Graham Arnold SocceroosGetty

Graham Arnold to take charge of Olyroos, former Manchester United assistant joins coaching staff

New Socceroos coach Graham Arnold will also take charge of the Australia's U23 side Olyroos as he looks to make the most of his second stint with the national team.

Arnold originally took charge of the Olyroos in 2007 and believes combining his two new roles is the best way to maximise Australia's talent. 

"We have some excellent talent emerging in Australia and also many young Australian’s who are playing overseas," Arnold said.

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"Adding the U23's team to our structure will also mean our younger players are exposed to the same systems and processes from the early stages of their international football development, making the transition into senior international football smoother for them."

Former Manchester United assistant coach René Meulensteen meanwhile will be Arnold's right-hand man for the Socceroos after being appointed his assistant.

Meulensteen spent nearly a decade in various coaching roles with the Red Devils and worked closely with Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2007/08 Premier League as the winger took flight.

His most recent stint saw him take charge of Indian side Kerala Blasters, but after managing just one win across seven games the pair decided to part ways. 

As well as Meulensteen, Andrew Clark has been appointed the Socceroos high performance coordinator after working closely with Arnold at Sydney FC.

Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop was full of praise for Arnold's approach to his new job and the personnel he's surrounding himself with. 

“Since Graham officially started as the Socceroos head coach he has built a strong coaching staff around him," Gallop said.

"We welcome his initiative to take on the under 23’s and we believe these changes also enhance our ability to build future generations of successful national teams, which aligns closely with FFA’s strategy. He has taken a keen interest in understanding the entire FFA landscape over the past few weeks, meeting with stakeholders across the country, including our Hyundai A-League clubs,” said Gallop.

“We are looking forward to this new phase for our national teams and our game. We are finalising plans for internationals in the lead up to the AFC Asian Cup to give the Socceroos the best chance to win the championship again."

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