Alen Stajcic is set to stand down as coach of the Matildas

Highly sought Alen Stajcic is set to stand down as coach of the Matildas.

Matildas’ departing head coach Alen Stajcic. Picture: Getty

Alen Stajcic is set to stand down as coach of the Matildas.

The Weekend Australian understands an announcement will be made sometime on Saturday.

It is believed he will take up a new job, most likely overseas, but the details remain highly confidential.

It is not known whether Stajcic will leave before the World Cup finals in France in June, or after the finals.

Whatever the case, it appears he will be lost to Australian soccer given a number of overseas countries and clubs have been circling for him following his remarkable success with the Australian women’s national team.

It is understood he rejected a number of offers from highly rated European clubs from Germany and France that were involved in the women’s Champions League last year.

The 45-year-old is regarded as one of the best women’s football coaches in the world and has done wonders for the Matildas and the women’s game in general in Australia.

He started his senior coaching career with the NSW Sapphires before taking the job with Sydney FC when the W-League was formed. He guided the Sky Blues between 2008 and 2014, twice winning the title.

Stajcic guided the Australian under 20s before assuming the head job with the Matildas in 2014.

He took Australia to the final of the Asian Cup in 2014 and 2018, losing 1-0 to Japan both times.

Under him the Matildas also made the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2015 and Olympic Games in 2016 and reached a high of no. 4 in the world rankings.

One of the Matildas’ biggest achievements was to win the prestigious Tournament of Nations in the US in 2017. They went through undefeated, recording a historic first win over the US as well as beating Japan then routing Brazil 6-1 in the last game of the tournament.