Sydney FC’s Westfield W-League Head Coach Alen Stajcic has been appointed Head Coach of the Westfield Matildas, the FFA announced on Monday.
Stajcic has been appointed to lead the Matildas through the upcoming World Cup (2015) and Olympic (2016) Campaigns after steering them to the final of the 2014 AFC Asian Cup as the caretaker coach.
“It’s an honour to be appointed as full time head coach of the Matildas,” Stajcic said.
“I enjoyed the experience of working with the Matildas playing group at the Asian Cup earlier this year and I’m grateful to the FFA for giving me this opportunity.
Stajcic will continue to coach Sydney FC in the Westfield W-League in the short term to ensure a smooth transition for the Sky Blues.
“I’d like to thank Sydney FC for allowing me to take up this opportunity and I will work through a transition period to make sure there is minimal disruption while starting my work with the Matildas.”
Sydney FC Chief Executive Officer Tony Pignata congratulated Stajcic on his appointment.
“Alen Stajcic has been a fantastic Head Coach for Sydney FC and I’m sure he will carry over his form to the national team,” he said.
“Stajcic’s two Championships speak for themselves and I wish him all the best in his new role.”
Pignata confirmed that Sydney FC will sit down with Stajcic and the FFA to discuss how to best manage both coaching roles and to ensure there is no disruption to the Sky Blues W-League team who maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 victory over the Brisbane Roar at the weekend.
FFA CEO David Gallop followed an exhaustive process that saw Stajcic appointed from an impressive list of Australian and international coaches.
“I’d like to congratulate Alen Stajcic on his appointment,” Gallop said.
“He did a tremendous job to take the team to the final of the Asian Cup earlier this year at short notice. There were difficult circumstances that led to the early termination of the previous coach’s contract and we are certain he will continue to improve the team in a positive environment.
“FFA undertook a long interview process to ensure we appointed the best possible person for the job. We had credible applicants from all over the world but our senior management and the Football Development Committee agreed that Alen was the best person to lead the Matildas into the future.”
Sydney FC’s next Westfield W-League match sees the Sky Blues travel to Marconi Stadium for a Sydney Derby showdown with the Western Sydney Wanderers (kick off 3pm).
