Graham Arnold

And they've always done quite well at Asian Cups and things like that, that you know that they've

you know, they've got the quality of players.

And so the question for me was, why haven't they qualified for 40 years?

And it was more about, you know, doing my research quickly on that when they offered me the job and to get across there and

and do everything that I could to satisfy and make 46 million people happy and take a nation to a World Cup that hasn't been to a World Cup in 40 years and remembering the impact that it had on Australia in 2005 when we qualified against Uruguay for the 2006 World Cup.

It can change the local sport.

It can change the mentality of the game in Australia, but also in the world.

And it was a big decision I had to make, but one I must say, I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge the whole way.

Mate, well, I have to say the first couple of months after I resigned from the Socceroos, and I really hope, Howie, that people now understand why I did resign.

Yes.

I didn't quit.

No, correct.

I resigned for the good of the nation and the players.

And I just didn't want to let my country down because I was cooked, you know, after coaching the Olympic team as well as the Socceroos and going through COVID.

And the first two months after I made that decision,

I have to say I enjoyed life and not having the pressure of the nation on your shoulders.

But by the third month, I was starting to go stir crazy sitting at home, staring at four walls and not having purpose in your day.

and not having a purpose in your week with the goals set at the end of the week.

And, you know, so I was starting to go, you know, driving myself a bit mad.

But, you know, just randomly I got this phone call from my agent, Tony Rallis, who rang me up and said, you know, I've had a bit of interest from Iraq about you.