'Not part of our focus': Matildas coach hints at when Sam Kerr captaincy call will be made
Updated . First published at
Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni says speculation around whether Sam Kerr will remain captain of the national team is "irrelevant" with the superstar striker not preparing to take part in the SheBelieves Cup in the United States, which starts on Friday (AEDT).
Kerr was found not guilty last week by a London jury after being charged with racially aggravated harassment of a UK police officer.
The Australian football superstar's behaviour has sparked debate as to whether she is fit to captain the Matildas upon her return from a long injury lay-off after rupturing her ACL in January 2024.
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Matildas interim head coach Tom Sermanni addressed whether Sam Kerr will remain captain of the Matildas. Getty
Asked if there was an update on whether Kerr would be reinstated as captain as she nears a return with her WSL club Chelsea, Sermanni avoided giving any concrete answers, explaining that it would be addressed when next she is picked in a Matildas squad.
"For us, the most important part is that we get Sam healthy as quickly and as safely as possible, and get her back on the field," he said during the Matildas' pre-match press conference on Thursday.
"To me, the captaincy issue is kind of quite irrelevant, because by the time she comes back into the team, I might not be here. So, there is really no point in me commenting on that.
"Whoever comes in, whoever that coach is — who knows what is going to happen.
"So, from my perspective, and from the team's perspective, it's something that's not really relevant at the moment.
"Steph Catley stepped in as captain and has done a fantastic job. So for us, it's just about getting on with preparing for this tournament."
Sam Kerr leaves Kingston Crown Court after being found not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment. Peter Nicholls/Getty Images
Sermanni returned to the Matildas' coaching ranks in September following the departure of Tony Gustavsson in early August. A full-time replacement is yet to be hired.
Quizzed if he could expect to be involved in the captaincy call, Sermanni was adamant that if he was still in the role, he would be.
"If there is going to be discussions then I would obviously be involved in them because I would be involved in any discussions around things that impact the teams and the players," he said.
"So, if that were to happen and any decisions were made, then I would be part of the decision-making process.
"Whatever decision that gets made, gets made. How that decision gets made, who makes it and who is involved in it —I really don't know at the moment because it really is completely and utterly not part of our focus.
"At this moment in time, Sam is injured. She has been injured for 13 months and hasn't played an international for 16 months. The team is just getting on with normal business.
"As I said earlier, it's irrelevant."
On Wednesday, Ellie Carpenter became the first current Matildas player to speak publicly about Kerr.
With this being the first time the Matildas have been in camp together since Kerr was charged, Sermanni was asked if Kerr's circumstances had been discussed by the squad.
"Not at this stage. [It] hasn't really come up on the radar," he said.
"We've just come into camp and it's really had not mad much time to do that.
"The team's in good spirits and is upbeat, and if there is anything to be discussed about that, then we'll discuss it at some stage during this tournament."
The Matildas are set to make their first appearance in the SheBelieves Cup with their opening match against Japan on Friday morning.
