Former Socceroos manager left ‘stranded’ in Iraq amid escalating conflict between Israel and Iran
Former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has been forced to seek refuge in a high-security hotel in Iraq after being unable to fly home to Australia, according to reports.
Amid escalating conflicts between Israel and Iran, flights have been grounded in Iraq with Baghdad airport being closed last week.
The 61-year-old football coach, who was appointed Iraq’s new coach in May, is said to be ‘safe’ but is ‘unsettled’.
The Courier Mail reports the football manager has told friends he was nervous that the US Embassy, located less than a kilometre from his hotel, had been closed by President Donald Trump last week.
He had planned to stay in the country for a week after Iraq’s international matches at the beginning of the month.
A friend of Arnold’s told the outlet: ‘Arnie is stuck in Baghdad, the airport is closed.
Former Australia football manager Graham Arnold (pictured) has reportedly been left stranded in Iraq and is unable to travel home to Australia
The 61-year-old coach was appointed the manager of the Iraq national football team in May
He managed Australia on two occasions, having also enjoyed a glittering 20-year career as a player
‘He is safe but unsettled and uncomfortable. He is staying at a high-security Baghdad hotel.’
They added: ‘Graham isn’t saying much but the only worry is whether this could escalate to involve other countries.
‘Hopefully, the airport opens in the next 24 hours.’
It is understood that several other members of his coaching team are also unable to leave the country.
Zeljko Kalac, a member of his coaching staff, is said to have left on the last flight out of Baghdad.
Multiple airlines have been avoiding the airspace around Iraq, Iran and Jordan.
Emirates and Qatar Airways have also cancelled flights to Iraq.
It comes as Israel and Iran have launched multiple missile strikes against eachother in recent days.
The football coach is said to have holed-up in a high-security hotel in Baghdad and is ‘safe’ but has been ‘unsettled’ by rising conflicts between Israel and Ira
Arnold, who hails from Sydney, enjoyed a glittering 20-year career on the pitch, playing for Sydney United, Liege, and NAC Breda before he hung up his boots in 2000.
He would later step into coaching, taking charge of the Australian national side on two occasions, while also taking charge of Sydney United and Northern Spirit.
Arnold, an inductee of the Australian Football Hall of Fame, had taken charge of two matches for Iraq, before conflicts between Israel and Iran arose in recent days.
On June 5, Iraq were beaten 2-0 by South Korea, Arnold’s first game in charge of the National side. Five days later he claimed his first win as the country’s head coach, beating Jordan 1-0 in their World Cup Qualifying match at the Amman International Stadium in Jordan.
The football coach stepped down from his role as the manager of the Australian national side in September with two years left on his contract.
