Sermanni emphasises decade-long, system challenges awaiting next Matildas coach

Ahead of what should be his last game as Matildas' interim, Tom Sermanni has emphasised systemic issues in the program and moved to quash perceptions previous comments were a shot at Tony Gustavsson.

Interim Matildas boss Tom Sermanni set tongues wagging earlier this week when he said that the national setup hadn’t done enough to plan for the future but, speaking ahead of what will likely be his final game as caretaker of Australia’s women this Saturday, the veteran mentor has pointed to broader, systemic issues confronting the program, emphasising that his remarks hadn’t been intended as a shot at former coach Tony Gustavsson.

Drafted in by Football Australia to guide the Matildas as the federation searched for a full-time replacement for Gustavsson (a search that has now dragged into its fourth month), Sermanni has sought to offer opportunities to an extended pool of players across his interim tenure, with four – Danielle Galic, Tash Prior, Winonah Heatley, and Leah Davidson – making their international debuts across his five games in charge.

And during his pre-game press conference ahead of Australia’s 3-1 win over Taiwan at AAMI Park on Wednesday, a cat was set amongst a pigeon by the coach when he said that “a very consistent [Matildas] squad for four years” hadn’t “allowed opportunities for other players” and that “I don't think we've planned for the future well enough”.

Inevitably, the words sparked conversation and debate, as well as various other, slightly more… enthusiastic sharing of views.

23 players debuted under Gustavsson, while Kyra Cooney-Cross, Clare Hunt, and Mary Fowler (who debuted under Alen Stajcic) all established themselves as regular members of the starting XI. After being in several squads prior, Tegan Micah first saw the field under the Swede and went on to make 17 appearances, with the Liverpool keeper looking like she’s ready to once again challenge Mackenzie Arnold for the number-one role ahead of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

However, this was contrasted by 13 of those 23 debutants having three or fewer caps at present and emerging and peripheral players often being deployed, not all that helpfully, en masse under the former coach — most notably in hammerings against Spain and Canada. Meanwhile, in the games that mattered, Gustavsson maintained a rigidly consistent starting lineup – only 14 members of his 23-player squad at the Women’s World Cup played more than 30 minutes at the tournament.

Speaking ahead of the Matildas re-match with Taiwan this Saturday in Geelong, though, Sermanni moved at the end of his press conference to emphasise that his previous words weren’t related to his predecessor and that, instead, related to what he views as a more system-wide challenge confronting not just the Matildas, but the broader national team program.

“I think that was perceived in some quarters to be a criticism of Tony [Gustavsson],” he said. “I just want to put out there that it had absolutely nothing to do with Tony at all. Tony came in here as the head coach of the Matildas. That was his job and he did an exceptional job in that role and got the team to two semi-finals at major tournaments [the Tokyo Olympics and 2023 Women’s World Cup].

“The thing I was talking about has been a systemic issue that started in 2014 when the institute program shut down. I felt it was important to clarify that --otherwise, when I see Tony again, he won't buy me a beer!

“But it's an important difference.

“We're trying to fix that at this level. But it has to be fixed underneath as well and the stuff being done -- and there have been people really doing some good things -- we just need to do, as a sport, we need to do that elite area a little bit better because we used to do it really, really well.”

Given that a new coach should be in place when the Matildas return to action at next February’s SheBelives Cup – Football Australia likely damaging the side’s Asian Cup preparations with any further delays – Sermanni will be relying on others to address the issues he has raised.

But he does speak with some lived experience in the matter. Now in his third stint in charge of the national side (first as interim), he brought through much of the side’s current Golden Generation while securing the 2011 Asian Cup – setting something of a template, or aspiration, for the next coach as they go about the task of rejuvenating the squad while maintaining success.

And previously having stated that any new appointment needed to see their role as being coach of the whole program and not just the Matildas, Sermanni, while emphasising it was the purview of the federation to determine what was important to them, expanded on those views on Friday.

“Ideally, it's someone that has to be [based] here, that has to be invested in the game here, that has to take greater responsibility than one singular national team,” he said. “That would be the ideal role.

“Somebody who can oversee the program. Obviously with people in there with them but I think somebody that brings that skill set would be important. And someone who understands the Australian culture.”

When he does depart, Sermanni will return to his role at the A-League Women level, where he serves as the head of women’s football at Western Sydney Wanderers.

“Ideally, the clubs at [A-League Women] level will have really quality programs leading up into the first team through a youth system,” said Sermanni. “And then… what’s important is the relationship between the A-League Women clubs and the national team programs.

“I think we've got to have a collaborative approach, rather than a combative approach, between the clubs and the national team structure.”

Addressing media later on Friday ahead of his side’s trip West to face Perth Glory on Sunday, Melbourne Victory boss Jeff Hopkins said that a greater connection between the national team and domestic clubs would be a win-win situation.

“Since Tommy's come in, I've spoken to him almost every week,” said Hopkins. “These relationships are a little bit difficult, there's so much going on for a new coach. But I think it's important just to kind of open the lines of communication.

“Without a doubt, every coach in the league wants the Matildas to do well. We want to help as much as we can. So just open those lines of communication, get the opportunity that we can pick up the phone, they can pick up the phone whenever they need to and find out how players are going. That's all you really need.

“It's a difficult thing but something that if you work it well, I think it will benefit the team, it will benefit the league, and it will benefit the [new] coach as well.”

Header Image: Football Australia