA affiliated team Tahiti winning 4–2.[10] Gutendorf had only managed the First Round of the 1982 World Cup qualification, both against New Zealand.

Former player Les Scheinflug managed the rest of the 1982 World Cup qualification and manage Australia for two more years, as Australia once again failed to qualify.[11] As Scheinflug went on to manage the Australia U20s in 1983, Frank Arok was appointed for Australia managing from 1983 to 1989. where he managed his first game against England which resulted in a 0–0 draw. Arok also managed the 1986 World Cup qualification, which was failed again at the final round.[12][13]

Statistical summary

The following table provides a summary of the complete record of each Australia manager including their progress in both the World Cup, Asian Cup and OFC Nations Cup.

Statistics correct as of 15 June 2023
Manager Nationality Tenure P W D L Win % Competitions
Tiko Jelisavčić  Yugoslavia 1965 7 3 1 3 042.9
Jozef Vengloš  Czechoslovakia 1967 3 0 0 3 000.0
Joe Vlatsis  Hungary 1967–1969 23 13 7 3 056.5
Rale Rasic  Yugoslavia 1970–1974 34 16 10 8 047.1 1974 World Cup – Group stage
Tony Boggi (caretaker)  Italy 1975 1 1 0 0 100.0
Brian Green  England 1975–1976 8 2 3 3 025.0
Jim Shoulder  England 1976–1978 26 11 7 8 042.3
Rudi Gutendorf  Germany 1979–1981 18 3 7 8 016.7 1980 OFC Nations Cup – Champions
Les Scheinflug  Australia 1981–1983 12 8 1 3 066.7
Frank Arok  Yugoslavia 1983–1989 48 22 14 12 045.8 1988 Olympic Games – Quarter-final
Les Scheinflug (caretaker)  Australia 1983 4 3 0 1 075.0
Les Scheinflug (caretaker)  Australia 1990 1 1 0 0 100.0
Eddie Thomson  Scotland 1990–1996 52 21 11 20 040.4
Les Scheinflug (caretaker)  Australia 1992 3 2 1 0 066.7
Vic Fernandez (caretaker)  Argentina 1992 2 1 0 1 050.0
Les Scheinflug (caretaker)  Australia 1994 1 1 0 0 100.0
Raul Blanco (caretaker)  Argentina 1996 2 2 0 0 100.0 1996 OFC Nations Cup – Champions
Terry Venables  England 1997–1998 23 15 3 5 065.2 1997 Confederations Cup – Runners-up
Raul Blanco  Argentina 1998 5 3 1 1 060.0 1998 OFC Nations Cup – Runners-up
Frank Farina  Australia 2000–2005 58 34 9 15 058.6 2000 OFC Nations Cup – Champions
2001 Confederations Cup – Third place
2002 OFC Nations Cup – Runners-up
2004 OFC Nations Cup – Champions
2005 Confederations Cup – Group stage
Guus Hiddink  Netherlands 2005–2006 13 8 2 3 061.5 2006 World Cup – Round of 16
Graham Arnold  Australia 2006–2007 14 5 4 5 035.7 2007 Asian Cup – Quarter-final
Rob Baan (caretaker)  Netherlands 2007 1 1 0 0 100.0
Pim Verbeek  Netherlands 2008–2010 33 18 9 6 054.5 2010 World Cup – Group stage
Han Berger (caretaker)  Netherlands 2010 1 0 0 1 000.0
Holger Osieck  Germany 2010–2013 44 23 10 11 052.3 2011 Asian Cup – Runners-up
Aurelio Vidmar (caretaker)  Australia 2013 1 1 0 0 100.0
Ange Postecoglou  Australia 2013–2017 49 22 12 15 044.9 2014 World Cup – Group stage
2015 Asian Cup – Champions
2017 Confederations Cup – Group stage
Bert van Marwijk  Netherlands 2018 7 2 2 3 028.6 2018 World Cup – Group stage
Graham Arnold  Australia 2018– 40 24 6 10 060.0 2019 Asian Cup – Quarter-final
2022 World Cup – Round of 16
Coaches in Italics were hired as caretakers

Coaches by nationality

Country No. Competitions
 Australia 5 World Cup Group stage: (2), (1974, 2014)
World Cup Round of 16: (1), (2022)
AFC Asian Cup Champions: (1), (2015)
OFC Nations Cup Champions: (2), (2000, 2004)
OFC Nations Cup Runners-up: (1), (1998)
Confederations Cup Third place: (1), (2001)
Olympic Games Quarter-finals: (1), 1988)
 England 4 Confederations Cup Runners-up: (1), (1997)
 Yugoslavia 3 World Cup Group stage: (1), (1974)
Olympic Games Quarter-finals: (1), (1988)
 Netherlands 5 World Cup Round of 16: (1), (2006)
 Germany 2 OFC Nations Cup Champions: (1), (1980)
AFC Asian Cup Runners-up: (1), (2011)
 Argentina 3 OFC Nations Cup Runners-up: (1), (1998)
 Scotland 1 OFC Nations Cup Champions: (1), (1996)
 Hungary 1 —
 Czechoslovakia 1 —
 Italy 1 —

References

General

  • Howe, Andrew (2018). Encyclopedia of Socceroos: Every national team player. Fair Play Publishing. ISBN 978-0-648-13330-8.

Specific

  1. ↑ "Australian Player Database – Tiko Jelisasavic". OzFootball.net.
  2. ↑ "Socceroo Internationals for 1965". OzFootball.net.
  3. ↑ "Socceroo Internationals for 1967". OzFootball.net.
  4. ↑ "Teams of the Decade | Men's 1963-1970". Australia national football team. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Rale Rasic – Sport Australia Hall of Fame". sahof.org.au.
  6. ↑ "Australian Player Database – Brian Green". OzFootball.net. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  7. ↑ "Proclamations | Proclamations". proclamations.com.au. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "Socceroo Internationals for 1979". OzFootball.net.
  9. ↑ "Socceroo Internationals for 1980". OzFootball.net.
  10. ↑ "Oceanian Nations Cup 1980". rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "Socceroo Internationals for 1979". OzFootball.net.
  12. ↑ "Scotland 2 Australia 0". Glasgow Herald (page 32). 21 November 1985. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "Australia 0 Scotland 0". Glasgow Herald (page 30). 5 December 1985. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
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