Football Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of 2025 Ninja A-League Championship-winning coach, Emily Husband, as a full-time Assistant Coach of the CommBank Matildas.
Husband joins newly appointed Head Coach Joe Montemurro in leading Australia’s Senior Women’s National Team into a new era.
Fresh off a title-winning season with the Central Coast Mariners, Husband arrives in the CommBank Matildas environment with a track record of success and proven leadership. In a testament to her tactical expertise and ability to create a high-performance, team-first culture, Husband built on the Mariners’ semi-final finish in 2024 to deliver Grand Final glory this year in just their second season back in the competition.
The 2024 Ninja A-League Coach of the Year, prior to her Mariners appointment, Husband served as an assistant coach at Canberra United (2020/21). She also masterminded a sustained period of success for Sydney University, guiding the team to multiple titles in the NPL NSW Women’s competition and establishing them as one of the league’s dominant forces.
A Football Australia “A” Licensed coach, as part of the ‘Team of Coaches’ Initiative, Husband most recently joined the CommBank Matildas during the May/June FIFA Women’s International Window, working alongside the technical staff throughout the Argentina series.
She now reunites with Joe Montemurro having worked alongside him as an assistant coach for the A-League All Stars Women’s team in 2024. Her appointment marks the beginning of Montemurro’s backroom team taking shape as preparations ramp up for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™.
Husband will officially commence her full-time role with the CommBank Matildas ahead of the upcoming June/July FIFA Women’s International Window in Western Australia.
Quote attributable to Gary Moretti, Head of National Teams, Football Australia:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Emily Husband to the CommBank Matildas coaching team. Her success with the Central Coast Mariners this season was outstanding and builds on the strong foundation she laid in 2024. Emily is one of the most exciting coaches in Australian football, and we’re proud to see her progress into the national team environment.”
Quote attributable to Joe Montemurro, CommBank Matildas Head Coach:
“Emily is an astute, modern coach who’s already proven her quality at the domestic level. Her work with the Central Coast Mariners has been phenomenal and demonstrates the qualities she will bring to the CommBank Matildas. Emily has a deep understanding of the game, an ability to connect with players, and a fresh perspective that will be invaluable to our setup. I’m looking forward to working closely with her once again.”
Quotes attributable to Emily Husband, CommBank Matildas Assistant Coach:
“It’s an honour to be appointed as Assistant Coach to the CommBank Matildas. To be trusted with the chance to contribute, even in a small way, to the Matildas and their future is an absolute privilege. They are such an important part of Australian sport and culture, and I’m really excited to help push the team forward.”
“Joe is someone I’ve always had enormous respect for. Not just for his football brain, but for the way he leads. We’ve had the chance to work together before, and I’m genuinely thrilled to build on that now as we hopefully play a part in guiding the Matildas to reach greater heights.”
EMILY HUSBAND BIOGRAPHY
Coaching Achievements
- Sydney University Women (2020–2023)
- NSW National Premier Leagues Premiership: 2020, 2022
- NSW National Premier Leagues Club Champions: 2022
- Central Coast Mariners (2023 - 2025)
- 2023/24: Semi-Finals in first season return
- 2024/25: Championship
Recognition and Accolades
- Ninja A-League Coach of the Year: 2023/24
- Ninja A-League Coach of the Month: Jan 2024, Feb 2024, March 2024
- A-Leagues All Stars: Assistant Coach, 2024
- NSW NPL Women's Coach of the Year: 2022
