Matildas’ top coaching target Joe Montemurro reportedly quits job with French side Lyon

After a nine-month search and lengthy wait, Football Australia look to be closing in on the next Matildas coach with the lead contender reportedly walking away from his job in Europe.

The hunt for the next Matildas boss looks like it could soon be over, with Melbourne’s Joe Montemurro set to leave his job with a powerhouse European outfit.

Continually linked with the Matildas gig since Tony Gustavsson’s removal last year, Montemurro will break his contract with Lyon at the end of the season, according to reports out of France.

The news comes despite Montemurro recently playing down rumours of his imminent departure, just one season into his multi-year contract.

His first season at the club has been relatively successful, the semi-final Champions League loss to Arsenal the only real blip on the radar.

Joe Montemurro’s managerial career includes stints at Arsenal and Lyon. Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP

FA had already confirmed that interim coach Tom Sermanni, who has been at the helm since Gustavsson was let go, would be in charge for the upcoming window at the end of this month.

But Montemurro will be up against it with just three windows, a maximum of nine games, to prepare the Matildas for the Asian Cup.

The last match before the tournament will be the in the November/December window - which allows for just two games. Players will then be released late February, just a week prior to the tournament starting.

Players’ have voiced their frustrations at the length of time it has taken FA to find a replacement – reporting a feeling of “limbo” and lack of direction.

Without a major trophy since the 2010 Asian Cup, FA is desperate for the Matildas to win next March’s Asian Cup, which will be hosted on these shores.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Montemurro will not be starting from scratch with the national team.

He has worked with Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and most recently Ellie Carpenter at Arsenal and then Lyon.

He also crossed paths with Tameka Yallop, Michelle Heyman and Cortnee Vine when he coached the A-League Women’s All Stars team at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Ellie Carpenter and Stephanie Catley (right) have both worked with Montemurro before.

If FA had acted more decisively in the lead up to the Olympics – they could have possibly secured Montemurro while he was here coaching the All Stars. He was uncontracted while he was here and rumours were already swirling that Gustavsson wouldn’t be re-signed after the Olympics, regardless of a result.

But just weeks after his trip back home to Australia he signed on with Lyon until 2027. Meaning FA could do nothing but wait until the season was at least over.

Details are yet to be confirmed but it is very likely FA has had to pay out the remainder of Montemurro’s contract unless a clause existed allowing him to leave early for a national team opportunity.

More to come.