The CommBank Matildas have appointed Ninja A-League Championship-winning head coach Emily Husband as an assistant coach to new boss Joe Montemurro.
The Englishwoman became just the fourth female coach to secure a Ninja A-League Championship as the Mariners upstaged two-time reigning premiers Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory en route to Grand Final glory in her second season with the Gosford-based club.
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“It’s an honour to be appointed as assistant coach to the CommBank Matildas,” said Husband. “To be trusted with the chance to contribute, even in a small way, to the Matildas and their future is an absolute privilege.
“They are such an important part of Australian sport and culture, and I’m really excited to help push the team forward.
“Joe is someone I’ve always had enormous respect for. Not just for his football brain, but for the way he leads.
“We’ve had the chance to work together before, and I’m genuinely thrilled to build on that now as we hopefully play a part in guiding the Matildas to reach greater heights.”
Part of Football Australia’s ‘Team of Coaches’ Initiative, Husband most recently joined the Matildas during the May/June FIFA women’s international window, working alongside the technical staff throughout the Argentina series.
Montemurro added: “Emily is an astute, modern coach who’s already proven her quality at the domestic level.
“Her work with the Central Coast Mariners has been phenomenal and demonstrates the qualities she will bring to the CommBank Matildas.
“Emily has a deep understanding of the game, an ability to connect with players, and a fresh perspective that will be invaluable to our setup. I’m looking forward to working closely with her once again.”
Head of national teams Gary Moretti said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Emily Husband to the CommBank Matildas coaching team.
“Her success with the Central Coast Mariners this season was outstanding and builds on the strong foundation she laid in 2024.
“Emily is one of the most exciting coaches in Australian football, and we’re proud to see her progress into the national team environment.”
Featured image: Rachel Bach/Football Australia
