By Kieran Yap 11/3/24
Leah Blayney has become the first woman to coach Australia to a major FIFA Tournament. The Young Matildas manager and leader of the Future Matildas program reflects on the path to Colombia.
Two years ago Leah Blayney stood on the sidelines as her Young Matildas side played infront of 30,000 fans in Costa Rica. After finishing top of Group A in the U20 Asian Cup, she will once again step onto the global stage when Australia travels to Colombia for the U20 Women’s World Cup.
“We’ve been chasing that feeling,” Blayney told the media.
“To go to a youth World Cup, and represent your country on the world stage like that is really special and we’ve been working towards it ever since.”
The team that she currently manages feature some of the highest rated youngsters that Australian football has ever produced. They were relentless in qualifying and have won all three games of this years tournament so far but remain humble and focused. In an interview with Impetus71, playmaker Daniela Galic stated a clear desire to win this tournament. After the defining win against Chinese Taipei, the mantra among the playing group has been that the Job is not done.
For players and staff, this was a journey that began 18 months ago as they started on a path towards this week’s semi final against Japan.
“The group have been working a long time towards this,” said Blayney.
“All the staff and players have made sacrifices and really put all their energy towards this qualification.
“It’s been a long time coming and we’re really excited to competing in Colombia.
“We started this journey when we started the new cycle. This group has been together through AFC 1, AFC 2, now we’re halfway through AFC 3.
“They spend a lot of time together on and off the pitch, a lot of them are in our Future Matildas program so its just that added quality time and we’ve just been committed to qualifying.
“To reap the reward of it now is something really special.”
There is a sense of togetherness and common purpose when watching The Young Matildas play. They have played in severe heat and deep snow as the travelled Asia as a team. From the outside, they can be exhilarating to watch. A tactically versatile side that can seemingly find goals from players in any position. From the inside, Blayney says that they are a special team.
“They’re a really exciting group of young women.
“They’re very different on and off the pitch but together they’re united and they just come together when they need to. They enjoy each other’s company and that helps us play good football as well.”
The last three games have seen some of the most difficult challenges that this team has faced. Not only have they won all three matches, but Australia has heavily rotated the squad, and changed formations when needed. Every outfield player has been used meaning that even though these players are midway through the A-League season, they are at near full fitness.
“It’s been extremely important,” Blayney said of the rotations.
“It’s a testament to our SSSM team who have had all players available, the work that the playing group did before coming into our environment to ensure that they’re all fit, so that there’s healthy competition in the squad and then us strategically rotated players as we needed for different challenges within games.”
Wednesday’s game will be Blayney’s second successive U20 Asian Cup semi final, the 2019 side did not life the trophy but prepared many players such as Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler and Charli Grant to become senior Matildas.
As the head of the Future Matildas program, Blayney is plays a large role in the production line of stars that are emerging in women’s football.
“It just provides a competitive environment for our players,” she says of the development setup.
“It’s an environment where they’re constantly pushing and challenging each other.
“It’s really nice to see that training ground challenge now being brought into tournament football.”
The benefits extend off the pitch as well.
“We actually have a lot of crossover in staff.
“The development in that space for staff who are now thriving in the young Matildas environment. It is something that as a head coach that is special to see.”
For Blayney personally, qualification represents a significant milestone in the sport. She is the first woman to guide an Australia team to a World Cup through Asia.
“I’m extremely proud of that achievement.
“It’s something that I’ve been working towards.
“I’ve got a really good support around me who have helped me along this journey, and who will continue to help me as I’m able to reach above and beyond.
“It’s just a really special feeling.”
The Young Matildas face Japan at 10pm on Wednesday night AEDT
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