U.S. Soccer has narrowed its search for the next USWNT coach to a shortlist headed by three candidates: Australia head coach (and former USWNT assistant) Tony Gustavsson, Juventus Women head coach Joe Montemurro and OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey, according to sources briefed on the coaching search who were not authorized to speak publicly on the current status of negotiations.
Other candidates may still be on the federation’s shortlist, but sources briefed on the search indicated these three names are considered to be at the top of that list. Two sources told The Athletic that Gustavsson is unlikely to relocate to the U.S. for the role, which could affect his chances of being offered the job even if he’s the federation’s top choice.
U.S. Soccer declined to comment for this story.
The USWNT managerial role has been open since August, when Vlatko Andonovski and the federation parted ways after the team’s earliest exit ever at a World Cup in the Round of 16.
Gustavsson has been one of the top candidates not only because of the deep run from the Matildas this past summer, but his history with U.S. Soccer as part of Jill Ellis’ coaching staff for the 2015 and 2019 World Cup wins. Ellis herself endorsed Gustavsson as “a strong candidate” for the role in an interview…
