No fanfare from FFA for new Matildas coach Ante Milicic

Ante Milicic has never had an involvement with women’s football, but now finds himself in charge of the troubled Matildas.

Ante Milicic has been handed the Matildas coaching job.

Ante Milicic has never had an involvement with women’s soccer, but now finds himself caught in one of the most damaging periods in the Australian game following his appointment as interim coach of the Australian women’s national team.

As revealed online by The Australian on Friday, Milicic has agreed to take the reins of the Matildas, replacing the sacked Alen Stajcic, for the Cup of Nations tournament here starting next week and the Women’s World Cup in France in June.

But his appointment has become shrouded in controversy after Football Federation Australia opted to announce its decision via a media release yesterday rather than through a press conference that would usually be attended by the new coach, FFA chief executive David Gallop and FFA chairman Chris Nikou.

When Bert van Marwijk was last year announced as the interim coach of the Socceroos for the World Cup finals in Russia, Gallop and then FFA chairman Steven Lowy were front and centre with the Dutchman.

THE MILICIC FILE • Age: 44 • Born: Sydney

Apart from Gallop’s train wreck of an interview two days after Stajcic was sacked, neither he nor Nikou have been prepared to face a media conference to answer questions over the decision to get rid of Stajcic six months out from the World Cup over allegations of a toxic environment.

There are reports Milicic will appear in front of the media later in the week but it is unclear if ­either Gallop and/or Nikou will be by his side.

The Stajcic situation aside, questions need to be answered regarding the appointment of the highly talented Milicic, who has long been destined for a coaching career at the highest levels.

Milicic, who has been based in Croatia for several years, has no experience coaching women. His knowledge of the international teams the Matildas will face at the World Cup would be scant.

Reports suggest he did not apply for the job; that he twice turned down FFA’s approaches; and that he was tapped on the shoulder by FFA to do the job given he is ­already on the payroll.

While his knowledge of women’s soccer is restricted, there can be no denying his qualities as a coach. After a stint with Melbourne Heart (now Melbourne City), he was brother-in-law Tony Popovic’s right-hand man at Western Sydney Wanderers when they came into the A-League in 2012.

Milicic has been involved with the national team program since 2014, working as an assistant with the Socceroos under Ange Postecoglou, where he was part of the coaching set-up at the World Cup finals in Brazil in 2014 and the successful Asian Cup finals victory on home soil in 2015.

Milicic also worked under van Marwijk, who replaced Postecoglou, at the World Cup finals in Russia last year and has been involved under national coach Graham Arnold. He was head coach of the Olyroos (under-23s) and Young Socceroos (under-19s).

Milicic said he was looking forward to leading the Matildas at the World Cup.

“It is an honour to be appointed head coach of the Matildas and I am determined to make the most of this opportunity,” he said in a statement.

FFA received a number of applications for the Matildas position but Milicic stood out.

Gallop said: “Ante’s involvement with our National Teams Unit over the past five years ensured he will commence the position with a clear understanding of the systems in place, and with sound relationships with key technical, backroom, and administrative staff already forged.

“Ante is acutely aware of the … detail required to prepare for and to compete at a World Cup.”