Today, the proud Queenslander, former A-League defender and NPL coach arrives back on the Micronesian island of Guam to start his second year as national team coach with the Guam Football Association.

He is believed to be the only Australian head coach of a FIFA national men’s team other than Graham Arnold of Australia.

And while Dodd, 38, would ordinarily be a strong candidate for the vacant Brisbane Roar position if back in Australia, the former defender is instead working incredibly hard and getting a unique football education that will surely help him in the future in the A-League.

First off. Where is Guam?

It’s an often-asked question of Dodd. Guam is a US island territory in Micronesia, in the Western Pacific with a population around half of the NSW Central Coast. It’s around 3-4hrs flying time from most major Asian cities.

KARL DODD’S AVERAGE WEEKDAY IN GUAM

5am

“I’m lucky to get five hours’ sleep. I’m up early communicating or texting to our players in the US because of the time difference. We have a number of our squad based there, around 50%. So I’m watching their games or talking with them. The time difference is minus 13-17 hours.

8.30am

“I’ll then get a coach’s breakfast, which is a coffee and whatever you can eat on the way to the office. And unfortunately, the coffee here is terrible, not going to lie! So any Aussie baristas, please apply for work in Guam!

9am-3.30pm

“It’s my admin part of the day, organizing and booking players’ flights, planning, general admin stuff, planning training sessions. In this job, I do everything just about. I don’t have a team manager so … you wear a lot of hats. The amount of planning and detail in international football, you’ve got to get it right.

It’s a simple office, a desk, and a room. I’m not a fancy person. It does the job. A lot of people here at the GFA do dual roles.

I’m there with all the staff from the GFA and centre of excellence. It’s a good environment. There’s also Belinda Wilson, another Aussie who’s the technical director and head coach of the women’s team.

3.30pm-9.30pm

This is when I go out to help set up the fields for training. We have two artificial pitches with lights and they’re the only fields on the island with lights. And there’s a grass field.

So there’s a bit scheduling issue. You’ve got to good with scheduling! It’s pretty booked out.

We do two training sessions every night. One group first then the older ones later. There are three national teams that will interchange each week.

10pm-2am

I get home. Try to eat something. Try to switch off which is still hard because you might be communicating with the US boys. You’re watching games as well from the US with our players. It’s hard to switch off, though.

And then try to sleep around midnight to 2-3am. Then hit repeat. Sleep deprivation is a big one during the week.

Monday to Friday that’s my day.

The Socceroos faced Guam in late 2012 in Hong Kong

Then on the weekends, the national U19s play in the league in Guam and you’re watching the other players’ across the league. Then Sunday is your analysis day. You cut up the footage for analysis and you’re ready to start a new week.

My wife is in Australia completing her Ph.D. So we’re both busy. It’s tough being apart but she understands. She’s looking to move over in March when she’s done her Ph.D.

So we’ve just got to get through this tough period. It’s a challenge, but I love it.

I feel I’m in a privileged position so I want to give it everything. It's what drives us coaches."