Merely a week after naming his first squad as Matildas coach to take part in the Cup of Nations over the next fortnight, Milicic named Sam Kerr and Steph Catley as captain and vice-captain respectively.

Kerr already boasts nearly 80 caps despite only being in her mid-twenties and has quickly become the face of Australian football over the past two years. 

“She carries the team, her work ethic, her discipline and the way she’s handled herself from the very first team meeting has been fantastic,” Milicic told reporters.

“We’ve had meetings with the whole squad and also the leadership group and it’s just a decision we’ve made early on in the piece before our first game and I think it’s just clarity moving forward.

"One thing I will say is they’re a very tight knit group, they get along fantastically well and they’re all supportive of each other."

Milicic's comments come in the wake of a reportedly divided Matildas camp following the sudden sacking of Alen Stajcic, with the coach's departure publicly blamed on a series of anonymous surveys conducted among the playing group.

But Milicic maintains the decision to appoint Kerr the Matildas captain over a variety of more experienced campaigners is not only justified, but will take the team to the next level.

“The [captaincy] was shared around in the past and when I came in I had a firm decision in my mind I just had to see that confirmation first-hand because even with footballing games, watching them on a laptop and then coming in live it’s different," he said.

"I had those thoughts in my mind that’s why I’ve made the decision straight sway before this first game.

“She’s an elite athlete, she’s used to having a lot of publicity around her and I think she’s going to grow to a new level."