The Matildas' Olympic campaign comes to an end, with head coach Tony Gustavsson parting ways from Football Australia.
Football Australia wasted no time announcing Gustavsson had parted ways on mutual terms following the Matildas' 2-1 loss to the USA which led them to not progress to the Quarter Finals.
The Matildas had high chances for their Paris 2024 Olympic journey, with the hope of bringing home an Olympic medal after finishing fourth in Tokyo 2020 and fourth at last year's World Cup.
The former USA assistant coach has been the head coach for the Matildas since 2020, taking over from Ante Milicic. Gustavsson took the Matildas to an Asian Cup, a World Cup and two Olympics.
Gustavsson emphasised his honour of being the head coach for the Matildas.
โIt has been a great honour and privilege to have been able to be the head coach of the Matildas over the past four years. This journey with the team has had many incredible moments and memories that I will forever treasure," said Gustavsson in a statement.
โThank you to the incredible players for letting me play a small part in their stories, my staff for being beside me every step of the way, Football Australia for backing our vision for this team, the Australian football family for embracing me and the Australian public for the tremendous support.
โAustralian football will be forever in my heart, and I will be watching on and cheering on your success in the future."
Gustavsson was on a four-year contract to assist in improving the Football Australia women's program and taking the Matildas to many big competitions with the hope of bringing home some silverware. Football Australia opted to not renew the partnering contract on the terms of mutual agreement from both parties.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Gustavsson after the past four years.
โTony (Gustavsson) has been an integral part of the Matildas' journey over the past four years, with a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020โข Olympics and the FIFA World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023. We thank him for his strong contribution, passion and commitment during that time and wish him every success for the future," said Johnson.
"While our Olympic Games campaign has ended, we are proud of the commitment of our players and staff. The Matildas have shown spirit and resilience throughout the qualification run and the tournament in France. This group of players have over the past four years made a significant impact on Australian football and we are looking forward to the next four-year cycle of the team.
"As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we will conduct a thorough review of the campaign as we do with all our national teams following the conclusion of tournaments and each cycle. This review will identify areas for improvement and ensure we are well-prepared for future challenges. The process for the recruitment of the Matildas' head coach will also commence immediately."
The Matildas are now in need of a new coach who will guide them to the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2026.
