January 13 – Australia is mourning the loss of former national coach Frank Arok, who has died in Serbia at the age of 88.
Born in the former Yugoslavia, Arok emigrated to Australia in the late 1960s and coached the Socceroos 89 times from 1983-1990, guiding them to the quarter-finals of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
He also oversaw one of Australia’s most famous wins, a 4-1 defeat of then-world champions Argentina during the Bicentennial Gold Cup tournament in 1988.
“Frank made a telling impact on Australian football, “ said a statement from Football Australia.
“He also made a significant contribution to club football, coaching numerous sides and mentoring hundreds of successful players in the National Soccer League.”
Former Australia and English Premier League goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said on Twitter: “Your knowledge, passion and dedication of the game was infectious. The 2 years I had the privilege to work with you . . . were some of my most enjoyable times in football.”
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