Tom Sermanni
Scottish footballer (born 1954)
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Thomas Dorby Sermanni (born 1 July 1954) is a Scottish football manager and former professional player, who mostly works in women's football. He has previously managed the Australia women's national team across three stints (1994–1997, 2005–2012 and 2024–2025), the United States women's national team from 2013 to 2014, the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League from 2016 to 2018, and the New Zealand women's national team from 2018 to 2021.[3][5] In 2014, he was inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in recognition of his impact on the game in Australia and beyond.[6]
|
Sermanni in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Dorby Sermanni[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 July 1954[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1971–1973 | Cumbernauld United[3] | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1973–1978 | Albion Rovers[3] | 151 | (38) |
| 1978–1979 | Blackpool | 10 | (0) |
| 1979–1982 | Torquay United | 89 | (12) |
| 1982–1983 | Dunfermline Athletic | 5 | (0) |
| 1983 | Marconi[4] | 30 | (3) |
| 1984–1987 | Canberra City | 72 | (7) |
| 1988–1989 | Canberra Croatia[4] | ||
| Total | 357 | (60) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1988–1991 | Canberra Croatia/Metros (player-manager) | ||
| 1989–1991 | Australian Schoolboys | ||
| 1991–1992 | Australian Institute of Sport | ||
| 1992 | Westfields Sports High School | ||
| 1993–1994 | Sydney Olympic FC | ||
| 1994–1997 | Australia women | ||
| 1997–1999 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (assistant) | ||
| 1999–2001 | Canberra Cosmos | ||
| 2001–2002 | San Jose CyberRays (assistant) | ||
| 2003 | New York Power | ||
| 2003 | Sarawak (director of coaching) | ||
| 2004 | Westfields Sports High School | ||
| 2005–2008 | Australia men (scout) | ||
| 2005–2012 | Australia women | ||
| 2013–2014 | United States women | ||
| 2014 | Canada women (technical consultant) | ||
| 2015 | Canada women (assistant) | ||
| 2016–2018 | Orlando Pride | ||
| 2018–2021 | New Zealand women | ||
| 2024–2025 | Australia women (interim) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Born in Glasgow,[1] Sermanni played as a midfielder in Scotland, England, Australia and New Zealand for Cumbernauld United, Albion Rovers, Blackpool, Torquay United, Dunfermline Athletic, Canberra City and Christchurch United.[7][8] His nephew Peter was also a footballer who later moved to Australia.[9]
Coaching career
Australian clubs
Sermanni has coached a number of Australian club sides, including Canberra Metros and Canberra Cosmos.[8]
Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), 2001–2003
In 2001 Sermanni was an assistant coach for the Bay Area CyberRays of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). The CyberRays won the league's inaugural championship, the Founders Cup. He remained an assistant coach in 2002 when the team changed its name to the San Jose CyberRays. In 2003, he was hired as head coach of the New York Power (WUSA),[10] who had fired their previous coach after finishing their 2002 season with a dismal record of 3 wins, 17 losses, and 1 draw (10 pts).[11] With Sermanni as their coach, the team improved to finish the 2003 season in fifth place with a record of 7 wins, 9 losses and 5 draws, or 26 points.[12]
Australia women's national team
Sermanni took up a job as coach of Australia women in December 2004, having previously also coached the team between 1994 and 1997.[13] Among his accomplishments as coach of the Matildas are quarter-finalists at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup[14] and quarter-finalists at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[15]
United States women's national team
On 30 October 2012, the United States Soccer Federation announced that starting 1 January 2013, Sermanni would be the head coach of the United States women's national team, ending his long-time association with Australia.[16]
Sermanni finished his first year as manager of USA unbeaten with 13 wins and 3 draws,[17] including winning the 2013 Algarve Cup.[18]
At the 2014 Algarve Cup, the United States women did not win a game in group stage, and came seventh overall. This was the lowest the team had finished at the Algarve Cup, which the team had previously won nine times. This result put Sermanni's position under pressure, and on 6 April he was relieved of his coaching duties following a 2–0 'friendly' win over China.[19]
Canada women's national team
In 2014 Sermanni joined the coaching staff of the Canada women's national team as a technical consultant.[20] Sermanni was on contract as an assistant coach to Canada during 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[21]
National Women's Soccer League
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On 20 October 2015, Orlando City SC announced the creation of a women's team Orlando Pride to join National Women's Soccer League in 2016, and Sermanni would be the first coach for the expansion club.[22] On 14 September 2018 after a disappointing 2018 season where the Orlando Pride finished in 7th place, Sermanni and the Orlando Pride mutually parted ways. Sermanni had a record of 24–29–14 in 3 seasons in Orlando and qualified for the playoffs in 2017.[23]
New Zealand women's national team
On 26 October 2018, Sermanni was appointed the new head coach of New Zealand women's team.[24] He was released after 2020 Summer Olympics.
Return to Australia
In March 2022, he was appointed as Head of Women's Football at Western Sydney Wanderers.[25][26]
In September 2024, Sermanni was re-appointed as interim head coach of the Australia women's national team whilst Football Australia searches for a permanent replacement for outgoing coach Tony Gustavsson.[26] In May 2025 Sermanni coached his 150th game with the Matildas in their 2–0 defeat of Argentina in a friendly in Melbourne.[27]
On 2 June 2025, Football Australia announced the appointment of Joe Montemurro to succeed Sermanni as the permanent head coach of the Matildas.[28]
Managerial statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Australia women |  |
1994 | 1997 | 32 | 13 | 3 | 16 | 40.63 |
| Australia women | |
2005 | 2012 | 106 | 61 | 12 | 33 | 57.55 |
| United States women |  |
2013 | 2014 | 24 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 75.00 |
| New Zealand Women |  |
2018 | 2021 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 41.67 |
| Australia women | |
2024 | 2025 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 53.85 |
| Total | 199 | 109 | 20 | 70 | 54.77 | |||
Honours
Manager
Australia
- OFC Women's Championship: 1994[32]
- AFF Women's Championship: 2008[33]
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2010[34]
United States
- The Algarve Cup: 2013[34]
New Zealand
Individual
- AFC Coach of the Year: 2007[36]
- ACT Sport Hall of Fame: 2012 (Associate Member)[37]