Time to Choose a Coach for the Matildas
The Matildas still don’t have a permanent head coach after Tony Gustavsson left in August last year. This search has been dragging on for months. It looks like they’ll have to wait until at least April to find a new coach. For now, interim coach Tom Sermanni will lead the team in upcoming friendly matches against South Korea. Time’s Running Out for Matildas’ Coaching Decision.
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This delay is worrying. The Matildas need steady leadership, especially since they’re going through changes and will host the AFC Asian Cup in just a year. Not having a clear leader makes things tougher for a team trying to find their rhythm.
The Matildas’ Recent Struggles
Since a rough time at the Olympics, where they got knocked out early, the team has struggled. Star player Sam Kerr is still healing from her injury, which hasn’t helped. Under Sermanni, they’ve only won three out of nine matches.
Their performances at the SheBelieves Cup were disappointing. They lost 4-0 to Japan and 2-1 to the USA. They ended the tournament with a 2-1 defeat against Colombia, even though Hayley Raso scored a goal. These results put them at the bottom of the standings and stress the need for a full-time coach.
The Need for Stability
Former player Ashleigh Sykes believes they need to hire a head coach fast. On HJ Football Bite, she said, We need a coach before the Asian Cup next year. We need direction and motivation. She appreciates what Sermanni has done with new players but thinks the team really needs a solid game plan.
Football Australia isn’t sharing much about who they might hire. At first, there were talks of Casey Stoney, the ex-coach of San Diego Wave, but she is now coaching the Canadian women’s national team.
Joe Montemurro: A Likely Choice?
Sykes hinted that they are waiting for a specific coach in France—Joe Montemurro. He just started with Olympique Lyon after leaving Juventus and has them at the top of the French league. Montemurro knows Matildas’ player Ellie Carpenter and is respected for his past wins, including a league title with Arsenal. But it’s unclear if he would want to take the Matildas job right now.
Squad Concerns and Future Prospects
Some veteran Matildas players are slowing down, and there are gaps in key spots like striker and center-back. This has shown in their mixed performances. Sykes mentioned that not having a head coach might be affecting how the players think and play.
Their focus is probably more on club football right now than on the national team, she pointed out. Bringing in a coach now would help with motivation and better prepare us for the Asian Cup in 2026.
Upcoming Friendlies Against South Korea
The Matildas will play South Korea in two friendlies in April. The first is in Sydney, and the second is in Newcastle. These matches will be key to see how the team is doing under Sermanni and emphasize the need for a permanent coach. Time’s Running Out for Matildas’ Coaching Decision.
As the Asian Cup approaches, Football Australia needs to act fast to find a coach who can give the team the stability and leadership they need.
