GRAHAM Arnold will be named Sydney FC coach today after agreeing to a lucrative $1.8 million contract over three years that will make him the best-paid coach in the A-League.
After months of speculation, The Australian understands Arnold’s future was secured early this week after he returned from a family holiday in Queensland.
It is understood Arnold made a large list of demands and that the club was more than willing to accommodate him as it attempts to get back on track as one of the biggest clubs in the competition.
The Sky Blues, who have been a huge disappointment since winning the title in the 2009-10 season under Viteslav Lavicka, threw big dollars at Arnold to get their man.
Arnold has been one of the hottest coaching properties in the A-League since he resigned from his role with Japanese J-League side Vegalta Sendai several months ago.
He had been in the sights of Perth Glory, Newcastle Jets and the New Zealand national team, but opted for what will be the biggest challenge in his coaching career.
Arnold replaces one of his good mates, Frank Farina, who was dumped despite getting the team into the semi-finals.
The former Socceroo, who coached the Central Coast to last season’s A-League title, will have a massive job rebuilding a Sydney club that has failed to live up to its reputation as one of the high-flyers of the A-League.
However, he has shown his qualities not just as a tactically brilliant coach but as a man manager who always seems to get the best out of his players.
Arnold did a magnificent job with the Central Coast, despite the fact the Mariners are probably the poorest club in the national competition.
In his three years there, he took them to a Premiers Plate (first-past-the-post) trophy, an unlucky grand final defeat (to Brisbane Roar), Asian Champions League qualification and last season’s A-League championship — the club’s first.
He also had a stint as national team coach in 2007, taking the Socceroos to the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup. He was also on the shortlist to replace the sacked Holger Osieck before the Socceroos job went to Ange Postecoglou.
Arnold becomes the eighth full-time coach of the Sky Blues, who have had a reputation for hiring and firing coaches.
Sydney’s two championship successes were under foreign coaches — Pierre Littberaskin in 2005-06 in the inaugural season of the national competition and Lavicka.
Arnold’s first task will be to shore up the Sydney squad. He will have nine to 10 spots to fill, including a marquee replacement for Alessandro Del Piero.
It is believed Mariners attacker Bernie Ibini could be high on the list to join his ex-boss at the club. There is also the possibility of Michael McGlinchey returning from Japan to link with Arnold.
source: theaustralian.com.au
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