Football Coaching Life Podcast Recap: Episode Five with Graham Arnold

Staff Writer02/04/2021 10:00 am12/09/2021

Graham Arnold was the special guest on episode five of Football Coaches Australia’s ‘The Football Coaching Life’ podcast.

Arnold has been to two World Cups as assistant to Gus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek, coached at two Asian Cups and Tokyo 2021 will be his second Olympics as Head Coach.

The current Socceroos coach has had wonderful success in the A-League winning Premierships and Championships with Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC, as well as the FFA Cup with the Sky Blues.

Speaking with Gary Cole, Arnold touches on topics such as the past year’s difficulties due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, how his coaching journey began, his successes at Central Coast and Sydney, the valuable lessons he has learnt along the way and much more.

Key Quotes in Episode Five

On the current structures of football in this country

“When you start looking at the overall sport of football in this country, right from the grassroots all the way up to professional, it’s big bash football.”

On his time working with Guus Hiddink

“He taught me more in 12 months, that I probably could’ve learnt in 10 years.”

His best lesson in coaching

“My best lesson I ever learnt was the 2007 Asian Cup. I stuffed that up big time and I knew I had. But what I tried to do…was I tried to manage the Guus Hiddink way. That was very rigid, very hard…and I didn’t have the power to deal with the ‘big boys’ in the end.”

On his man management style

“I’ve never let the players call me gaffer or the boss. It’s ‘Arnie’, and i’m there to help. I’m not there to rule with fear, or scare them or dictate to them. First and foremost, I’m there to support and help them become great players and great people.”

Final piece of wisdom for coaches

“Believe in yourself. It’s tough, coaching is not easy. Believe in your way and do it your way. Be flexible in the way you think, but at the end of it enjoy every day.”

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Female Football Week kicks off across Northern NSW

Declan Chan12/05/2026 6:05 am11/05/2026

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Female Football Week has officially begun across Northern NSW, with a program of gala days, networking events and awards ceremonies running until Sunday May 17, marking a ten-day celebration that organisers say reflects both the growth of women’s football in the region and the work still required to sustain it.

The national initiative, now a fixture on the football calendar, provides a dedicated period of visibility for female participants across all levels of the game from players, coaches, referees to volunteers, whose contributions have historically received less recognition than their male counterparts.

NNSWF Participation and Women’s Football Officer Serena Carter said the week offered something for everyone connected to women’s football in the region.

“Female Football Week provides a fantastic chance to highlight the dedication and skill of female players, coaches, referees and volunteers across the northern NSW community,” Carter said. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from grassroots participants to elite competitors.”

Women’s football in northern NSW spans remote and regional communities where clubs operate on limited resources, alongside more established metropolitan programs with clearer development pathways. Female Football Week creates a moment of shared recognition across that spectrum and acknowledges the role volunteers play, from running the canteen to progressing through the pathway.

Northern NSW Football has recorded some of its strongest participation numbers in women’s and girls’ football in recent seasons, a trend that has placed increasing pressure on clubs and facilities to keep pace. The week’s events offer clubs an opportunity to showcase their commitment to diversity and inclusion at a time when that commitment is being tested by growth.

FCA to Host Elite Goalkeeping Workshop with FA Goalkeeper Instructor Neil Tate

Mihaila Kilibarda12/05/2026 5:55 am09/05/2026

Image Credit: Fotokostic / Shutterstock.com

Football Coaches Australia (FCA) will continue its strong run of coach education events on Monday 18 May with a specialised session led by highly respected FA Goalkeeper Instructor Neil Tate.

Titled “Developing Goalkeepers to Fit the Team Playing Style,” the workshop will explore one of the modern game’s most important tactical evolutions: the goalkeeper as an active component of a team’s overall identity and playing philosophy.

Elite football is increasingly demanding goalkeepers who can influence build-up play, transitions, defensive structure and decision-making under pressure. Tate’s session is designed to help coaches better understand how goalkeeper development must align with a team’s tactical framework.

Tate brings significant high-performance experience to the session through his role as an FA Goalkeeper Instructor. He has worked extensively in coach development and modern goalkeeping methodology. His expertise spans the technical, tactical and psychological demands placed on goalkeepers within elite football environments.

The session will break down the goalkeeper attributes required across differing systems and styles, including possession-based football and counter-attacking models, while providing practical examples from the modern game.

Coaches attending the workshop will gain insights into:

Goalkeeping attributes required in different tactical systems
Real-world examples of goalkeepers fitting team playing styles
Goalkeeper-specific practices to develop modern skill sets
Team training exercises integrating goalkeepers into tactical frameworks
Downloadable PDF session plans for practical implementation

The workshop follows FCA’s recent HEADSAFE education session, which attracted more than 140 coaches from across the Australian football landscape, highlighting the growing appetite for high-level coach education and professional development opportunities.

As the game continues to evolve tactically, FCA remains committed to providing coaches with access to industry-leading expertise and contemporary football knowledge.

The session will take place online on Monday 18 May at 7:30pm Melbourne time. You can sign up here.