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This is a list ofAustralia men's national soccer team head coaches. The list was first established in 1965 with the appointment ofTiko Jelisavčić. Before this, theAustralia team was selected by a committee, a process in which Australia would select coaches andtrainers to prepare the side for single games.
Twenty men have occupied the post since its inception; five of those were in short-termcaretaker manager roles.
Before 1965, theAustralia national soccer team had been under the leadership of a selection committee and atrainer. Appointed in 1965,Tiko Jelisavčić had been the first Australia manager. In his first game as manager,[1] he led Australia to a 1–6 loss againstNorth Korea atStade Olympique,Phnom Penh in the1966 FIFA World Cup qualification.[2] with Australia failing to qualify for theWorld Cup finals.
CzechJozef Vengloš was appointed in 1967 when he managed three games all againstScotland, losing all three games.[3] The rest of the matches played in 1967, were managed byHungarian managerJoe Vlatsis, where he managed 23 games, winning thirteen, drawing seven and losing three.[4] Vlatsis also failed to qualify for the1970 FIFA World Cup after losing toIsrael in the Final Round of the qualification zone.
Rale Rasic was appointed as head coach in 1970 at just 34 years of age, and in 1974. After three failed attempts, he ledAustralia to the1974 World Cup as coach. After the World Cup, the Australian Soccer Federation sacked Rasic, replacing him withEnglishmanBrian Green. Rasic and others believe that he was dumped because he was not seen as being a real "Aussie." He has stated, "They took from me something that I was doing better than anyone else. I was a true-blue Aussie and nobody can deny that. I taught the players how to sing the national anthem."[5]
Green was later coach for Australia in 1975 and 1976.,[6] with him winning two, drawing three and losing three. At the end of 1976,Jim Shoulder went on to coach Australia in the1978 FIFA World Cup qualification from 1976 to 1978. After failing to secure Australia's qualification to the1978 World Cup inArgentina, Shoulder was sacked,[7] and replaced by GermanRudi Gutendorf.
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Rudi Gutendorf was appointed in mid-1979, where his first game managed was againstNew Zealand which Australia lost for the first time in 25 years.[8] At the start of 1980, he managed three games againstCzechoslovakia which had the opposition manager as former Australia manager, Jozef Venglos.[9] This was also a time where Australia entered their firstOceania Nations Cup, which was won in theFinal against non-FIFA affiliated teamTahiti winning 4–2.[10] Gutendorf had only managed the First Round of the1982 World Cup qualification, both against New Zealand.
Former playerLes Scheinflug managed the rest of the 1982 World Cup qualification and manage Australia for two more years, as Australia once again failed to qualify.[11] As Scheinflug went on to manage theAustralia U20s in 1983,Frank Arok was appointed for Australia managing from 1983 to 1989. where he managed his first game againstEngland which resulted in a 0–0 draw. Arok also managed the1986 World Cup qualification, which was failed again at the final round.[12][13]
The following table provides a summary of the complete record of each Australia manager including their progress in both theWorld Cup,Asian Cup andOFC Nations Cup.
| Country | No. | Competitions |
|---|---|---|
 Australia | 6 | World Cup Group stage: (2), (1974,2014) World Cup Round of 16: (1), (2022) AFC Asian Cup Champions: (1), (2015) OFC Nations Cup Champions: (2), (2000,2004) OFC Nations Cup Runners-up: (1), (1998) Confederations Cup Third place: (1), (2001) Olympic Games Quarter-finals: (1),1988) |
 England | 4 | Confederations Cup Runners-up: (1), (1997) |
 Yugoslavia | 3 | World Cup Group stage: (1), (1974) Olympic Games Quarter-finals: (1), (1988) |
 Netherlands | 5 | World Cup Round of 16: (1), (2006) |
 Germany | 2 | OFC Nations Cup Champions: (1), (1980) AFC Asian Cup Runners-up: (1), (2011) |
 Argentina | 3 | OFC Nations Cup Runners-up: (1), (1998) |
 Scotland | 1 | OFC Nations Cup Champions: (1), (1996) |
 Hungary | 1 | — |
 Czechoslovakia | 1 | — |
 Italy | 1 | — |
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