Socceroos icon in frame to be next Matildas coach as search ramps up

A legendary Socceroos player is in the mix to take the Matildas into a new era as the search for a new team leader ramps up.

Twenty years after he sent the Socceroos to the World Cup, John Aloisi is in the frame to be the next coach of the Matildas.

The search for the next coach of Australia’s women’s football team is reaching its pointy end, more than eight months after Tony Gustavsson stepped down as Matildas boss.

Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

Former Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has been serving as interim coach for the past year, but the Matildas are in need of a long term replacement with the 2026 Asian Cup on home soil less than a year away.

As the Matildas gear up for the first two friendlies against South Korea in Sydney and Newcastle over the next week, there are reports they are closing in on a coaching appointment.

Seven News’ Robbie Cornthwaite reports former Socceroos striker Aloisi has held talks with Football Australia about the vacant role.

Cornthwaite said some players were growing tired of a “lack of direction” around the national team as the wait to find a permanent coach continues.

Western United coach John Aloisi is in the mix to be Matildas coach. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)

John Aloisi sends Australia to the World Cup with his kick in the penalty shootout against Uruguy in 2005.

Aloisi, who famously kicked the matchwinning penalty against Uruguay to send the Socceroos to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, has had several coaching roles in Australia since retiring from football.

The 49-year-old is currently the coach Western United in the A-League and has previously coached the Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Heart.

Aloisi, who scored 27 goals for the Socceroos in 55 appearances, is out of contract with Western United at the end of the season, and has entered the frame for the Matildas job.

But the frontrunner to be the next Matildas coach is fellow Aussie Joe Montemurro, who has been coaching several leading women’s teams in Europe over the past decade.

After stints with Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory, Montemurro took the reins at Arsenal, where he mentored Matildas stars Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord.

Montemurro also led Italian side Juventus to the Serie A title in 2021 and the Supercoppa Italiana and the Italian Cup, completing a club treble.

Joe Montemurro is the frontrunner to be the next Matildas coach. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

The 55-year-old is currently the coach at European giants Olympique Lyonnais, where star Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter plays.

Appointed in June 2024, Montemurro has steered Lyon to a dominant campaign of 18 wins, one draw and no losses from 19 games in the Premiere Ligue. They are also undefeated in the women’s Champions League, where they are chasing a record ninth title.

With Aloisi and Montemurro the leading candidates, it means the next Matildas coach will likely be an Australian after the team served under Swede Gutsavsson from 2020 to 2024.

Matildas players in a training session at Leichhardt Oval. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Sam Kerr with the squad at Matildas training. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

The Matildas have endured mixed results since their exit from the group stage at the Paris Olympics, with Sam Kerr’s absence with a knee injury evident at times as the team struggles to hit the scoreboard.

Australia take on South Korea in Sydney on Friday night and Newcastle on Monday. The Matildas will return to Australia for two more friendlies against Argentina in May-June.

Carpenter (ankle) and Hayley Raso (thigh) have been ruled out of the South Korean friendlies due to injury.

Kerr is with the Matildas squad in Sydney but won’t play as she targets a return to action later this year.

Kerr and Football Australia released a joint statement earlier this week, suggesting the general public may not be aware of “additional context” surrounding Kerr’s court case that rocked Australian football.

The question over whether Kerr would remain Matildas captain was not addressed in the statement.

Originally published as Socceroos icon in frame to be next Matildas coach as search ramps up