TWG now focuses on candidates who are currently or have been recently active internationally, with experiences in overseas leagues, as well as in coaching roles of national teams.

Jitka Klimková

Klimková is a former Czech footballer and currently serves as the head coach of the United States U20 women’s team. Previous to this, she was the head coach of the Czech Republic’s U19 women’s team, the New Zealand U17 women’s team, and the United States U19 women’s team. She also spent time in Australia, coaching Canberra United from 2011-2013 and led them to an undefeated Championship-Premiership double in her first season. However Klimková has not been in Australia for several years, so she may be unfamiliar with the whole new generation of players coming through the ranks and cracking into the Matildas side now and in the near future. She also has not been involved with any of Australia’s international sides but her experience with international women’s football (particularly the United States, the most successful senior women’s team in history) suggests she has plenty of knowledge and technical capabilities, and is familiar with many of the backroom processes and preparations that go into international tournaments.

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Silvia Neid

Neid is a former German professional player and coach, and served as the head coach of the German women’s football team from 2005-2016. Neid was one of the most successful German players in the country’s history, winning several titles in her homeland, as well as winning the UEFA Women’s Championship three times and reaching the final of the 1995 World Cup with Germany. Immediately after retiring from playing, Neid joined the German women’s national team in a coaching capacity, winning the 2004 World Championship with the U19 women’s side. She served as assistant manager to the senior women’s side before taking over as head coach in 2005, taking them to victories in the 2007 World Cup, the UEFA Women’s Championship in 2009 and 2013, the Algarve Cup in 2006, 2012, and 2014, and the 2016 Summer Olympics. Neid was named the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football in 2010, 2013, and 2016. However, Neid has no knowledge or experience of Australian women’s football, but her international credentials speak for themselves.

Norio Sasaki

Sasaki is a Japanese former footballer and manager, and has had head coaching roles with Japan’s U17, U20 and senior women’s teams. Under Sasaki, Japan won the East Asian Football Championship in 2008 and 2010, and led the team to a fouth-place finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Most notably, Sasaki led Japan to their first Women’s World Cup win in 2011, defeating the United States on penalties. After their World Cup victory, he was named the AFC Coach of the Year and the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football. Sasaki’s Japan then went on to win silver at the 2012 Olympics, and took the AFC Women’s Asian Cup title in 2014. In 2015, Sasaki led Japan to another Women’s World Cup final, ultimately losing to the United States. He stepped down in 2016 following Japan’s failure to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. What makes Sasaki stand out from the other international candidates is his familiarity with Australian football: while he has not coached in Australia, the Matildas’ participation in Asian competitions means Sasaki has played against Australia several more times than the other candidates. His subsequent familiarity with Asian football generally means he is well positioned to lead the Matildas not just through future World Cups but also other tournaments in Asia such as the Asian Games and Asian Cup.

   CHECK OUT THE LOCAL NAMES IN THE FRAME HERE    

Vera Pauw

Vera Pauw is a Dutch former player and coach, having managed several national women’s teams since 1998 including Scotland, the Netherlands, Russia, and South Africa. Her most recent coaching stint was with the Houston Dash in the NWSL, where they finished sixth. While Pauw has no knowledge of the W-League or Australian football, her international experience is undeniable: she led the Netherlands to the semi-final of the UEFA Women’s European Championships in 2009, and undoubtedly contributed to South Africa qualifying for their first ever World Cup this year through her involvement from 2014-2016. Her experience in the NWSL is also valuable, as many take the American women’s league to be one of the best in the world. During her time at Houston, she had to manage several international-level players who will be appearing at this year’s World Cup, including some current Matildas. Whether FFA are willing to take a chance on a coach with such vast international experience but little local knowledge to lead the Matildas into the future is the big question.

Laura Harvey

Harvey is a former English footballer and current head coach of NWSL side Utah Royals FC. While, like Pauw, she has no experience of Australian football, Harvey boasts one of the best CVs in women’s coaching, with head coaching roles in both England and the United States. She began her career in England, coaching the England u17, u19, and u23 women’s teams from 2005-2011. During this time, she was also the head coach of Birmingham City Ladies and Arsenal’s women’s side. She was named the FAWSL Coach of the Year in 2011 after leading Arsenal to win the league title, FA Cup, and Continental Cup in the same year. Finishing her stint in 2012, having won three league titles, Harvey was hired as the head coach of NWSL side Seattle Reign from 2013-2017. During her 2014 reign, Harvey led Seattle to a record unbeaten streak of 16 games, with the team finishing first in the regular season. During this time, Harvey was named NWSL Coach of the Year, the FA Coach of the Year, and was a finalist for the FIFA World Coach of the Year. In 2017, Harvey was named as head coach of the United States U23 women’s side, and took on an expanded role with the US Soccer Federation after her exit from Seattle. In 2018, she was appointed head coach of new NWSL franchise, Utah Royals FC, helping them to fifth in their inaugural season. It’s understood Harvey was hoping for a national team head coaching role after leaving Seattle, and is likely a strong international candidate for the Matildas head coach role given her experiences in national team set-ups, as well as with several Australian players in the NWSL.

While this list is in no way exhaustive, it also shows there is no shortage of talented, experienced head coaches capable of taking on the Matildas head coaching role.

   CHECK OUT THE LOCAL NAMES IN THE FRAME HERE