Football Australia (FA) is closing in on a target for the next Matildas head coach but is refusing to make any promises on when the appointment will be announced.
The Matildas have been without a permanent head coach since Tony Gustavsson’s four-year tenure came to an end following a disappointing Paris Olympics campaign in August.
Tom Sermanni, who led the Matildas in two stints between 1994-1997 and 2005-2012, has been at the helm in an interim capacity and has produced mixed results across six internationals.
He has expressed uncertainty on whether he will remain in charge next year, saying he is happy to offer his services for as long as he is required.
The Matildas will next play in February as part of the SheBelieves Cup in the US. (Getty Images: Morgan Hancock)
The Matildas are next in action at February’s SheBelieves Cup in the United States against the hosts, Japan and Colombia, but whether a new coach will be in charge remains to be seen.
FA chief executive James Johnson stopped short of guaranteeing an appointment when he fronted the media on Tuesday.
“We’d like to be able to make the appointment prior to the SheBelieves Cup but we want to make sure that we have the right coach in place,” Johnson said.
“If that takes some extra time, we’ll take it so that we have the right coach in place for the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and the preparation that goes before it, and then the right coach to take us to the Women’s World Cup in 2027.
“I do appreciate it is taking some time, but that’s deliberate.”
Johnson was equally reserved when asked if FA had a target.
“We had a long list. We had a shortlist. We have a very short, short, short, shortlist,” he said.
“The reality is, we know who we want. We know the type of coach we want.
“We’ve just got to go out and get that coach when that coach is available.”
The Matildas closed out the year with an emphatic 6-0 thrashing of Chinese Taipei and are set to kick off their SheBelieves Cup campaign against Japan in Houston, Texas on February 20.
AAP
