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.

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