Matildas assistant coach Emily Husband shares why she left the Mariners to take on her new role
By Emily Husband taking the role as Matildas’ assistant coach, she continued a meteoric rise that started as an NPL assistant in 2020. Here she shares the reasons for taking the job.
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Emily Husband didn’t plan to lift a trophy and leave – she still had plans for Central Coast Mariners – but a chance to serve as assistant coach of the Matildas under Joe Montemurro is not an opportunity you turn down.
Husband’s rise to the top has been a quick one. This season, in which Central Coast won the A-League’s Women’s championships, was just her second as a head coach of a professional team.
She worked her way up through the NPLW and even had an assistant coach role at Canberra United before landing at Central Coast for the 2023/24 season.
Husband first crossed paths with Montemurro last year. He was the coach of the A-League Women’s All Stars team, Husband the assistant.
“We have been chatting sporadically ever since and it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago we started talking a little bit more and he asked me if I’d be open to the opportunity,” Husband said.
“I love the club, we were on a journey which we’ve only just started so I didn’t feel like I’d come to the end of my journey here but at the same time it was an opportunity that I really couldn’t turn down.”
The role has parallels to Husband taking on the head coach role of Mariners, as an expansion club.
She had to build the team from the ground up. Husband got them to the semi-final that year, the title the next.
“Coming into Central Coast was probably one of my biggest jobs I’ve ever done,” Husband said.
“But likewise with the Matildas we still have work to do and all of us just want to hit the ground running.
“Implementing a new style of play in a shorter amount of time is always (a challenge) but as a coach we relish it.”
Husband said one of the biggest factors when it came to making the decision was Montemurro.
“I’ve only ever heard great things about him and when someone is spoken that highly of, it’s for a reason,” Husband said.
“He has achieved so much in his career so for me to be mentored by him is really really exciting.”
The pair don’t have long to prepare the Matildas for the 2026 Asian Cup – which kicks off on Australian soil in March.
This will be Husband’s first exposure to a national team, aside from the most recent camp where she served as assistant to Tom Sermanni.
“The one thing I do love about club football is you get to know the players so well and that enables you to coach them better because you know them well,” Husband said.
“You know the ones that need pushing, the ones that you need to go a little bit earlier on and the ones you can go harder on.
“Obviously with the national team it is the same but on a much shorter amount of time, there’s going to be a lot less face-to-face contact and a lot more on the phone, online to stay connected.”
Husband is not starting completely from scratch. She has worked with a number of Matildas players during her career – including Michelle Heyman, Isabel Gomez, Kaitlyn Torpey, Clare Hunt, Clare Wheeler and Amy Sayer.
Husband will officially start her new role later this month when the Matildas play two two-game series against Slovenia and Panama in Perth, starting on June 26.
Championship winning coach named as new Matildas assistant
The rise of football coach Emily Husband continued when named as new Matildas assistant coach.
Husband, who guided Central Coast Mariners to the title this season, has been a professional coach for just two seasons.
It has taken the English coach a relatively short time to work her way up to the national team.
She started with the Sydney University NPL team, served as an assistant at Canberra United for the 2020/21 season and then signed as head coach with the Mariners for the 2023/24 season.
Husband won two premierships during her time in the NPL and was named NSW NPL Women’s Coach of the Year in 2022. She was the A-League Coach of the Year in 2023/24.
Mariners confirmed on Monday that Husband was leaving the club to pursue another opportunity.
Football Australia confirmed what many had guessed – the Husband was the new Matildas assistant coach.
“I’d just like to thank the club for giving me the opportunity in the first place, I wouldn’t be where I am without it,” Husband said.
“To all the staff and players that I have worked with over the past two years, thank you for your effort and commitment.
“I will never forget the amazing memories and success we shared together.”
Montemurro was announced as the new Matilda coach, after a nine month search, earlier this month.
Matildas assistant coaches Leah Blayney and Melissa Andreatta departed before his arrival to take up opportunities with national teams in Japan and Scotland – respectively.
“It’s an honour to be appointed as assistant coach,” Husband said.
“To be trusted with the chance to contribute, even in a small way, to the Matildas and their future is an absolute privilege.
“They are such an important part of Australian sport and culture, and I’m really excited to help push the team forward.
“Joe is someone I’ve always had enormous respect for. Not just for his football brain, but for the way he leads. We’ve had the chance to work together before, and I’m genuinely thrilled to build on that now as we hopefully play a part in guiding the Matildas to reach greater heights.”
Montemurro said Husband had proven her ability at a domestic level.
“Her work with the Central Coast Mariners has been phenomenal and demonstrates the qualities she will bring to the CommBank Matildas,” Montemurro said.
“Emily has a deep understanding of the game, an ability to connect with players, and a fresh perspective that will be invaluable to our setup.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with her once again.”
Husband will start her new role for the Matildas June/July window which includes two, two-game series with Slovenia and Panama.
Her contract is for the four-year cylce meaning she will help coach the team through the 2026 Asian Cup, 2027 World Cup and 20280 Olympics.
Central Coast Mariners have launched a search for a new head coach as well.
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