New CommBank Matildas Head Coach Joe Montemurro said that the opportunity to lead the national team of his own country was incredibly emotional.
The 55-year-old from Melbourne spoke to media alongside Football Australia Interim CEO Heather Garriock on Monday morning after the announcement that the title-winning former Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City, Arsenal, Juventus and Lyon coach would be the next permanent Head Coach of the CommBank Matildas.
“I'm here because of the love of the game here and the love of the opportunity to come back,” he said.
“All these years that I went through the coaching journey in Australia, all these years through the A-League… to be given the opportunity to lead one of the best brands in the world, one of the most exciting teams in the world, and to do it at home, it's something quite emotional.”
Garriock said that Montemurro ticked every box that the federation was looking for in their search for a new Head Coach.
“Every one of the criteria, Joe ticks,” she said.
“That's the reason why we fought so hard to get Joe back to Australia. He's Australian, and Australian-based. He loves football, he loves the nation. He wants to develop the next generation, and he knows how to win a few trophies.”
Those trophies include a Premiership and two Championships with Melbourne City, including their undefeated 2015/16 season; The FA Women’s League Cup and the Women’s Super League with Arsenal in 2017/18 and 2018/19 respectively; The Serie A with Juventus in 2021/22, and the Coppa Italia in 2021/22 and 2022/23; and the Division 1 Feminine with Lyon in 2024/25.
Montemurro explained the philosophy and playing style that he will bring to the CommBank Matildas.
“We want to control the game. We want to have the ball. We want to be able to control the game even when we don't have the ball,” he said.
“You’ll see a team that will take risks. You'll see a team that's going to be brave. You'll see a team that's going to excite. I know no other way of playing football, and it's a matter of now instilling that identity.”
While he said that it wouldn’t happen overnight, he was excited to get started before his first major tournament – the AFC Asian Cup 2026™ on home soil.
“You're not going to see, in the first game I take over, that all of a sudden we're getting 85% possession and we're entering into the attacking third 40 times,” he said.
“But the most important thing is to have it ready and [have an] understanding for the big tournaments - when it's important. It’s a matter of creating a whole of football perspective going forward, so that we understand what our identity is.”
He outlined his next steps, which would be to begin sitting down with players ahead of the next international window in late June and July.
“My intention is to sit down with all the players, even the extended squad, and map out a process - a thorough profiling of what's required to play the brand of football that we want to play,” he explained.
“Sam [Kerr] fits into that scenario where we're just going to assess and monitor and see where she's at. Let's get her fit and right, and then we'll have those discussions [about her return].”
Overall – apart from winning trophies with this team – he wants to leave a legacy during his time as Head Coach.
“I want to be able to leave a situation here, or create a situation here, that every young female player dreams of the opportunities that are going to be given to them in the national team pathway,” he said.
The next step for Montemurro will be heading to Canberra where he will watch the CommBank Matildas take on Argentina for the final game of Tom Sermanni’s tenure.
JOE MONTEMURRO BIOGRAPHY
Coaching Achievements
- Melbourne City Women (2015–2017)
- W-League Premiership: 2015/16
- W-League Championship: 2015/16; 2016/17
- Arsenal Women (2017–2021)
- FA Women’s Super League: Champions (2018/19), Runner up (2019/20)
- FA Women’s League Cup: Champions (2017/18), Runner up (2018/19; 2019/20)
- FA Women’s Cup: Runner up (2017/18; 2020/21)
- Juventus Women (2021–2024)
- Serie A: Champions (2021/22), Runners-up (2022/23)
- Coppa Italia: Champions (2021/22; 2022/23)
- Supercoppa Italiana: Champions (2021/22, 2023/24), Runner Up 2022/23
- Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (2024–2025)
- Première Ligue: Champions (2024–25)
- UEFA Women’s Champions League: Semi-final (2024/25)
Recognition and Accolades
- League Managers Association (LMA) Manager of the Year: 2018/19
- LMA Manager of the Month (WSL): Multiple occasions (2018–2021)
- The Best FIFA Football Coach Nominee: 2019
- UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year Nominee: 2019/20
- FIGC "Panchina D’Oro" Serie A Femminile Manager of the Year: 2021/22