Latest news with #ALW
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Matildas coach takes aim at the professionalism of the A-League Women competition despite big win over Argentina
Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni says Australia has to be at the 'cutting edge' of women's football to remain in contention to win a Women's World Cup. In Thursday's pre-match press conference, Sermanni slammed the professionalism of the A-League Women competition, especially in the wake of the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. After the Matildas' 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday night, Sermanni's 150th game at the helm, the women's football stalwart said he hoped his comments would prompt a 'positive reaction'. 'I always want more for the women's game,' he said. 'That's my job, and it's always been my job, and it's been my job since I first walked into women's football in 1994 and it will continue to be my job. 'And while I've got a position where I can influence things, then it's important that I do that.' Professional Footballers Australia have previously warned of a potential player drain from the ALW if the league is not fully professionalised within the next two years. When asked what a lack of progress could mean for the Matildas' player pathways, Sermanni said: 'It's like any industry, probably, you've got to keep at the cutting edge. 'You can't afford to stay still, and you can't afford to go backwards. It's as simple as that. The world has opened up for women's football. 'Europe has come alive in the last three or four years. The game in the last two to three to four years has expanded more than it did in the 10 years previous to that. 'So we need to keep up with that. And to keep up with that, we need to put certain things in place domestically, and we need to put certain things in place internationally. 'It's important that we do that with everybody on board and everybody pushing in the right direction, and that's A-League people, FA (Football Australia) people and club people.' Australia reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup. When asked whether Australia was getting closer to or further away from winning football's grandest prize, Sermanni said: 'It's getting harder. 'It's not necessarily whether closer or further away. It's actually getting harder because the big countries are investing in women's football.' Sermanni pointed to England and Spain kicking on over the past decade. 'So what's happened is that, there's far more investment in the game worldwide and if South America comes alive, that will make it even tougher. 'When all of our players are fit and healthy, I think we have got a high-quality squad that can compete with anyone in the world. 'And in reality, two years ago, we came close to winning the World Cup
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Matildas coach Tom Sermanni blasts Australian women's football scene
As he prepares to hand over the reins to the Matildas, interim coach Tom Sermanni has launched a blistering attack on the Australian domestic football scene. The Central Coast Mariners won their first A-League Women's crown with a penalty shootout victory over Melbourne Victory on May 18. But the result produced very little coverage across mainstream media, with the domestic football scene in Australia struggling to keep up with the country's other major sports competitions. Sermanni, who is in his third stint as coach of the Matildas, will lead the team into Friday night's clash with Argentina in Melbourne. Joe Montemurro, who has just won the French domestic league title with Lyon, is widely expected to replace Sermanni. The interim coach took the opportunity to blast the state of Australia's domestic women's team in the build-up to the clash with Argentina at Marvel Stadium. Every current player in the Australian squad competed in the ALW at some stage of their careers, but Sermanni believes the competition has gone backwards. 'We really need to have, at A-League level, a real rethink,' he said. 'The league has been going for 17 years. When we started the league, and the coaches came from our institute programs, we had full-time coaches and more full-time staff than we have now, 17 years in. 'The A-League separated five years ago and what we have done since then is we've got home and away, which is an improvement, but we are still grossly under-invested in the women's game here. 'I don't know if there's a thought process going forward about where they want to take the league or what they want to do. 'But there's a huge amount of work that actually needs to be done.' The Matildas were riding the crest of an enormous wave during the 2023 FIFA World Cup on home soil, enjoying record TV ratings for their march to the semi-finals. But that didn't translate to increased interest and professionalism in the ALW. 'It's even more irritating when you think how we had the most successful World Cup ever two years ago, and A-League Women are in the situation that they're in now, it's just not good enough,' he added. The ALW was established back in 2008, originally known as the W-League. Once among the most important and influential women's leagues globally, it has been surpassed by competitions in Europe, the United States and beyond. Sermanni insisted the majority of the ALW's 12 teams are 'inadequately staffed'. 'At that time (it was founded), our league was the forefront of women's leagues, to be perfectly honest,' Sermanni said. 'It's still very important and coaches, staffs and players are doing exceptionally well. 'But the league itself is in need of significant improvement in its professionalism. 'There are three clubs that are suitably staffed — that's Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix. And the rest of the clubs are completely inadequately staffed. 'Players get 35-week contracts now. 'A league has just started in Canada — football-wise, we're well in advance of Canada — where the base salary is twice what our basic salary is, where there's full-time staff, full-time players. 'And we are still trying to produce players when we have a space of three months where the club has got no contact, no control, no reference point for the players, to actually keep them and know what's happening.' Sermanni will lead the Matildas for a 150th time on Friday night. The team then has another friendly with Argentina in Canberra on Monday before taking on Slovenia in Perth on June 26. Montemurro is expected to soon take over from interim manager Sermanni for the build-up to the 2026 Asian Cup in Australia.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Matildas coach unloads both barrels on A-League Women
Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has delivered a scathing criticism of the A-League Women competition's professionalism and says Australian football remains "grossly-underinvested" in the women's game. That the league is not yet fully professional is particularly "irritating" for Sermanni, given the blockbuster success of the 2023 Women's World Cup. Every player in the Matildas squad has played in the ALW at some point, including six players currently in the domestic league. But on Thursday, women's football stalwart Sermanni, typically a happy-go-lucky character, unleashed both barrels. "We really need to have, at A-League level, a real rethink," he said. "The league has been going for 17 years. When we started the league, and the coaches came from our institute programs, we had full-time coaches and more full-time staff than we have now, 17 years in. "The A-League separated five years ago and what we have done since then is we've got home and away, which is an improvement, but we are still grossly under-invested in the women's game here. "I don't know if there's a thought process going forward about where they want to take the league or what they want to do. But there's a huge amount of work that actually needs to be done. "It's even more irritating, when you think how we had the most successful World Cup ever two years ago, and A-League Women are in the situation that they're in now, it's just not good enough." The ALW, formerly W-League, started in 2008. "At that time, our league was the forefront of women's leagues, to be perfectly honest," Sermanni said. "It's still very important, and coaches, staffs and players are doing exceptionally well. But the league itself is in need of significant improvement in its professionalism. "There are three clubs that are suitably staffed - that's Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix. And the rest of the clubs are completely inadequately staffed. "Players get 35-week contracts now. "A league has just started in Canada - football wise, we're well in advance of Canada - where the base salary is twice what our basic salary is, where there's full-time staff, full-time players. "And we are still trying to produce players when we have a space of three months where the club has got no contact, no control, no reference point for the players, to actually keep them and know what's happening." Professional Footballers Australia has warned of the potential for a "player drain" from the ALW and its effect on developing Matildas if the league isn't fully professionalised. CEO Beau Busch reiterated that needed to happen by the 2026-27 season to capitalise on next year's Asian Cup. "Setting that as our target and achieving it will prevent us falling further behind as global standards continue to rise at pace," he said. The Australian Professional Leagues have been contacted for comment. In Canada's Northern Super League, where new call-up Kahli Johnson plays, the minimum wage is $A56,000, more than double the ALW's $26,000, with a salary cap of $A1.8 million compared to $600,000. Sermanni will coach the Matildas for the 150th time across three stints in Friday night's clash with Argentina at Marvel Stadium, with Central Coast's Emily Husband and Western United's Kat Smith among his assistants. Arsenal trio Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are unlikely to start after only arriving in camp on Wednesday night following their Women's Champions League triumph. Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has delivered a scathing criticism of the A-League Women competition's professionalism and says Australian football remains "grossly-underinvested" in the women's game. That the league is not yet fully professional is particularly "irritating" for Sermanni, given the blockbuster success of the 2023 Women's World Cup. Every player in the Matildas squad has played in the ALW at some point, including six players currently in the domestic league. But on Thursday, women's football stalwart Sermanni, typically a happy-go-lucky character, unleashed both barrels. "We really need to have, at A-League level, a real rethink," he said. "The league has been going for 17 years. When we started the league, and the coaches came from our institute programs, we had full-time coaches and more full-time staff than we have now, 17 years in. "The A-League separated five years ago and what we have done since then is we've got home and away, which is an improvement, but we are still grossly under-invested in the women's game here. "I don't know if there's a thought process going forward about where they want to take the league or what they want to do. But there's a huge amount of work that actually needs to be done. "It's even more irritating, when you think how we had the most successful World Cup ever two years ago, and A-League Women are in the situation that they're in now, it's just not good enough." The ALW, formerly W-League, started in 2008. "At that time, our league was the forefront of women's leagues, to be perfectly honest," Sermanni said. "It's still very important, and coaches, staffs and players are doing exceptionally well. But the league itself is in need of significant improvement in its professionalism. "There are three clubs that are suitably staffed - that's Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix. And the rest of the clubs are completely inadequately staffed. "Players get 35-week contracts now. "A league has just started in Canada - football wise, we're well in advance of Canada - where the base salary is twice what our basic salary is, where there's full-time staff, full-time players. "And we are still trying to produce players when we have a space of three months where the club has got no contact, no control, no reference point for the players, to actually keep them and know what's happening." Professional Footballers Australia has warned of the potential for a "player drain" from the ALW and its effect on developing Matildas if the league isn't fully professionalised. CEO Beau Busch reiterated that needed to happen by the 2026-27 season to capitalise on next year's Asian Cup. "Setting that as our target and achieving it will prevent us falling further behind as global standards continue to rise at pace," he said. The Australian Professional Leagues have been contacted for comment. In Canada's Northern Super League, where new call-up Kahli Johnson plays, the minimum wage is $A56,000, more than double the ALW's $26,000, with a salary cap of $A1.8 million compared to $600,000. Sermanni will coach the Matildas for the 150th time across three stints in Friday night's clash with Argentina at Marvel Stadium, with Central Coast's Emily Husband and Western United's Kat Smith among his assistants. Arsenal trio Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are unlikely to start after only arriving in camp on Wednesday night following their Women's Champions League triumph. Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has delivered a scathing criticism of the A-League Women competition's professionalism and says Australian football remains "grossly-underinvested" in the women's game. That the league is not yet fully professional is particularly "irritating" for Sermanni, given the blockbuster success of the 2023 Women's World Cup. Every player in the Matildas squad has played in the ALW at some point, including six players currently in the domestic league. But on Thursday, women's football stalwart Sermanni, typically a happy-go-lucky character, unleashed both barrels. "We really need to have, at A-League level, a real rethink," he said. "The league has been going for 17 years. When we started the league, and the coaches came from our institute programs, we had full-time coaches and more full-time staff than we have now, 17 years in. "The A-League separated five years ago and what we have done since then is we've got home and away, which is an improvement, but we are still grossly under-invested in the women's game here. "I don't know if there's a thought process going forward about where they want to take the league or what they want to do. But there's a huge amount of work that actually needs to be done. "It's even more irritating, when you think how we had the most successful World Cup ever two years ago, and A-League Women are in the situation that they're in now, it's just not good enough." The ALW, formerly W-League, started in 2008. "At that time, our league was the forefront of women's leagues, to be perfectly honest," Sermanni said. "It's still very important, and coaches, staffs and players are doing exceptionally well. But the league itself is in need of significant improvement in its professionalism. "There are three clubs that are suitably staffed - that's Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix. And the rest of the clubs are completely inadequately staffed. "Players get 35-week contracts now. "A league has just started in Canada - football wise, we're well in advance of Canada - where the base salary is twice what our basic salary is, where there's full-time staff, full-time players. "And we are still trying to produce players when we have a space of three months where the club has got no contact, no control, no reference point for the players, to actually keep them and know what's happening." Professional Footballers Australia has warned of the potential for a "player drain" from the ALW and its effect on developing Matildas if the league isn't fully professionalised. CEO Beau Busch reiterated that needed to happen by the 2026-27 season to capitalise on next year's Asian Cup. "Setting that as our target and achieving it will prevent us falling further behind as global standards continue to rise at pace," he said. The Australian Professional Leagues have been contacted for comment. In Canada's Northern Super League, where new call-up Kahli Johnson plays, the minimum wage is $A56,000, more than double the ALW's $26,000, with a salary cap of $A1.8 million compared to $600,000. Sermanni will coach the Matildas for the 150th time across three stints in Friday night's clash with Argentina at Marvel Stadium, with Central Coast's Emily Husband and Western United's Kat Smith among his assistants. Arsenal trio Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are unlikely to start after only arriving in camp on Wednesday night following their Women's Champions League triumph.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
A-League Women investment criticised by interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni
Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has delivered a scathing critique of the A-League Women competition's professionalism, stating that Australian football remains "grossly underinvested" in the women's game. That the league is not yet fully professional is particularly "irritating" for Sermanni, given the blockbuster success of the 2023 Women's World Cup. Every player in the Matildas squad has played in the ALW at some point, including six players currently in the domestic league. But on Thursday, women's football stalwart Sermanni, typically a happy-go-lucky character, unleashed both barrels. "We really need to have, at A-League level, a real rethink," he said. "The league has been going for 17 years. When we started the league, and the coaches came from our institute programs, we had full-time coaches and more full-time staff than we have now, 17 years in. "The A-League separated five years ago and what we have done since then is we've got home and away, which is an improvement, but we are still grossly under-invested in the women's game here. "I don't know if there's a thought process going forward about where they want to take the league or what they want to do. But there's a huge amount of work that actually needs to be done. "It's even more irritating when you think how we had the most successful World Cup ever two years ago, and A-League Women are in the situation that they're in now, it's just not good enough." The ALW, formerly W-League, started in 2008. "At that time, our league was the forefront of women's leagues, to be perfectly honest," Sermanni said. "It's still very important, and coaches, staffs and players are doing exceptionally well. But the league itself is in need of significant improvement in its professionalism. "There are three clubs that are suitably staffed — that's Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix. And the rest of the clubs are completely inadequately staffed. "Players get 35-week contracts now. "A league has just started in Canada — football-wise, we're well in advance of Canada — where the base salary is twice what our basic salary is, where there's full-time staff, full-time players. "And we are still trying to produce players when we have a space of three months where the club has got no contact, no control, no reference point for the players, to actually keep them and know what's happening." Professional Footballers Australia has warned of the potential for a "player drain" from the ALW and its effect on developing Matildas if the league isn't fully professionalised. CEO Beau Busch reiterated that it needed to happen by the 2026-27 season to capitalise on next year's Asian Cup. "Setting that as our target and achieving it will prevent us falling further behind as global standards continue to rise at pace," he said. The Australian Professional Leagues have been contacted for comment. In Canada's Northern Super League, where new call-up Kahli Johnson plays, the minimum wage is $56,000, more than double the ALW's $26,000, with a salary cap of $1.8 million compared to $600,000. Sermanni will coach the Matildas for the 150th time across three stints in Friday night's clash with Argentina at Marvel Stadium, with Central Coast's Emily Husband and Western United's Kat Smith among his assistants. Arsenal trio Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are unlikely to start after only arriving in camp on Wednesday night following their Women's Champions League triumph. AAP
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Matildas coach Tom Sermanni lashes A-League Women for ‘gross' underinvestment
Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has delivered a scathing criticism of the A-League Women competition's professionalism and says Australian football remains 'grossly underinvested' in the women's game. That the league is not yet fully professional is particularly 'irritating' for Sermanni, given the blockbuster success of the 2023 Women's World Cup. Every player in the Matildas squad has played in the ALW at some point, including six players currently in the domestic league. Speaking ahead of Friday's international friendly against Argentina, Sermanni, typically a happy-go-lucky character, unleashed both barrels. 'We really need to have, at A-League level, a real rethink,' he said. 'The league has been going for 17 years. When we started the league, and the coaches came from our institute programs, we had full-time coaches and more full-time staff than we have now, 17 years in. 'The A-League separated five years ago and what we have done since then is we've got home and away, which is an improvement, but we are still grossly underinvested in the women's game here. 'I don't know if there's a thought process going forward about where they want to take the league or what they want to do. But there's a huge amount of work that actually needs to be done. 'It's even more irritating, when you think how we had the most successful World Cup ever two years ago, and A-League Women are in the situation that they're in now, it's just not good enough.' The ALW, formerly W-League, started in 2008. 'At that time, our league was the forefront of women's leagues, to be perfectly honest,' Sermanni said. 'It's still very important, and coaches, staffs and players are doing exceptionally well. But the league itself is in need of significant improvement in its professionalism. 'There are three clubs that are suitably staffed – that's Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix. And the rest of the clubs are completely inadequately staffed. Players get 35-week contracts now. 'A league has just started in Canada – football wise, we're well in advance of Canada – where the base salary is twice what our basic salary is, where there's full-time staff, full-time players. 'And we are still trying to produce players when we have a space of three months where the club has got no contact, no control, no reference point for the players, to actually keep them and know what's happening.' Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Professional Footballers Australia has warned of the potential for a 'player drain' from the ALW and its effect on developing Matildas if the league isn't fully professionalised. The PFA's chief executive, Beau Busch, reiterated professionalisation needed to happen by the 2026-27 season to capitalise on next year's Asian Cup. 'Setting that as our target and achieving it will prevent us falling further behind as global standards continue to rise at pace,' he said. The Australian Professional Leagues have been contacted for comment. In Canada's Northern Super League, where new Matildas call-up Kahli Johnson plays, the minimum wage is A$56,000, more than double the ALW's $26,000, with a salary cap of A$1.8m compared to $600,000. Sermanni will coach the Matildas for the 150th time across three stints in Friday night's clash with Argentina at Marvel Stadium, with Central Coast's Emily Husband and Western United's Kat Smith among his assistants. Arsenal trio Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are unlikely to start after only arriving in camp on Wednesday night after their Women's Champions League triumph.
