Lyon manager Joe Montemurro set to be named Matildas coach after quitting club
Updated . First published at
Football Australia (FA) is set to name Joe Montemurro as the new head coach of the Matildas, with the Australian to depart Lyon after just one season.
French newspaper L'Equipe has reported that Montemurro will depart his post as head coach of Olympique Lyonnais at the end of the French domestic season.
The announcement would end a nine-month search for a permanent replacement, with FA patiently stalking its preferred candidate.
READ MORE: Gus urges Blues to avoid Leniu 'gamble' in shock axing
READ MORE: The moment that all-but ended star's Roosters tenure
READ MORE: Konstas facing the axe in surprise Aussie shake-up
Head coach of Olympique Lyonnais Joe Montemurro. Franco Arland/ UEFA via Getty Images
Last month, Matildas captain Steph Catley admitted that the national team has been "in limbo" since former coach Tony Gustavsson's departure last August.
But that looks set to change with reports that Montemurro's resignation is a "done deal".
FA CEO James Johnson previously stated that the governing body had narrowed down its list of preferred candidates but acknowledged that many top contenders were under contract.
Despite being contracted to Lyon until June 2026, having only joined the team last June, Montemurro is expected to take up the vacant head coach role with the Matildas.
Montemurro had previously admitted to having positive discussions with FA but was frank about respecting his current contract with Lyon.
His looming departure could clear the path for him to lead the Matilda in friendlies against Argentina at the end of May and in early June.
Joe Montemurro during his time as coach of the A-League All Stars Women team. Getty Images for APL
Montemurro has put together a winning CV as a domestic league coach and former professional player in Italy, winning awards and accolades in managerial roles across Europe and Australia.
He has conquered the English Super League with Arsenal, taken Juventus Women to the top of Italy and won two A-League Women's titles with Melbourne City.
Since joining Lyon, the side has won 28 of its 32 games across all competitions, with a trophy still to play for.
This season, Lyon once again finished top of the Première Ligue league ladder and are expected to be crowned back-to-back champions following the finals series, which begins next week.
The club was recently knocked out of the UEFA Women's Champions League with a 4-1 loss to Arsenal — a minor slip-up in Montemurro's winning record.
The Matildas have not won a major tournament since they defeated Korea to clinch the 2010 Asian Cup.
At that time, stand-in coach Tom Sermanni was in his second stint at the helm and superstar striker Sam Kerr was a teenager.
But Montemurro oozes success, and ahead of next year's home Asian Cup, the Matildas will want to draw on his tactical intelligence and player development to win the silverware they have long craved.
Former Arsenal Women's manager Joe Montemurro with Steph Catley. Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Hailing from Melbourne, Montemurro also has connections to some of the current Matildas players.
During his time as head coach at Melbourne City and Arsenal, and his brief stint as coach of the A-League All Stars team last year, Montemurro has worked with several Matildas, including Catley, Caitlin Foord, Tameka Yallop, Michelle Heyman and Cortnee Vine.
It was Montemurro who was also pivotal in luring Catley and Foord across to Arsenal.
An announcement from FA is understood to be imminent.
