Top female coaches earn Matildas opportunity
Central Coast's championship-winning mentor Emily Husband is one of three female coaches drafted into the Matildas' coaching staff for upcoming games as Football Australia (FA) attempts to accelerate their development.
Husband, Western United A-League Women coach Kat Smith and Melbourne City veteran/goalkeeping coach Melissa Barbieri will be interim coach Tom Sermanni's assistants for upcoming games against Argentina.
Husband, Smith, Barbieri and Catherine Cannuli, who is working with the Young Matildas, are part of a 'Team of Coaches' program intended to provide a pipeline for highly-rated coaches to reach football's top levels.
There are currently no female head coaches within FA's national teams.
Husband and Smith, the only two female head coaches in the A-League Women, will join camp in Melbourne ahead of Matildas training on Monday, leading into next Friday's game at AAMI Park.
Barbieri will join the Matildas in Canberra from Saturday, as she is currently undertaking her Pro-Diploma.
"We're delighted to welcome Emily Husband, Kat Smith, and Melissa Barbieri to the Matildas coaching staff for the upcoming international window as part of our 'Team of Coaches' initiative," said general manager of women's national teams Briana Harvey.
"Each of these coaches brings a unique perspective and deep experience from their leadership roles in the A-League Women, and their inclusion reflects our commitment to both strengthening our national team environment and supporting the ongoing development of Australian female coaching talent.
"Providing professional development opportunities for women in high-performance settings is a vital part of building a more equitable and successful football system.
"Alongside Catherine Cannuli in the Young Matildas program, Emily, Kat and Melissa have all led programs at the elite domestic level and bring valuable tactical knowledge, player development insight, and lived experience from the A-League Women's landscape.
"This can only enrich the work we do within our national team environment."
There is currently a dearth of female head coaches in Football Australia's ranks.
Joe Montemurro looms as the next Matildas coach, while Alex Epakis and Michael Cooper were appointed as head coaches of the U20 and U17 programs respectively.
Former Matildas senior assistant Melissa Andreatta was last month appointed head coach of Scotland's women's team.
Former Young Matildas coach Leah Blayney departed to take up an assistant coach role with Japan's women's team in January.
The 'Team of Coaches' initiative aims to develop coaches through receiving hands-on experience in national team environments while maintaining their club commitments.
"This is exactly what the Team of Coaches initiative is designed to support as we work to create a pipeline of capable, confident female coaches ready to take on the highest levels of the game," Harvey said.
"Recently witnessing Melissa Andreatta step into the head coach role in Scotland, Leah Blayney joining the coaching staff of Japan, as well as other Australian coaching staff working internationally in football, these are clear signs that the system is working.
"These appointments are not just symbolic but are building the future of Australian football."
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