Frank Arok
Encyclopedia
Ferenc 'Frank' Arok (born 20 January 1932 in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
) is a retired Serbia
n football (soccer)
player and coach of Hungarian descent.
Arok played for FK Jedinstvo
in Yugoslavia
during the 1950s before moving into coaching. In the early 1960s Arok coached FK Novi Sad
and FK Vojvodina
before being brought out to Australia. In Australia Arok coached St George Saints
, whom he led to a New South Wales State league
title in 1972, and to the National Soccer League
title in 1983, as well as South Melbourne FC
, Port Melbourne
, Gippsland Falcons
, and Sydney Olympic but is best known for his role as coach of the Australian national team. Arok coached Australia in 48 A internationals between 1983 and 1989. After working with Perth Glory
's youth team between 2001 and 2003, Arok moved back to his homeland (Serbia
) with his wife Gordana Divljak Arok to retire. He has one daughter, Marijana Novaković, and two granddaughters, Gordana Novaković and Lena Sokol.
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
) is a retired Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and coach of Hungarian descent.
Arok played for FK Jedinstvo
FK Jedinstvo
FK Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje is a football club from Bijelo Polje, Montenegro. The club was founded in 1922. Jedinstvo plays at Bijelo Polje Stadium which has 5.000 seats. In 2006, it participated in First League of Montenegro's inaugural season...
in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
during the 1950s before moving into coaching. In the early 1960s Arok coached FK Novi Sad
FK Novi Sad
RFK Novi Sad is a Serbian professional football club based in the city of Novi Sad, Vojvodina. The club currently playing in the Serbian First League.-History:...
and FK Vojvodina
FK Vojvodina
FK Vojvodina is a football club from Novi Sad, Serbia. The club currently competes in the Serbian SuperLiga. FK Vojvodina is the third oldest football club in Serbia's SuperLiga, after OFK Beograd which was founded in 1911 and FK Javor which was founded in 1912.-History:FK Vojvodina was founded...
before being brought out to Australia. In Australia Arok coached St George Saints
St George Saints
The St. George Saints Football Club are an Association football club based in the St. George region of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The club plays its home games at St. George Stadium, after playing a brief stint at Belmore Sports Ground in the 2007-08. The St...
, whom he led to a New South Wales State league
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
title in 1972, and to the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
title in 1983, as well as South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World...
, Port Melbourne
Port Melbourne Sharks
The Port Melbourne Sharks are an Australian association football club from Port Melbourne, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club was formed in 1968 by local Greek Australians, and were promoted as Champions of Victorian State League Division 2 for season 2010.They will play season...
, Gippsland Falcons
Gippsland Falcons
Gippsland Falcons SC were an Australian association football team based in Morwell, Australia. It was the sole rural Victorian entrant in the forerunner to the A-League, the National Soccer League...
, and Sydney Olympic but is best known for his role as coach of the Australian national team. Arok coached Australia in 48 A internationals between 1983 and 1989. After working with Perth Glory
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
's youth team between 2001 and 2003, Arok moved back to his homeland (Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
) with his wife Gordana Divljak Arok to retire. He has one daughter, Marijana Novaković, and two granddaughters, Gordana Novaković and Lena Sokol.