Latest news with #ProfessionalFootballersAustralia
Daily Mail
3 days 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
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
United pay dramas not standing in Aloisi's way
Western United coach John Aloisi won't let the shadow of player payment issues ruin his team's shot at reaching another A-League Men grand final. United already had a mountain to climb in a 3-0 deficit against Melbourne City ahead of Saturday night's semi-final second leg at AAMI Park. Then Professional Footballers Australia served the club with breach notices over "unacceptable" unpaid wages and superannuation on Tuesday. United must complete payments within two weeks, by Tuesday June 3, or players can take further action, including termination of contract. The timing couldn't be much worse - but unfortunately, Aloisi and his charges can call on experience. "It's happened more than once, so we've been able to deal with that in the past," Aloisi said. "So we, the players, won't use it as an excuse. "The club's going through this transition at the moment in terms of a takeover, so it has been difficult at times for the club, which we understand. "But the players have never, in the last (however) long, have never used it as an excuse or even really let it affect their football and our focus at all times has only been on doing well and playing, and they've done well for the whole season. "So I'm sure they'll be ready for tomorrow night, no matter what the news was during the week. "Because it's news that got out, but it's something that we've been dealing with internally for a period of time." It's understood the majority of payments were settled by Friday, with Western confident of completing the rest by early next week. "My understanding is that everyone's being paid at the club," Aloisi said. "Even like speaking to the boys today about things in general, no-one ever mentioned about that to me. So it means it wasn't affecting them that much." Aloisi is unclear how far off the proposed takeover by new investors KAM Melbourne is. But he is confident the drama hasn't affected his work with the players. "From my side, hasn't affected preparations at all," he said. "My job the whole year, even when we've gone through some difficult circumstances, which have been there for a period of time, that is to keep the boys focused on playing well, preparing well. "It's been the same this week, and they've done really well." Star striker Noah Botic is clear to start after he was limited to a bench role through a quad injury last week, while James Donachie (adductor) is fit. Aloisi is adamant United can overcome the deficit. "We've had periods of games where we've scored three or four goals within a 10-15 minute period. So we know we can do that," he said. "The main thing is not to be anxious, not to panic, to play with freedom. "We've got nothing to lose. They've got everything to lose because they're in such a good position."
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australia coach Tom Sermanni addresses Sam Kerr concerns ahead of SheBelieves Cup
On the eve of Australia's SheBelieves Cup debut, interim head coach Tom Sermanni said the Matildas are ready to move on from the lingering questions about Sam Kerr. 'For us, the most important part is if we (can) get Sam healthy as quickly and as safely as possible and get her back on the field,' Sermanni told reporters on Wednesday. The rest, he repeated to reporters, was 'irrelevant.' Speaking from Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, the Scottish manager navigated multiple questions about the team's longtime captain, who last week was found not guilty of aggravated harassment of a police officer following a seven-day trial in London. Kerr has been absent from international duty since last year, following an ACL injury sustained at training in Morocco. Yet concerns over her future role on the team have loomed upon her return to the international stage. Questions have lingered as to whether Kerr would resume her captaincy, a position veteran defender Stephanie Catley has since stepped into. Catley has 'done a fantastic job,' Sermanni said. Any concerns over Kerr's captaincy are 'irrelevant,' he added. 'It's really, completely and utterly not part of our focus,' he said. 'Because at this minute in time, Sam is injured. She's been injured for 13 months. Hasn't been in international (competition) for 16 months, and the team is just getting on with its normal business.' The Matildas open SheBelieves on Thursday against Asian Football Confederation rivals Japan. The tournament is an important milestone for the Australians as they prepare to host the AFC Asian Cup next year. SheBelieves marks the team's first games of 2025 as Sermanni continues to experiment with the Matilda's lineup. 'For us, it's just getting on, getting prepared for this tournament this week, and, again, looking forward to 2026,' Sermanni said. While Kerr may be far from the United States, the team remains in contact over her recovery. Sermanni has been in touch with Kerr over text, he said, explaining that their interactions have been brief because he wanted to respect her space. 'It's been a pretty long couple of weeks with Sam. So, the last thing she needs is people constantly badgering her at this time,' Sermanni said. 'So, we've had some contact. She knows what we're thinking. Our physios are keeping in touch, keeping in touch with Chelsea. The lines of communication are very much open.' Kerr's status with the team is just one of the questions facing the Matildas. Many wonder how long Sermanni will remain in his interim role, a job he said he is taking 'day to day.' There are also questions over the ongoing dispute between the team's players union, the Professional Footballers Australia, and their federation, Football Australia, with players telling reporters this week they are unsure how much they will be paid for competing in the SheBelieves Cup, according reports by Australian media. Players have also kept their comments on Kerr brief since the verdict, mostly wishing their teammate well in her recovery. Defender Ellie Carpenter was one of the first to speak on it, telling Australian reporters on Tuesday, 'For us, we hope she's OK.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Australia, NWSL, UK Women's Football 2025 The Athletic Media Company
