Tom Sermanni, the interim coach of the Matildas, remains uncertain about the duration of his tenure as Football Australia seeks a permanent replacement following Tony Gustavsson’s exit in early August. Having returned to the Matildas in September for his third coaching stint—previously managing from 1994 to 1997 and then from 2005 to 2012—Sermanni expressed contentment in his current role despite the ongoing search for a full-time coach.
In a media briefing on Wednesday AEDT, Sermanni stated he had not received any indication regarding the end of his interim position, quipping, “Nobody has tapped me on the shoulder yet.” He also underscored his eagerness to assist the team for as long as needed, emphasising, “I will just continue to do the job… until the federation finds a replacement.” Despite his prior intentions to retire, he remains open to contributing to the Matildas in any capacity.
Sermanni addressed the potential impact of a new coach, highlighting that the effectiveness of the appointment largely depends on the coach’s familiarity with the current team. He mentioned that if the new coach has prior experience with the squad, the transition could be relatively quick. However, he stressed that the real improvement would hinge on the amount of physical training time available to integrate playing styles and build team synergy.
The ongoing search for a Matildas coach starkly contrasts the swift appointment of Tony Popovic as the successor to former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, which occurred within three days. As the situation unfolds, fans and players remain hopeful for a prompt resolution to ensure the team’s momentum continues.