It has been a memorable and historic season for Central Coast Mariners head coach Emily Husband, and it has been capped by a call-up to the national team.
Almost a fortnight ago, Husband guided the Mariners to their first Championship in just their second season since returning to the competition following a 14-year hiatus.
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Fast forward to this week and the history-making Englishwoman is in camp with the CommBank Matildas.
Husband is one of three female coaches drafted into the Matildas’ coaching staff, alongside interim head coach Tom Sermanni, for friendlies against Argentina and Slovenia.
Along with Western United head coach Kat Smith, Melbourne City player-coach Melissa Barbieri and Young Matildas boss Catherine Cannuli, they are part of Football Australia’s ‘Team of Coaches’ initiative.
The initiative is designed to help 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.
“The ‘Team of Coaches’ initiative reinforces 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 previously.
“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.”
The Matildas face Argentina at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Friday night before heading to Canberra for a rematch at GIO Stadium on Monday.
Australia will then meet Slovenia in a pair of friendlies in Perth on June 26 and 29.
