Frank Arok

{{Short description|Yugoslavian footballer and coach (1932–2021)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Frank Arok

| fullname = Ferenc Arok

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|1|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kanjiža, Kingdom of Yugoslavia{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|1|12|1932|1|20|df=y}}

| death_place = Subotica, Serbia{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 =

| clubs1 = Jedinstvo Stara Pazova

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| manageryears1 = 1961–1962

| manageryears2 = 1966–1967

| manageryears3 = 1969–1972

| manageryears4 = 1981–1983

| manageryears5 = 1983–1989

| manageryears6 = 1989–1991

| manageryears7 = 1991–1994

| manageryears8 = 1994–1996

| manageryears9 = 1996

| manageryears10 = 1996–1998

| manageryears11 = 1998–1999

| manageryears12 = 2000

| manageryears13 = 2001–2003

| managerclubs1 = Novi Sad

| managerclubs2 = Vojvodina (assistant)

| managerclubs3 = St George Saints

| managerclubs4 = St George Saints

| managerclubs5 = Australia

| managerclubs6 = St George Saints

| managerclubs7 = Marconi Fairfield

| managerclubs8 = South Melbourne

| managerclubs9 = Port Melbourne

| managerclubs10 = Gippsland Falcons

| managerclubs11 = Sydney Olympic (coaching director)

| managerclubs12 = Port Melbourne

| managerclubs13 = Perth Glory (youth)

}}

Ferenc "Frank" Arok {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Ференц Арок}}, {{langx|hu|Árok Ferenc}}; 20 January 1932 – 12 January 2021) was a Yugoslavian footballer and coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/5000247 |title=Frank Arok |work=Olympedia |access-date=13 January 2021}}

Career

Arok played for Jedinstvo in Yugoslavia during the 1950s before coaching. In the early 1960s Arok coached FK Novi Sad and FK Vojvodina before moving to Australia.{{Cite news |last=Cockerill |first=Michael |date=1988-10-07 |title=Arok agrees to stay with Socceroos for 1990 World Cup |pages=49 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110100981/arok-agrees-to-stay-with-socceroos-for/ |access-date=2022-09-24}}{{Cite news |last=Schwab |first=Laurie |date=1988-07-16 |title=Socceroos create a wonderful world for Arok |pages=2 |work=The Age |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110100240/socceroos-create-a-wonderful-world-for/ |access-date=2022-09-24}} In Australia Arok coached St George Saints, South Melbourne FC, Port Melbourne, Gippsland Falcons, and Sydney Olympic, and the Australian national team. Arok coached Australia in 48 A internationals between 1983 and 1989.{{Cite news |last=Monteverde |first=Marco |date=2021-01-12 |title=Former Socceroos coach and much-loved mentor Frank Arok dies at the age of 88 |language=en |work=Fox Sports |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/former-socceroos-coach-and-muchloved-mentor-frank-arok-dies-at-the-age-of-88/news-story/541406433b6c1cc15ee77a97e89bba5b |access-date=2022-09-24}} In the 1990 Australia Day honours, Arok was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "service to soccer, particularly as the Australian national coach".{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120874672|title=Australia Day Honours|date=26 January 1990|work=Canberra Times (ACT: 1926 - 1995)|access-date=15 January 2019|page=4}}

He died on 12 January 2021 in Serbia, aged 88.{{Cite tweet |user=Socceroos |number=1348927476223787009 |date=12 January 2021 |title=We are deeply saddened by the news that former @Socceroos coach, Frank Arok, passed away today.}}{{Cite news |last=Rugari |first=Vince |date=2021-01-13 |title='He made people believe': Postecoglou, Arnold pay tribute to former Socceroos coach Arok |language=en |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/your-passion-was-infectious-former-socceroos-coach-arok-dies-aged-88-20210113-p56tnw.html |access-date=2022-09-24}}