- The search for the next Matildas coach continues
- Football Australia believes they have been thorough
- Senior players consulted during the ongoing process
The hunt for the next Matildas coach could continue until April next year, with Football Australia determined to take its time to appoint the right long-term candidate.
Former mentor Tony Gustavsson left in August and interim coach Tom Sermanni has since led the Matildas in six friendlies since his appointment in September.
That interim government could continue through February’s SheBelieves Cup while the FA considers suitable candidates for the next four-year cycle.
The coach must lead Australia to the 2026 Asian Cup on home soil and qualify and compete in the 2027 Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in LA.
But Johnson noted there were six more women’s international matches in 2025, plus two before the Asian Cup in 2026, in which they had to prepare.
“The hard deadline is as soon as possible, and as soon as possible means finding the right person,” he said.
The hunt for the next Matildas coach could continue beyond the April international window (pictured, captain Sam Kerr)
Interim coach Tom Sermanni has led the Matildas in six friendlies since his appointment in September
“So we have a window in February, and then a window in April. I hope we have confirmed who our coach is at least in one of those two windows.
“But again, I don’t want to set hard deadlines because the priority is finding the right person, and the right person is important, right?
‘We now have a juggernaut called the Matildas – expectations are high.
“We have a women’s Asian Cup at home. The community’s expectation, as it should be, is that we will win that tournament.
“So we’re playing the long game here. And it’s about bringing in the right person, and not the speed at which we make the appointment.’
Johnson emphasizes that FA is deep into the recruitment process, including interviews and screenings, as they look for the right candidate.
“We looked under every rock,” he said. ‘We looked locally. We looked globally.
“We have analyzed many potential candidates for that role, but we have narrowed it down and are focused on finding the person who we think will best serve the team.
‘We are not there yet, but we are certainly getting closer to that point and we will make the appointment in 2025 as soon as possible.
“Rest assured, we have spoken to the right people, and we will continue to do so.”
Football Australia also consulted with senior players throughout the process.
“The message was loud and clear,” he said. “Just get the right person, the best person.”