By Kieran Yap
Above: Melbourne Victory assistant Johno Clemente. Photo: Melbourne Victory
We take a deep dive on why the 25-year old Johno Clemente’s name is on everybody’s lips and what the future holds for one of the brightest young minds in Australian Football currently.
Clemente is a coach on the rise in the women’s game. Coaching vacancies are few in the Australian professional game, but when they come up, his name is inevitably mentioned.
He was heavily rumoured to be a strong candidate for multiple head coach roles this season, however whilst the dust settles, Clemente is preparing for his third year under Jeff Hopkins with Melbourne Victory.
Still only 25, Clemente is one of Jeff Hopkin’s right-hand men, has experience working in the Victorian NPLW and is known for eye catching football in his home state.
The former Heidelberg United and Essendon Royals manager also coaches the Afghan Women’s National Team as they climb the tiers of the state leagues.
Clemente’s first accolades were at his childhood club, Essendon Royals. 19 years of age, he was tasked with rebuilding a recently relegated squad, on the brink of the team folding he transformed the Women’s Program and got promoted in first time of asking.
Pre-season was a reality check for the rookie coach. With players departing following relegation, the first challenge was to find enough players to field a team.
“You’d be hoping at least at least 40 people would come to trials and only 10 people came. So that was a very rude awakening.”
“The club was seriously considering folding the folding team”
Remaining positive, or at least optimistic, Clemente eventually formed a squad, but the hurdles continued. The club lost every single game of pre-season and then dropped the first three games of the league.
Eventually, the club’s fortunes turned, a culture started building and Essendon eventually went on a 10-game undefeated run to promotion, those results naturally earned attention.
Heidelberg United took notice and signed the then 20-year-oldto be the head coach of their senior NPLW team in 2019, making him the youngest ever NPL Senior Head Coach.
It was a bigger club, a stronger league and although Heidelberg has a proud history, they are not traditional giants of the women’s competition.
“I knew I wasn’t going to attract the big players,” said Clemente of the first season.
“I knew I could deliver and focus on, if I could have a good sessions good culture, and then build good relationship and focus on those three key aspects early on, I knew over time that the players would begin to come. That was the platform we used to grow. We built something special, and players were drawn to it and the success followed.”
A sixth placed finish in his covid impacted first season was hard earned, and it was a steep but rapidly climbed learning curb.
Despite the respectable ladder placing, there were some tough results in that first season. Clemente kept the long-term view and set about building a culture around his team that eventually saw them narrowly miss out on silverware in 2022.
There were intially some raised eyebrows about the club hiring a 20 year old senior coach, but Clemente proved that he was the right choice.
His three-season tenure at Heidelberg accomplished the highest league finish for the Bergers in twelve years, best cup run since 2016, 10 players signed at A- League clubs, a transformed junior program saw the progression of multiple players to TIDC, NTC and ALW Pathway Programs and he departed Heidelberg with the highest win ratio of any coach in the NPL era.
When quizzed on his success at Heidelberg he reflected on the whole club culture during his time.
“We had plenty of challenges and barriers we had to break down in the Women’s Program, but it made our resolve stronger and brought the culture of our program closer together because we knew we were working hard for a common goal, we worked hard to align the junior and senior programs, there was plenty of crossover.
“I’d be involved with the juniors as much as possible along with many senior players which made the connection in the club genuine and attracted our junior players to come and support our seniors, it was a special time when things go well.”
Clemente’s Heidelberg United were known for their exciting, attacking, brave style with quality players like Danielle Wise, Steph Galea, current and former A-League talent such as Grace Jale, Rebecca Burrows, Emily Roach, Tijan Mckenna and Isabella Wallhead.
Heidelberg under Clemente were dynamic and modern in their game style. Just as capable of grinding out a win or engaging in an open end-to-end shootout. They were compulsory viewing in 2022, and it took some epic performances from other sides to deny them a shot at a trophy.
“I hoped every time someone watched a Heidelberg game they saw a side that was creative , positive, organised and a side that never gave up, I’m a firm believer of having a well balanced approach, being adaptable and also that our structure gives our players freedom to go and express themselves”
Melbourne Victory then secured Clemente’s services. They deployed his talents workimg alongside Jeff Hopkins in the A- League Women whilst also serving as the Female Pathway Coordinator.
It was a role that saw him produce and manage the best young players in Melbourne, create pathways and develop the next generation of Melbourne Victory A-League stars.
Clemente’s full time move to Victory was a full circle moment for the young coach who grew up following the club and was a seamless transition.
“Working with Jeff Hopkins, Gareth Turnbull, Harley Hamdiani, Caroline Carenegie, John Didulica and many more, how can I not learn and grow?
“The staff, the club and the culture makes going to ‘work’ every day so fun, but the genuine care and belief seen in everyone who steps through the door is what makes the club so special and that stems from the top with Caroline and JD, but its one of the many reasons I’ll run through a brick wall for Jeff!
“I’m very fortunate to have a role model and mentor in these early stages of my career as special and respected as Jeff Hopkins alongside so many others.”
Alongside his work with the A-League Women squad, Clemente also coaches Melbourne Victory’s Afghan WomensTeam.
“Working with the Afghanistan Women’s team has been such a rewarding experience, as a coach you try to find teams and clubs to inspire, but in this rare scenario it’s the players and team that inspire the coach.
“It has been great to be across all the female football at the club from our Pathway Programs, Afghan Womens and A- League Women.”
Amongst the recent buzz and hype around his future, Clemente stated he was enjoying the journey.
“I work every day with the best football people I know, at the biggest football club in the country, the last few months have been chaotic, but positive steps in the right direction and some of the best football people in the country are advocating for me.
“I’m a firm believer of it’s not a matter of ‘will I get the next opportunity it’s a matter of when’ and timing is everything but when that time comes, I know I’ll be ready.
“I’m looking forward to pre-season for the ALW and hopefully adding another trophy to the club’s cabinet and continue to push boundaries and raise standards in all aspects of our female football at the club.”
Melbourne Victory fans are pleased he will continue as an assistant at the club for at least one more campaign and with the genuine excitement of Clemente’s A- League Head Coach potential.
Should Hopkins be lured away to Europe one day, or if a national team comes calling, Victory have his potential successor already on board.
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