Finally, after more than two months of waiting, Football Federation Australia confirmed this evening that Tony Gustavsson will be the gaffer charged with leading the Matildas.
The FFA began a head hunt following the departure of Ante Milicic in July. Emma Hayes, Joe Montemurro, Caroline Morace, Phil Neville and even Gustavsson’s long-term colleague Jill Ellis were all names associated with the search.
It was eventually narrowed down to Gustavsson and Morace, the latter having coached Italy, Canada and, most recently, Trinidad and Tobago’s women’s national teams.
While Gustavsson might be one of the lesser known names on the shortlist, the 47 year old has an extensive background coaching at both club and international level, men’s and women’s. His most recent role is as head coach of top flight Swedish men’s team, Hammarby IF, preceded by a stint at second tier men’s club GIF Sundsvall.
This return to club football followed two highly successful periods as assistant coach at the United States Women’s National Team. He initially served as assistant in 2012 under fellow Swede Pia Sundhage, quickly securing silverware – or gold, to be precise – at the London Olympics. Gustavsson followed this with an influential two seasons at Swedish side Tyresö FF, before returning to the USWNT in 2015.
Working with Ellis, Gustavsson helped the US win two successive World Cups in 2015 and 2019. He also added another Algarve Cup in 2015 after gathering the trophy with Sundhage two years prior.
The appointment is significant, both in terms of duration and the Matildas’ upcoming schedule. The four year role will have him oversee the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the 2023 World Cup on home soil and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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