By Nick Wright
With the global hunt for a new Matildas coach under way, calls have been issued for Football Australia to search closer to a home.
Brisbane Roar women’s coach Alex Smith said it would take a figure familiar with the country’s soccer landscape and game style to get the best out of a team whose growing popularity has coincided with extra scrutiny.
Following their fourth-place surge at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, a loss in the group stages at the Paris Olympics came as a shock.
The hunt for Tony Gustavsson’s replacement continues.Credit: Getty
It led to Tony Gustavsson departing the top job, as reports emerged suggesting the Swede had confused the playing group with erratic philosophies and plans.
With their A-League Women’s campaign to kick off on November 2, Smith said a brand needed to be implemented that would resonate with all potential Matildas around the world.
That, he said, would come from a coach who understood how to tap into their unique strengths.
“I’d agree with the fact they need to make it an Australian coach,” Smith said.
“Australian football has a bit to go in terms of national teams, I think we need more of a national style – one that can be pretty synonymous with the Australian footballers across the world.
“Take, for example, the Japanese: you see a Japanese player, and you pretty much know exactly what you’re going to get. I think we can go a little bit towards that in the next three or four years, and the coach is going to be crucial to that.
“These girls are capable of playing brilliant attacking football. We don’t just need to rely on grit and the Aussie spirit.
Tom Sermanni is back for a third stint as Matildas coach, this time on an interim basis.Credit: Getty Images
“A lot of these Matildas are playing at the best clubs around the world, so there’s no reason why we can’t play football and build up, have the ball and dominate teams because we have the players to do it.
“We just need a system in place and a coach who believes in them.”
FA chief James Johnson has not divulged detail on what the governing body was looking for in a coach.
However, he suggested they “have a list of coaches we’re talking to” both at home and abroad.
Names such as former Manchester United coach Casey Stoney have been speculated, while local products could include former Roar men’s boss and South Australia head of women’s football Ross Aloisi, and present Matildas assistant Mel Andreatta.
Meanwhile, interim boss Tom Sermanni hinted he would keep a keen eye on the A-League Women’s teams during his stint in the role, opening the door for young, fresh faces to make their mark heading towards the 2026 Asia Cup.
“I think Clare Hunt is a great example of picking the right players out of the league that can go and be successful in the national team.”
Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni
Smith believed he had “four or five players” who would be in the mix after a full season, having watched Sharn Freier come from “basically nowhere” to join the Olympics squad.