Stajcic axed by Australia
Shock decision ahead of June’s World Cup
When Jill Ellis surveys the coaching landscape ahead of this summer’s Women’s World Cup she will feel like a battle-scarred veteran as the USA coach is by some distance the most established dug-out presence after an extraordinary cull by the game’s leading nations.
Australia’s shock axing of Alen Stajcic in January meant seven of FIFA’s top-10 ranked countries in the women’s game have changed coaches in the 18 months since Euro 2017. Of these, five were fired – including those in charge of four of the world’s top six.
Three parted company because of poor results, but Stajcic – like England’s Mark Sampson – went due to off-field issues. As with Sampson, events appear to have been set in motion by a confidential survey of players. This, said Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief executive David Gallop, had highlighted “workplace issues of the culture and the set-up”. He added: “We no longer have confidence that Alen is the right person to lead the team and staff.”
And while Gallop insisted the situation was not analogous to events in 2018, when New Zealand coach Andreas Heraf was sacked amid accusations of bullying players, the intimation of a toxic culture raised a cloud of suspicion, especially as one survey had been conducted by Our Watch, an organisation that campaigns against violence against women. The other survey was conducted by the Professional Footballers Association.
Having read both and discussed the contents with Stajcic, the FFA fired him.
FFA chairman Chris Nikou told ABC Radio: “My hands are tied to a certain extent about what I can and can’t say about what’s occurred. This was not a decision taken lightly. It was after due consideration in consultation with the management team based in part on surveys but based in part on other information before the board.”
The fallout was considerable. Two coaching staff quit, FFA’s major sponsor was reported to be “disappointed” and there were calls for Gallop to go. The majority of the players – including leading figures such as Sam Kerr, Lisa De Vanna and Caitlin Foord – expressed their support for Stajcic on social media.
With the FFA saying very little, citing confidentiality issues but perhaps also wary of future legal action, rumours abounded. A Sydney Morning Herald investigation claimed the atmosphere was “poisoned” by “one key player” being indulged. Two staff members were said to “fat shame” younger players – a potent issue given the connection between body perception and mental health problems among young women – and there were allegations both of homophobic comments by staff and a “lesbian mafia” seeking to force Stajcic out.
Stajcic took over in 2014 after his predecessor, Hesterine De Reus, had been forced out by a player revolt. He took the team to the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, and to a record-high fourth in the FIFA rankings, though performances had dipped in 2018.
During his reign the Matildas became fully professional and it is accepted high demands were made of players. Results were good, but some players responded better than others to the intensity required both mentally and physically.
FFA expressed a desire to have Stajcic’s replacement installed ahead of hosting the inaugural Cup of Nations in late February but, given the circumstances, it could be an interim role, possibly even a part-time one, with a full-time appointment made after the World Cup. Jeff Hopkins of Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar’s Melissa Andreatta were the main W-League contenders, along with Joe Montemurro, now at Arsenal, and much-decorated former German coach Silvia Neid.
Stajcic’s dismissal came not long after Sampson and the FA reached a settlement on his claim for unfair dismissal. Sampson, who led England to semi-finals in the 2015 World Cup and 2017 European Championships, had been accused of racist comments by striker Eniola Aluko, initially in a confidential survey. An inquiry first cleared Sampson, then found he did make the remarks but was not personally racist and should undergo diversity training rather than be dismissed.
However, by then Sampson had been dismissed. Two years prior the FA had investigated claims of “inappropriate behaviour” while Sampson was Bristol Academy manager and decided to retain him. Now they reconsidered and fired him. Sampson sued for unfair dismissal and the FA settled in January, shortly before the case was due in court. Phil Neville is now the England manager.
Two of other top-six coaches went because of results. Germany dispensed
Seven of FIFA’s top-10 ranked countries in the women’s game have changed coaches in the last 18 months
with Steffi Jones after 19 months when a disappointing defence of their European crown was followed by a poor start to World Cup qualifying, and Martina VossTecklenburg has replaced her. France sacked Olivier Echouafni after less than a year, with Corinne Diacre taking over.
Canada’s John Herdman, meanwhile, switched to coach the men’s team and was replaced by Kenneth Heiner-Moller, leaving Ellis as the only top-six coach to survive since summer 2017.
Ellis, who was appointed in April 2014 after a month as interim coach, began 2019 with a rare loss, to France, but is insulated after leading her team to victory at the 2015 World Cup. That enabled her to survive Rio 2016, when the US went out in the quarter-finals – the first time they had failed to reach the Final since the sport debuted at the Games in 1996.
With Sweden’s Pia Sundhage stepping down, and Brazil’s Emily Lima fired, only Ellis, Asako Takakura (Japan) and Sarina Wiegman (Holland) of the FIFA top 10 have been in office for at least two years.
However, that does not mean their opponents should be written off. After all, Wiegman steered the Dutch to success at Euro 2017 despite taking over just six months earlier and Ellis had only been in the job a year when she won the 2015 World Cup. It seems sometimes a fresh approach is the best one.