Matildas defender Winonah Heatley says new coach must take Australia to ‘next level’

An emerging Matildas star would like the team’s next permanent coach to have some key characteristics.

Emerging Matildas star Winonah Heatley has called for the national women’s team next permanent coach to “understand the Australian way” and take the side to the “next level”.

Under interim coach Tom Sermanni, the Matildas start their She Believes Cup campaign on Friday morning (Australian time) against Japan at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

The four-team tournament could be Sermanni’s swansong, with Football Australia edging closer to naming a permanent successor to Swede Tony Gustavsson, who departed following the Matildas’ disappointing Paris Olympics campaign last year.

Heatley has enjoyed being coached by Sermanni, who gave the Cairns product her official Matildas debut last October in Duisburg in Australia’s 2-1 win over Germany.

“Tom’s an easy person to be around and a calming presence within the squad,” Heatley said.

“He’s easy-going, and at the same time has the football knowledge to make you have that comfortable feeling of him being the head coach.

“He’s been pretty important to me, giving me my debut, and I’m enjoying having him as an interim coach.”

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While reluctant to give her opinion on what characteristics the Matildas’ next permanent coach should have, the 23-year-old defender had a few suggestions.

“I don’t know if I’d have the right credentials to decide what the next coach should have, but we’re always hoping to have someone who understands the Australian way and wants someone that’s going to help us play really good football and progress us to the next level,” she said.

Heatley’s voice and opinion shouldn’t be under-estimated, as despite it still being early in her Matildas’ career, she has leadership experience as captain of her Danish club Nordsjaelland.

“It’s huge for my confidence having a big part (to play) at my club,” she said.

“The captaincy is more about being a positive towards my development as a leader on the pitch, and having that extra responsibility is always going to add to your game.

“Being able to perform under that extra pressure of having a leadership role has been really useful.

“I’m not going to put any pressure on myself for any sort of outcome personally within this (international) window, but, as always, I’m going to be trying to perform the best I can, and be the best player I can be going forward.”

Following their clash with Japan, the Matildas also meet the United States (Monday, Glendale) and Colombia (next Wednesday, San Diego).

“USA, Japan and Colombia are all incredible teams, so I’m really looking forward to the challenge,” Heatley said.

Originally published as Matildas defender Winonah Heatley says new coach must take Australia to ‘next level’