New Australia coach Tony Gustavsson out to make Matildas 'one of the best in the world'

Tony Gustavsson, who helped mastermind the US Women’s national team's last two World Cup successes, has been named as the new head coach of Australia Women.

The 47-year-old Swede will lead the Matildas to a World Cup on home soil in 2023 after being unveiled by the Football Federation Australia on Tuesday and will lead the side until the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Widely regarded as one of the most esteemed coaches in the women’s game, Gustavsson played an integral role in the US women’s World Cup triumphs in 2015 and 2019, where he assisted Jill Ellis, the former US national team coach, on both occasions.

He also supported compatriot Pia Sundhage at the London Olympics in 2012, where the US team won gold, before guiding Swedish club Tyresö FF to the Champions League final two years later.

Gustavsson will lead the Matildas’ charge towards silverware in a jam-packed four-year cycle, which will span next year’s delayed Tokyo Olympics, the 2022 Asian Cup in India, the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and the 2024 Games in Paris.

“I feel that my 21 years of coaching have put me in the position to be ready for this,” said Gustavsson, who enjoyed a 15-year professional career as a player.

“It feels as if I have come to a moment where this is what I have been waiting for – to lead the Matildas for four years and also at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

“I have always said that the Matildas have the potential to be one of the best teams in the world and that is one of the reasons that I wanted to get on board with this job.

"I have been in the pressure cooker a lot of times and in environments that demand success.

“These experiences will be beneficial as we do this together with the fans, the stakeholders, the players, and the staff as a team.”

Gustavsson is currently employed as first team coach with Swedish side Hammarby IF in the men’s top flight in his native Sweden, where he will remain until the end of the year.

Pending the situation with coronavirus, Gustavsson will oversee a Matildas camp which has been scheduled in November 2020, although he will not formally begin his contract with Australia until January 1 next year.