Football Australia won’t be rushed to appoint new Matildas coach

With all games done for 2024, the focus on appointing the next Matildas coach could still take some time.

Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has been in charge since August. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson says he “knows who he wants” to coach the Matildas going forward and the decision to take some extra time is “deliberate” as they look to lock in Tony Gustavsson’s long-term replacement.

Interim coach Tom Sermanni has been in charge since Gustavsson left in August and the veteran boss has indicated he’d stay in the role if that’s what FA want to do.

Johnson made it clear on Tuesday that they know exactly who their desired coach is, although it’s unclear whether an announcement will be made before the Matildas face Japan on February 20 in the SheBelieves Cup.

“Of course we have a short list. We had a long list, we had a short list and we have a very short list,” he said in Sydney, with Australia to host the women’s Asian Cup in 2026.

“The reality is we know who we want and we know the type of coach we want. We’ve just got to go out and get that coach when that coach is available.

“We are in the market and we’re taking our time to find a new coach. I do appreciate it’s taking time, but that’s deliberate.

“When we want to move quickly, we can do that. We saw that with Tony Popovic because there was a need to move quickly. We were heading into the second window of the round 3 qualifiers so we headed into fifth gear.

Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has been in charge since August. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

“The Matildas are in a different part of their cycle. They’re at the start of the cycle, not the middle like the Socceroos.

“Their first competitive match when they’re playing for points isn’t until March 2026 when they’re playing the Asian Cup in Australia.

“We’d like to be able to make the appointment prior to the SheBelieves Cup, but we’ll make sure that we have the right coach in place. If that takes some extra time then we’ll take it so we have the right coach for the Women’s Asian Cup … and for the World Cup in 2027.”

Johnson was on hand to announce that the Socceroos will return to Sydney next year to host Indonesia on March 20 as they continue to push for automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Australia hasn’t played at the Sydney Football Stadium since 2017 and can move one step closer to sealing second spot if they can beat Indonesia who are one of four teams who are one point behind them in Group C.

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For the first time since its rebuild, the Subway #Socceroos will play at the Sydney Football Stadium for our @FIFAWorldCup Round Three AFC Asian Qualifier™️ against Indonesia 🇮🇩

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It’s been a turbulent qualifying period following Graham Arnold’s decision to step aside, with Johnson praising new coach Tony Popovic, who he says “jumped into the deep end” after a “complicated start”.

“Tony is still getting his feet under the desk, so to speak,” he said.

“He’s had a very good start – he’s had one win, three draws and six points in four matches – so we’re very happy with where Tony is and he’s happy in the position.

“It’s a big transition coming from club football, but I think the experience Tony brings to the team is his ability to navigate through complicated Asian competitions – albeit he’s done that at club level.

“He’s had a great start, and I think this window – the fourth window out of five – is really going to define the way that we progress to the World Cup.

“If Tony and the team can get six points, which is achievable in this window, then we’re very confident we’re going directly through to the 2026 World Cup.”

Originally published as Football Australia won’t be rushed to appoint new Matildas coach