By Duncan Mackay
October 30 – Former Blackpool and Torquay United player Tom Sermanni is to take over as coach of the United States Olympic gold medal winning women’s football team, it was announced today.
The 58-year-old Scotsman will leave his position as coach of Australia’s women’s team after eight years to replace Pia Sundhage (pictured below), who decided to step down following five years in charge and return to her native Sweden after she had guided the US to their third consecutive Olympic gold medal at London 2012.
Sermanni (pictured top) had been in charge of Australia at the last two FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments in 2007 and 2011, when they had reached the quarter-finals on each occasion.
But they had failed to qualify for London.
This latest spell had been Sermanni’s second stint with Australia, as he also coached the Matildas from 1994 through 1997, during which time he led the team to the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sweden.
Sermanni will officially begin his tenure as the new US coach on January 1, 2013.
“After an extensive search and interview process, we believe Tom Sermanni is the right person at the right time to lead our women’s national team,” said US Soccer President Sunil Gulati.
“He has the knowledge, experience and vision to take on the challenge of keeping our team at the top of the world.
“He has a tremendous passion for the game, knows the American players, understands our system and knows the process of preparing a team for a World Cup tournament.
“We’re tremendously excited to have him on board as we look forward to qualification for the 2015 Women’s World Cup.”
Sermanni is no stranger to the United States, he coached all three seasons of the Women’s United Soccer Association, serving as an assistant for the San Jose CyberRays during the inaugural season, in which he helped the club to the league.
He was also an assistant for the CyberRays in 2002 before taking the head coaching job of the New York Power in 2003.
“I’m honoured to have this opportunity to work with tremendous players and in a program that has had such a tradition of success,” said the Glasgow-born Sermanni, who played more than 150 matches in the Scottish League for Albion Rovers before moving to England.
“US Soccer has always been at the forefront of supporting the women’s game, and it’s exciting to coach the team in this next chapter of its history.
“After coaching against many of these players for years, I am looking forward to working with an accomplished group of veterans while integrating the numerous talented young players who are itching for a chance to prove themselves.
“It will be an exciting few years for the US team and for all the great fans as we work toward the highest goals at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.”
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