Aussie great out of race to land Socceroos top job as speculation rife over Graham Arnold's successor
Graham Arnold's six-year reign over the Socceroos has come to a shock end with the search for his replacement already underway.
Arnold announced his departure on Friday following his squad's back-to-back defeats in their opening matches in round three of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson confirmed the governing body is searching to appoint a "permanent" replacement before the October international window.
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The Socceroos are scheduled to play China on home soil on October 10 before heading overseas to face Japan.
It is understood that Australian great Kevin Muscat will not be in contention to succeed Arnold as he continues his leadership over Asian giants Shanghai Port.
Ange Postecoglou is a dream return for many Australian fans but is an unlikely prospect given his role with English Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur.
So who are the potential candidates to land the top job? Wide World of Sports takes a look.
Head coach of the Victory, Tony Popovic gestures during the A-League Men Semi Final match between Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix. Getty
Tony Popovic
Having parted ways with Melbourne Victory in the offseason, Tony Popovic is an obtainable free agent for Football Australia.
In his three seasons at the club, he won 34 of 85 games as coach, with 26 draws and 25 defeats.
Popovic made his fifth appearance as a coach in an A-League Men's decider when Melbourne Victory faced the Central Coast Mariners, breaking a tie with Graham Arnold and Ernie Merrick.
But unlike the star duo he exceeded, the 51-year-old's quest to claim the top title with a team has yet to be achieved.
His exit from the club was not a glorified one, with Victory fans not shying away from voicing their concerns over the team's defensive strategy.
Before his tenure in Melbourne, he guided the Western Sydney Wanderers to AFC Champions League success in what remains one of the biggest achievements recorded by an A-League team.
Popovic also took the Western Sydney club to three A-League grand finals along with Perth Glory in 2019.
Herve Renard, Head Coach of Team France smiles prior to the Women's group A match between New Zealand and France during the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Getty
Herve Renard
National teams tend to lean in favour of hiring domestic managers, but Football Australia has signed international stars in the past.
French-born Herve Renard has coached several national teams over his prosperous career, including Morocco, Zambia and the Ivory Coast.
Heading into the World Cup group stage as the underdogs against Argentina, Renard oversaw Saudi Arabia's shock upset against the eventual 2022 World Cup champions.
Australia failed to defeat his Saudi squad twice whilst in charge during the World Cup qualifiers.
He coached the French women's national team in the 2023 FIFA World Cup, where the team was eliminated by the Matildas in the quarter finals.
Renard is currently a free agent.
Head Coach Nick Montgomery of Central Coast Mariners. DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Nick Montgomery
Nick Montgomery is no stranger to the Australian football landscape.
Currently working under Ange Postecoglou at Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, Montgomery transformed the style of the Central Coast Mariners.
Following two seasons at the club, Montgomery had a short stint in charge of Scotland team Hibernian FC. He was let go from the team eight months into a three-year contract.
His absence from the game was short lived with fellow Australian Postecoglou expanding his coaching staff roster.
Montgomery's time with Tottenham may make the national team role less appealing due to the nature of the English and European competitions.
Rene Meulensteen, Assistant Coach of Australia looks. Getty Images for Australia Footb
René Meulensteen
Currently serving as an assistant manager for the Socceroos, it is unclear if Football Australia will elevate him to take over the top job.
The 60-year-old spent 13 years under Sir Alexander Ferguson at Manchester United in what was the club's most successful era in history.
In this time, the English giants won the Premier League title and Community Shield title three times, the League Cup twice, the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The club confirmed his departure following Ferguson's retirement, with then-coach David Moyes electing to bring on his own coaching squad.
Meulensteen first joined Arnold's national team staffing in 2018 and resigned from the association on a three-year deal last year.
Peter Cklamovski gives instructions during a Melbourne Victory A-League training session. Getty
Peter Cklamovski
A loyal assistant to Australian-born Premier League coach Ange Postecoglou, Peter Cklamovski is currently the head coach of FC Tokyo.
The 45-year-old has extensive knowledge of the Asian football landscape having been based in Japan for the past six years.
Cklamovski made the move to the J1 League with Postecoglou in 2018, assisting break a 15-year title drought for Yokohama F.Marinos.
A short stint with Shimizu S-Pulse led the Australian to second-tier club Montedio Yamagata.
Cklamovski linked forces with FC Tokyo midway through the 2023/24 season, where he determined to create history.
Before his Japanese football venture, Cklamovski assisted Postecoglou's reign over the national team for three years, including when Australia won the Asian Cup on home soil in 2015.
He previously worked with Perth Glory, Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory between 2012 and 2014.
