Matildas next coach: Ante Juric, Melissa Andreatta, Sermanni, among the contenders

Three time women’s championship winning A-Leagues coach Ante Juric has emerged as a front runner to take the charge of the Matildas. Find out how he compares with the contenders.

Three time women’s championship winning A-Leagues coach Ante Juric has emerged as a front runner to take the charge of the Matildas.

Coach Tony Gustavsson and Football Australia mutually agreed to part ways after the Matildas worst Olympic result in their five appearances.

Football Australia have said a recruitment process would start immediately with a coach ideally or be found before the next international window in October.

Gustavsson never relocated to Australia from Sweden after taking the job. With most of the Matilda’s squad based in Europe is meant he was able to keep an eye on them.

But it also meant he was rarely spotted at A-Leagues women’s matches.

It remains to be seen if Football Australia will make relocating a condition of their next contract.

Perhaps they will opt to go with a coach already based in Australia - like Sydney FC’s Juric.

He has coached a number of the Matildas, including Cortnee Vine and has previously coached the junior Matildas.

Juric has an impressive record and players seem to admire his style of coaching.

He isn’t the only contender though.

THE CONTENDERS

Ante Juric

Matildas winger Cortnee Vine has previously dubbed her former Sydney FC coach as one of the best she has worked with. Juric is a standout coach in the A-League’s taking Sydney FC to a record four premierships and three championships. He has previously worked as a coach for the Junior Matildas and Football Australia Assistant Technical director.

Ante Juric holds the trophy after coaching Sydney FC to victory in the the A-League Women Grand Final. Picture: Getty Images for A-Leagues

Melissa Andreatta

The current assistant coach to Tony Gustavsson has been working her way up the ranks for several years. She honed her skills in the A-Leagues coaching Brisbane Roar to a title in 2018.

She has been next to Tony throughout his tenure. She is also the head coach of Australia’s under-23s team.

Matildas assistant coach Melissa Andreatta with Kaitlyn Torpey. Picture: Football Australia

Tom Sermanni

Tom Sermanni was at the helm the last time the Matilda’s won a medal. He is currently not coaching a national team. Sermanni, the head of football at Western Sydney Wanderers, is the Matilda’s longest serving coach across two stints. He was responsible for giving many of the players in the squad their debut- even played a hand in getting Clare Hunt her call up prior to the World Cup. Sermanni has worked with the Canadian and New Zealand teams since his departure.

Tom Sermanni when he coached the Matildas back in 2010. Picture: Bruce Thomas

Emily Husband

While only new to coaching top flight football Husband did not many thought impossible this past A-Leagues season. Husband took over the reigns at Central Coast Mariners for their first season back in the A-Leagues last year and coached them to the finals. Husband has worked her way up from the NPL. Her efforts in the A-League earning her coach of the year.

Emily Husband is new to top-flight football coaching but has impressed. Picture: Getty Images

Kat Smith

Has been working as a coach in women’s football for a number of years, and this season took over at Western United. She has previously worked at Western Sydney Wanderers and as a performance analyst for Football Australia.

Kat Smith took on the head coaching role at Western United this year. Picture: Getty Images

Leah Blayney

The coach of the under-20s national women’s team has previously said coaching the Matildas is the ultimate dream. She has played for the Matildas and at several clubs before switching to a full time coaching role with the Young Matildas in 2019. Blayney is familiar with Football Australia’s set up and has worked with many of the current squad as they rise through the ranks.

Leah Blayney coaches under 20s women's national football team. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Garry van Egmond

The father of midfielder Emily van Egmond has coached both men’s and women’s football during his career.

Former Newcastle Jets coach Gary van Egmond, father of Matildas star Emily, is another to consider. Picture: Getty Images

While currently in China working with their youth squads there is no doubt van Egmond would be tempted by a chance to coach the Matildas.

He has coached at an A-League level and was the assistant coach to the Matildas from 2015-2019.

He has also worked with the youth squads.