SYDNEY — Football Australia (FA) has appointed Joe Montemurro as the new
head coach of the women's national team, the Matildas.
FA on Monday officially unveiled Montemurro as the 15th
permanent head coach of the Matildas, concluding a 10-month search.
The 55-year-old Australian joins the national team from
French giants Lyon, where he led the club to the domestic league title and the
UEFA Women's Champions League semifinals, reports Xinhua.
Prior to his tenure at Lyon, Montemurro won league titles
with the women's teams of Juventus, Arsenal and Melbourne City.
"Joe brings world-class experience, a deep
understanding of the Australian football landscape, and a genuine connection to
our national identity," Heather Garriock, interim chief executive of FA,
said in a statement.
She added that Montemurro brings an "unparalleled
understanding" of what it takes to succeed at the top level of modern
football, along with a proven ability to build high-performing teams.
Speaking at a press conference in Sydney, Montemurro said
he was "humbled" by the opportunity to shape the next chapter of the
women's national team.
Melbourne-born coach Montemurro began his women’s
football coaching career at Melbourne Victory FC and Melbourne City FC. His
first taste of success came in the 2015/16 season as he guided City to an
undefeated championship-winning season in the A-League Women competition.
He then made history in 2017 as the first Australian to
manage Arsenal’s Women’s Team, lifting multiple trophies during his tenure,
including the Women’s Super League during the 2018/19 season.
In 2021, Montemurro joined Juventus Women, where success
continued to follow as he led them to the Serie A title in the 2021/22 season,
several domestic cup triumphs, and a rise in continental competitiveness. 2024
saw him appointed as head coach of European powerhouse Olympique Lyon, where
this year he was at the helm as they claimed the 2024/25 domestic league title
in France.
His appointment was announced ahead of the Matildas'
friendly match against Argentina in Canberra on Monday night, which will be the
final game in charge for interim head coach Tom Sermanni.
It comes 10 months after the departure of previous head
coach Tony Gustavsson, who guided Australia to the semifinals of the 2023 FIFA
Women's World Cup.
Montemurro's first games as Matildas head coach will be a
pair of friendlies against Slovenia on June 26 and 28. His first major
tournament will be the 2026 Asian Football Confederation Women's Asian Cup,
which will be hosted in Australia.
