Ex-USWNT boss Sermanni returns to Matildas

Australia’s most experienced women’s football coach will once more take the reins of the National Team with Tom Sermanni unveiled as the Matildas interim coach.

Football Australia will continue their thorough search for a permanent head coach of the women’s side following the departure of Tony Gustavsson, after the unsuccessful 2024 Paris Olympics campaign, with the interim appointment thought to be covering the friendly matches in Europe in the October window and in Australia in December if required.

Currently Head of Women’s Football at A-League Women club Western Sydney Wanderers, Sermanni’s confirmation in the temporary national team role will be a third stint in charge of the Australian women, after previously leading the side from 1994-1997 and again from 2005-2012.

Sermanni still holds sway as the most successful coach in Matildas history after guiding the team to their only major silverware to date — the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2010, in addition to quarterfinal berths at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2007 and 2011.

The former midfielder who made over 150 appearances for Albion Rovers, as well as stints at Blackpool, Torquay United and Dunfermiline Athletic as a player, before relocating to Australia, has extensive international management experience. Headhunted to lead the USWNT, he departed Australia in 2012 and would take the (then) world No.1 women’s side undefeated through the subsequent 12 months.

After a period on the coaching staff of the Canadian national team at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Sermanni returned to the USA as inaugural coach of NWSL expansion team, Orlando Pride, before being lured back to international football as head coach of the New Zealand women for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

A return to the Australian set up will turn back the clock, with captain Sam Kerr set to resume her role with the side after a lengthy layoff with injury. Kerr was handed her national team debut by Sermanni in 2009 at the age of 15. The following year she would score the opening goal in the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup final which Australia would go on to win on penalties over North Korea.

The interim coaching decision will likely be a popular one with the playing group and will be a reunion for many in the current setup, with Sermanni launching the national team careers of current players Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley, Katrina Gorry, Tameka Yallop, Clare Polkinghorne, Hayley Raso, Emily van Egmond and Mackenzie Arnold in his previous tenure.