Former Arsenal and Lyon coach, Joe Montemurro has today been officially confirmed as the 15th full-time head coach of the Australian Women’s National Team, The Matildas.
The 55-year-old Australian will return to his country after spending eight years coaching in Europe, winning league titles in England, Italy and France. However, he failed to take any of those sides to a Champions League final, most disappointingly squandering a first-leg lead with Lyon in this season’s semi-final, going out to former side Arsenal.
Montemurro stepped down from his position as coach of French champions Lyon on Sunday morning despite having a year left on his contract and was in Sydney today for his presentation to the Australian media. He was unveiled in front of the city’s iconic Harbour Bridge, standing alongside Football Australia Interim CEO, Heather Garriock and Head of National Teams, Gary Moretti. Garriock said Montemurro ‘ticked every box” during Football Australia’s recruitment process.
The announcement comes at the end of what the federation called “a global search” for a successor to Swede Tony Gustavsson who led the Matildas to fourth place finishes at the Tokyo Olympics and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which was played on home soil in front of record-breaking attendances and television audiences for the Australian nation.
Gustavsson stepped down soon after a disappointing performance for The Matildas at the Paris Olympics in which they failed to progress out of the group stage. Last September, former Matildas coach Tom Serrmani was reappointed national team head coach on an interim basis as Football Australia began their process of recruiting a permanent replacement for Gustavsson.
Sermani oversaw a mixed bag of results, a famous 2-1 away to Germany in Duisburg was followed by two home defeats to Brazil. At the start of 2025, the Matildas lost all three games they played at the She Believes Cup in the United States.
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Montemurro will officially commence his role on 16 June two weeks after this morning’s friendly international against Argentina in Canberra. His first matches in charge will be a double-header against Slovenia in Perth followed by another two matches against Panama in July.
His first real test will come at the AFC Asian Cup to be played on home soil during the middle of the European club season in March 2026. “To be appointed head coach of the CommBank Matildas is the honor of a lifetime,” he said today.
“This team means so much to so many Australians, and I’m humbled by the opportunity to help shape its next chapter. I’ve followed their incredible journey closely and am energised by the passion, resilience, and identity they’ve built.
“There’s a generation of talent coming through and major tournaments on the horizon. My job is to honour the legacy, harness the momentum, and help this team play football that inspires and unites the country.”
Speaking at his first press conference, Montemurro outlined the way he wants his Australian side to play. “We want to control the game. We want to have the ball. We want to be able to control the game even when we don’t have the ball.”
“You’ll see a team that will take risks. You’ll see a team that’s going to be brave. You’ll see a team that’s going to excite. I know no other way of playing football, and it’s a matter of now instilling that identity.”
He warned that his expansive methods would not bear fruit overnight. “You’re not going to see, in the first game I take over, that all of a sudden we’re getting 85% possession and we’re entering into the attacking third forty times. But the most important thing is to have it ready and understanding for the big tournaments – when it’s important.”
The Matildas have been without their captain, record goalscorer and talismanic leader Sam Kerr since January 2024 as she continues to work towards full fitness after a rupture of her anterior cruciate ligament. Re-integrating Kerr into the team after such a long absence will be one of Montemurro’s immediate concerns.
“My intention is to sit down with all the players,” he said, “even the extended squad, and map out a process – a thorough profiling of what’s required to play the brand of football that we want to play. Sam fits into that scenario where we’re just going to assess and monitor and see where she’s at. Let’s get her fit and right, and then we’ll have those discussions.”
It is believed that Montemurro has signed a three-year contract with Football Australia which will allow him to lead the team into the next Women’s World Cup in 2027 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. He spoke passionately of his desire to leave a legacy in the country’s soccer development. “I want to be able to leave a situation here, or create a situation here, that every young female player dreams of the opportunities that are going to be given to them in the national team pathway.”
This article was originally published on forbes.com
