Ninja A-League head coaches Emily Husband and Kat Smith, and Melbourne City goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, will get a taste of national team coaching while remaining in their current roles as part of a ‘game-changing’ new initiative from Football Australia.
On Monday, the governing body announced the appointments of former Perth Glory boss Alex Epakis as new head coach of the CommBank Young Matildas (U20 national team) and Michael Cooper as head coach of the CommBank Junior Matildas (U17 national team), while also unveiling their ‘Team of Coaches’ initiative.
“As part of Football Australia’s development strategy, Cooper and Epakis will work closely with Ninja A-League Women and NPL Women clubs, plus Member Federation Technical Directors, to strengthen alignment between domestic and national pathways,” a press release explained.
“This collaboration will enhance talent identification, streamline player development, and expand opportunities for young footballers to progress, ensuring they are prepared for international competition while thriving at their clubs.
“Football Australia’s Team of Coaches initiative aims to develop the next generation of high-performance football coaches by providing hands-on experience in national team environments, international camps, and tournaments while maintaining their club commitments.
READ MORE
‘I WAS DONE’: Retirement u-turn at 22 inspires A-Leagues revelation
FEATURE: Epic story of 14yo international who arrived in Aus as World no. 138’s icon
MADE WITH MITRE MOMENTS: Australia’s most unexpected title charge
“The inaugural cohort consists of four high-performance club coaches, ensuring strong alignment between domestic and national team football.”
Husband, Smith and Barbieri are joined by former Western Sydney Wanderers head coach Catherine Cannuli in the program, which has five key objectives.
- Advance senior coach development to keep Australia competitive globally.
- Strengthen coaching depth and pathways within the football ecosystem.
- Identify and mentor future national team coaches, ensuring long-term succession.
- Bridge the gap between club and international football, offering high-performance exposure.
- Enhance collaboration between clubs and national teams, integrating best-practice coaching.
“The appointments of Michael Cooper and Alex Epakis, alongside the ‘Team of Coaches’ initiative, reinforce our commitment to building a seamless high- performance pathway from youth national teams to the CommBank Matildas,” Football Australia’s Head of National Teams Gary Moretti said.
“Michael and Alex bring proven expertise in talent identification, player development, and high-performance coaching.
“Their leadership will drive sustainable success and ensure stronger alignment between club and international football, creating a more connected coaching ecosystem for the future.
“Team of Coaches is a game-changer – offering top coaches national team experience while continuing their club roles, strengthening our coaching depth and leadership pipeline.”
Epakis and Cooper will take up their roles on 10 March and 17 March respectively, to prepare for AFC and FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s competitions in late 2025, with domestic camps scheduled for April.
