Just a day after Graham Arnold stepped down as Socceroos manager effective immediately, the race is already on for his replacement.
And the new man in the hot seat for upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Asia and on home soil could well be an Aussie.
The likes of ex-Melbourne Victory boss Tony Popovic and A-League grand final winning coach John Aloisi have been mooted alongside Kevin Muscat, who is currently in charge of Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League.
Other names tipped to throw their hat in the ring include French-born Herve Renard – who coached Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup which included a win against eventual winners Argentina – and Nick Montgomery.
The Englishman needs no introduction to Central Coast Mariners fans given his heroics in the A-League when at the helm in Gosford.
‘Monty’ is also currently on the coaching staff at Tottenham with Ange Postecoglou.
René Meulensteen, who worked with Arnold as a Socceroos assistant coach and previously under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United for 13 years, is a left-field option for the role permanently, as is current head coach of FC Tokyo, Peter Cklamovski.
On Friday, Football Australia CEO James Johnson said he was confident of making an appointment in the ‘next week or two’ to succeed Arnold.
Just a day after Graham Arnold stepped down as Socceroos manager effective immediately, the race is on for his replacement
Tony Popovic won an Asian Champions League with the Western Sydney Wanderers – and then enjoyed sustained success with Melbourne Victory in the A-League (pictured)
John Aloisi has his admirers after winning an A-League grand final with Western United
Kevin Muscat collected a J-League title with Yokohama F. Marinos in 2022 and is in course to win the Chinese Super League with Shanghai Port in his first season in charge
Englishman Nick Montgomery was a revelation with Central Coast Mariners in the A-League – he currently works under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham in the Premier League
‘We are already in the market for a new coach,’ he said.
‘We know who’s available and we will move quickly to appointing a permanent coach.’
Given the Socceroos’ next World Cup qualifying match is against China in Adelaide on October 10, an interim coach is unlikely.
‘We want a coach that’s tactically astute,’ Johnson added. ‘We also want a coach that understands the Australian mentality and our players.
‘As an organisation, we must have confidence the coach we hire can guide us through a complicated Asian qualifying process (for the 2026 World Cup).
‘We’ve just got to get this appointment right.’
