Brisbane Roar W-League coach Mel Andreatta says she’s not qualified to take on vacant Matildas job
Brisbane Roar W-League coach Mel Andreatta says she lacks the qualifications to replace sacked Matildas mentor Alen Stajcic, while saying gender shouldn’t play a part in who gets the job.
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Brisbane Roar W-League coach Mel Andreatta says she lacks the necessary qualifications to replace sacked Matildas mentor Alen Stajcic.
Andreatta, whose Roar side host Canberra United at Suncorp Stadium today, had been touted as a possible successor to Stajcic, who was controversially sacked last Saturday.
But Andreatta has ruled herself out of coaching the Matildas – for now.
“I don’t have my pro licence – I start that this year,” she said.
“For the W-League, A-Licence is the minimum requirement, but for national teams it’s non-negotiable, and I don’t have it.
“And regardless, no-one’s given me a call, and to be honest, I’m not searching for that … that’s the last thing on my mind.
“I’ve got a Roar team here that’s in third position fighting for a finals spot.”
Despite suggestions that those behind Stajcic’s sacking want a female in charge of the Matildas, Andreatta said gender should not determine who the new coach was.
“The priority is to get the best person for the job,” she said.
A panel consisting of Football, Federation Australia head of national performance Luke Casserly, former Matilda Julie Murray, current Australian women’s cricket coach Matthew Mott and Australian Institute of Sport’s deputy director of performance people and teams Darlene Harrison will recommend a replacement for Stajcic to FFA.
The new coach is set to be appointed ahead of next month’s Cup of Nations tournament on in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Meanwhile, Matildas and Roar star Hayley Raso will continue her comeback from a broken back today against Canberra.
Raso played 45 minutes in the Roar’s 3-1 loss to Sydney FC last Saturday in her first match in five months.
“She’s ready (to start) but there’s a plan to build her up,” Andreatta said.
“You’ve got to put the player first. I don’t want to risk her back, her well-being, her confidence and throw her in when she’s not necessarily ready physically. Soft tissue injuries are now the risk. We don’t want to load her up too quickly.”
Originally published as Brisbane Roar W-League coach Mel Andreatta says she’s not qualified to take on vacant Matildas job
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