Western Sydney Wanderers have confirmed the departure of Liberty A-League head coach Kat Smith effective immediately, only 10 days out from their season opener against defending champions Sydney FC.
Smith departs the club after only a single season at the helm, taking the Wanderers to a seventh-placed finish last season.
She will be replaced by Robbie Hooker, who will lead Western Sydney for the 2023-24 season.
Hooker previously served as inaugural head coach of Canberra United, guiding them to a Grand Final appearance, which they lost 2-0 to Queensland Roar.
He departed the club in 2009, before taking up a multitude of roles in both the Socceroos and Matildas set-ups and most recently played a role in Football Australia’s coaching education programs.
Hooker also coached New York Power in the WUSA (Women’s United Soccer Association) prior to taking on the Canberra role in 2008, following a successful playing career which saw him capped 22 times by the Socceroos and feature for a plethora of NSL sides.
He will be in attendance at the club’s Member & Fan Forum held at Club Marconi tonight.
