Tom Sermanni, originally from Scotland, has been appointed as the interim head coach of the Australian women’s soccer team, marking his third tenure with the Matildas.

Soccer Australia opted not to extend the contract of former head coach Tony Gustavsson following the Matildas' inability to progress beyond the group stage at the Paris Olympics. The federation announced Sermanni's appointment on Tuesday as it seeks a permanent head coach.

Australia finished third in its group, trailing behind the U.S. and Germany, which resulted in the team not advancing to the knockout rounds of the Olympic tournament for the first time since the Sydney 2000 Games.

The 70-year-old Sermanni will oversee the team during the upcoming international window, which includes a match against Olympic bronze medalists Germany, and potentially through the end of the year.

Sermanni previously served as head coach of the U.S. women’s team from 2013 to 2014, was an assistant for Canada’s women’s team in 2015, and led the New Zealand women’s team from 2018 until the conclusion of the Tokyo Olympics.

“His extensive experience in football, both in Australia and internationally, along with his deep understanding of the global women’s football scene and previous successes with the Matildas, positions him as the ideal leader for the team during this transitional phase,” stated Football Australia chief executive James Johnson.