Guess Guus back? Legendary coach Hiddink to fly in and help Socceroos

Australia’s 2006 World Cup mastermind Guus Hiddink will come out of retirement to help his former assistant Graham Arnold when the Socceroos return home next month for their farewell match against New Zealand in Brisbane.

The legendary Dutch coach hasn’t worked since ending his stint with the Curacao national team in 2021, but will dust off his clipboard one last time for an emotional reunion with Arnold, who was by his side when the Socceroos ended their 32-year World Cup exile with a famous penalty shootout win over Uruguay, and then reached the round of 16 at Germany in 2006.

Guus Hiddink is set for an Aussie homecoming next month in Brisbane.Credit:AP

Arnold extended a personal invitation for Hiddink, 75, to join the team while his usual assistant, Rene Meulensteen, stays in Europe for the September international window to scout France and Denmark – two of Australia’s Group D opponents at the World Cup in Qatar this year.

Hiddink recounted what he said was a “wonderful time” with the Socceroos in a storied coaching journey, which included spells with Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea, South Korea, Valencia and the Netherlands, in a video released by Football Australia.

“I’m very delighted to go there,” Hiddink said.

“Every now and then when I talk about my career with people, I always highlight my experience with the Socceroos. This is one chapter in my career which gave me a lot of energy. I met very kind people and very open-minded people, which I liked very much.

Former Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink, right, with then-assistant Graham Arnold in 2006. Arnold is now in his second stint as Socceroos coach.Credit:Tim Clayton

“All the players in the beginning – regarding the World Cup qualification – were not very confident, because there was failure in the past. I liked very much the commitment of our players … [but] I had to look for a balance in the team, not just to go for 100 or 110 per cent commitment in the fighting spirit.

“I had to seek and search for more balance between the commitment and also the tactical executions of what I want to play strategically … the tactical creation for those players. It was nice, because when players are committed, then you can work with them.”

Hiddink said watching the Socceroos defy the odds to beat Peru and clinch a spot at Qatar 2022 brought back memories of what he achieved with Australia almost two decades ago.

“It kind of revived what we did ,” he said. “I had a lot of good people in my staff. The lead man was of course Arnie, who gave me a lot of information about players, and I needed his information and his contribution. We worked very well together.

Guus Hiddink and Jason Culina celebrate the Socceroos’ drought-breaking qualification for the 2006 World Cup.Credit:Getty Images

“I think Graham Arnold made a tremendous achievement, tremendous development in his coaching career. I knew him, of course, as a player in the early days in the Dutch league, that he was very committed as well. And then he made a transfer to being a coach. In the beginning to be honest, there was a little bit, in my opinion, a lack of confidence – ‘can I do this? Can I do this?’ – yes, of course you can.

“If you see what he has achieved club wise … but also now with this achievement of the Olympic team and also with the national team, he has done a great job.”

The match against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium on September 22, which will be followed by a return fixture at Auckland’s Eden Park three days later, will also mark the peak of Football Australia’s centenary celebrations for the Socceroos, who played their first ‘A’ international 100 years ago.

On the day of the clash in Brisbane, which is the last chance for Australian fans to see the team in the flesh before the World Cup, Football Australia will unveil a Socceroos “team of the century”.

“Not only is it important that we seek to recognise people that have made an enormous contribution to sport in our nation, but I believe having Guus in camp will inspire the players picked for our two-match series against the All Whites – all of whom will be competing for a place in our final FIFA World Cup squad which will be announced in November,” Arnold said.

“Guus is a great storyteller, so I can’t wait to see the effect he has on this current generation of Australian players. Many of our boys know of his feats and achievements internationally but have never had the opportunity to meet him. This is also going to be a great opportunity for football fans to say ‘thank you’ to Guus for his work for Australian football in 2005 and 2006.”

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