Matildas v England FIFA World Cup semi-final: Smiling assassin could create coaching history

Tony Gustavsson has a chance to achieve something more than just special - it would be a feat done by literally no one who has come before him.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson celebrated his 50th birthday this week with the exhilarating prospect of going where no foreign coach has gone before.

Gustavsson is two wins away from becoming the first foreign head coach to win a mens or womens football World Cup for any nation, an extraordinary achievement given the history and gravitas of the tournaments.

Should Australia beat England in Wednesday’s semi-final then win the final it would be a remarkable achievement for the passionate Swede who, despite a decorated coaching career in World Cups and Olympics, was all but unknown in this country when he landed as Matilda‘s coach in September, 2020.

Even now, he is something of a mystery man.

There have been 22 editions of the men‘s World Cup since the first one in 1930 and eight women’s World Cups and the one consistent thread is that only home-based coaches have won.

Anson Dorrance, the son of an American oil executive, was born in India but moved to the United States at age 18 and coached that team to World Cup glory in 1991.

Tony Gustavsson is winning over the nation. Picture: Patrick Hamilton / AFP

Jan Ellis, the 2015 and 2019 winning women‘s United States coach who hired Gustavsson as an assistant and recommended him for the Matildas job, was born in England but lived in the United States from age 14.

These are the closest to the exceptions but the remainder of the honour roll is filled with locals including some iconic figures such as Germany’s Franz Beckenbaur and France’s Didier Deschamps who won World Cups as player and coaches.

Ellis remains a big fan of Gustavsson and enjoyed their time together.

“Passionate, tactical, and dogged,” was Ellis’ recently description of Gustavsson to ESPN.

“Those are the three words that come to mind. Tony is very passionate. As coaches, you all are. You have emotions. I think that‘s part of it.

“Many of us way back in the day, we didn‘t get into women’s football to make a lot of money. We got in because we loved it and love the sport.

“He and I used to sit up late at night talking about the game, tactics, and players. He loves, eats, sleeps and breathes the game.”

Originally published as Matildas v England FIFA World Cup semi-final: Smiling assassin could create coaching history