- Tony Gustavsson named new Australia women’s national team coach
- Gustavsson was assistant to USA coach Jill Ellis at last two World Cups
- The Swede will be tasked with leading the hosts at the 2023 Women’s World Cup
Two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup™-winning assistant coach Tony Gustavsson has been named the new head coach of Australia women’s national team.
The Swede has been tasked with the responsibility of leading co-hosts Australia at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Gustavsson’s coaching pedigree includes consecutive Women’s World Cup trophies in 2015 and 2019, when he served as No2 to Jill Ellis with USA. He was also assistant to Pia Sundhage when USA won gold at the 2012 London Olympics.
Gustavsson is currently working as the first team head coach at Swedish top flight men’s side Hammarby. His successes at club level include leading Tyreso to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2014.
Gustavsson’s contract runs until 2024 and he is set to be in charge of the Matildas for several important international competitions, including next year’s Tokyo 2020 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 and the showpiece event, the Women’s World Cup on home soil.
The 47-year-old will be looking to improve upon the Matildas’ showing at France 2019, where they dropped out after the Round of 16, losing to Norway on penalties.
“I am extremely proud and happy to have been appointed (Australia) head coach,” Gustavsson said. “I feel that my 21 years of coaching have put me in the position to be ready for this.
“It feels as if I have come to a moment where this is what I have been waiting for – to lead the Matildas for four years and also at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
“I have always said that the Matildas have the potential to be one of the best teams in the world and that is one of the reasons that I wanted to get on board with this job.
“I have been in the pressure cooker a lot of times and in environments that demand success. These experiences will be beneficial as we do this together with the fans, the stakeholders, the players, and the staff as a team.”
