Football Australia (FA) hopes to have a full -time Matildas coach designated in the middle of the year and insist that there is enough time for the stuttering national team to shoot through the 2026 Asian Cup.
And the excellent matildas at the forefront of the search for the permanent successor of Tony Gustavsson insists that the long delay is because FA is not formed with nothing less than a world -class candidate.
The same day that FA celebrated a year to pass to the Asian Cup, the Matildas collapsed before a 2-1 loss against Colombia, their third defeat in a week under the interim coach Tom Sermanni.
A new coach will not be in his place for the April start window against South Korea, with executive president James Johnson on Wednesday confirming that Sermanni would take the reins for friendlies who could also mark the return of Sam Kerr.
Australia has not yet found a full -time replacement for the interim coach Tom Sermanni. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
It means that the new manager, also accused of qualifying and competing in the 2027 Women’s Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, will not get games until the June window as soon as possible.
The member of the FA Board, Heather Garriock, president of the FA Soccer Development Committee, which leads the recruitment process, indicated that an agreement with the main candidate was close.
“Look, I think that in the middle of the year it is important,” Garriock told AAP.
“We are in negotiations at this time, and we are very comfortable and safe with where we are, the direction, not only of the chief coach of Matildas, but also of the pillar and path of women.
“We are about to appoint our coach under 17 and a coach of children under 20 years.
“It is a very exciting moment, and obviously at the forefront of everything is the Asian Cup of women and being able to succeed here in their homeland.”
When asked if FA had his candidate, Garriock said: “We are in a deep negotiation.
“It is the reason we have taken so long. We were not there to establish ourselves. We could have established. We are not going to establish ourselves.
“And we have been thorough in our process. We have analyzed and spoken with many coaches, and we are very comfortable and safe with where we are.”
Johnson said Wednesday that FA was “waiting for the right coach.”
“As soon as that coach is available, we will make sure the appointment is made,” he said.
Garriock echoed that feeling, which indicates that the main candidate was currently hired elsewhere.
“The contracts have played a very important role, of course, and therefore, that is where we are. That is what we are dealing with right now,” he said.
“It’s world football … The best coaches are obviously training.”
The Matildas have lost all three games in the Shebelieves Cup in the United States this week. (Getty Images: Joe Scarnici)
The manager of England, Sarina Wiegman, enrolled until 2027 and took Las Leonas to a 1-0 victory over Spain on Tuesday.
Joe Montemurro is hired in Lyon, while Tanya Oxtoby is a leader in Northern Ireland.
“The result during the night with Sarina, probably has a contract in England for the rest of his life,” Garriock joked.
“But no, look, let’s go for the best. That’s all I will say.”
Despite the delay, Garriock, a member of the 2010 Asian Cup champion of Australia, is inflexible in which Matildas will have enough time to prepare to compete in the next March tournament, held in Sydney, Perth and Gold Coast.
“It is our absolute goal to be able to lift the trophy here in Australia,” Garriock said since the launch of Gold Coast.
“And then, how do we do it? Obviously we are preparing ourselves at this time in Shebelieves, and I have not won in Shebelieves against some main nations.
“However, I am sure that with a new coach who enters, they have a lot of time to get the best of these players and also make the team shoot.”
The 2-1 defeat on Wednesday against Colombia at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego followed a 2-1 defeat against the United States and 4-0 beating at the hands of Japan.
Frustration is understandably building among players in the long interim period, which now extends beyond six months.
Central Defender Clare Hunt gave a track of that frustration in an interview after the party.
“It’s a massive call call. We have 12 months,” he told Paramount Plus.
“Obviously we are looking for a new coach to arrive at some point this year.
“Once we have that guarantee of FA, we are ready to start.“
Garriock empathy with players.
“The players are in a difficult position,” he said.
“They know and we are in contact with them and give them periodic updates with where things are.
“However, they are professionals and every day they come out and train as hard they can.”
On Wednesday, Wendy Bonilla’s attack in the 15th minute gave Colombia the advantage before the diverted strike of Hayley Raso, the only shot of Australia in El Blanco, matched in 69.
But four minutes later, the poor defense brought Australia unbuttoned and Catalina Usme scored the winner with a long -range deviant shot, which aggravated a miserable campaign of the Shebelieves Cup.
AAPA
