Steph Catley Calls for Urgent Coaching Appointment as Matildas Navigate Uncertainty

The Matildas’ rebuild continues to be clouded by uncertainty, with vice-captain Steph Catley calling on Football Australia (FA) to appoint a permanent head coach “sooner rather than later” as the squad prepares for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup on home soil.

It has been eight months since former head coach Tony Gustavsson officially stepped away following the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the lead-in to the Paris Olympics. Since then, the team has played under interim manager Tom Sermanni, who has now overseen 11 matches — the latest being a solid 2-0 victory over South Korea at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium.

While the friendly win marked the team’s first consecutive victories this year, questions surrounding the Matildas’ leadership remain unresolved.

“It’s hard as a playing group when you’re in limbo,” said Catley post-match. “You haven’t got clear direction in how we’re going to play moving forward.”

The FA has indicated a permanent coach is expected to be appointed by mid-year, in time for the Matildas’ May/June friendlies against Argentina in Melbourne and Canberra. But even Sermanni himself is unsure if the timeline will be met, especially as the countdown to the Asian Cup shortens.

“We’re at very early stages of a rebuild,” Catley explained. “That happens every cycle leading into a major tournament. We’ve got less than a year now — and it’s hard to move forward without a long-term plan in place.”

Catley praised Sermanni for the culture he’s cultivated during his interim tenure, noting his positive energy and leadership. Still, she acknowledged that temporary solutions only go so far.

“You can’t fault Tommy and how he’s gone about it. But when you’re trying to build towards something specific, it’s been a while since we’ve had that clarity.”

Montemurro in the Mix

Among the rumoured frontrunners for the vacant role is Olympique Lyonnais Féminin head coach Joe Montemurro, a well-respected figure in Australian football circles and a familiar face to Catley.

The two previously worked together at Melbourne City and Arsenal, but Catley remained tight-lipped when asked about the possibility of reuniting with her former coach.

“He’s a great coach. I’ve had him a couple of times and he’s doing well over there at Lyon,” Catley said. “But I’m not picking the coach. It’s just not my role. We’ll wait and see and hopefully it gets done sooner rather than later.”

Montemurro is currently focused on leading Lyon in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, with a semi-final clash against Arsenal — Catley’s current club — on the horizon.

Crunch Time for Football Australia

The longer FA waits to name a permanent successor to Gustavsson, the greater the pressure mounts. With the 2026 Asian Cup looming, time is running out to solidify tactics, systems, and team identity — a concern clearly weighing on the Matildas’ leadership.

“The girls have been doing the absolute best they can,” said Catley. “We’ve been sticking together and galvanising as a group. That’ll be important for us going forward.”

For now, the Matildas continue to work under Sermanni, but the call for clarity is loud and clear. The team — and the nation — awaits a decision that could define Australia’s next era in women’s football.