Australian soccer coaches in head coaching positions overseas

OCE

There has been an increasing number of Australian football coaches gaining employment overseas in recent years,[1] with coaches such as Ange Postecoglou, Kevin Muscat and Harry Kewell having been appointed to manage major clubs in Europe and Asia.

The first Australian football coach to take charge of a club in one of Europe's Big Five leagues was Patrick Kisnorbo at Troyes.[2]

The first Australian to win a championship in Europe was Anthony Limbrick at The New Saints in Wales,[3] followed by Postecoglou with Celtic in Scotland.[4]

Postecoglou went on to win the Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur on May 21, 2025. It was the club's first trophy in 17 years.[5]

List of Australian head coaches currently employed overseas

Coach Employer Competition Tier
Mel Andreatta Scotland women FIFA 1
Graham Arnold Iraq FIFA 1
Dan Barrett Solomon Islands women FIFA 1
Luke Casserly Auckland FC (OFC) OFC Pro League 1
Ben Cahn Solomon Kings OFC Pro League 1
Peter Cklamovski Malaysia FIFA 1
Steve Corica Auckland FC A-League Men 1
Jean-Paul de Marigny Sabah FC Super League 1
Wael Gharzeddine Lebanon women FIFA 1
Giancarlo Italiano Wellington Phoenix A-League Men 1
Mirko Jeličić Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan Super League 1
Harry Kewell Hanoi FC V.League 1 1
Garrath McPherson Philippines U23 FIFA 2
Ante Milicic China women FIFA 1
Kevin Muscat Shanghai Port Chinese Super League 1
Tanya Oxtoby Newcastle United Women's Super League 2 2
Arthur Papas Cerezo Osaka J1 League 1
Matt Ross Chinese Taipei FIFA 1
Josh Smith Solomon Islands FIFA 1
Mark Torcaso Philippines women FIFA 1
Dario Vidosic Brighton & Hove Albion Women's Super League 1
Kasey Wehrman Raufoss IL 1.Divisjon 2

Honours

Graham Arnold

Iraq

Brackley Town

Northampton Town

Steve Corica

Auckland FC

Jean-Paul de Marigny

Sabah

Selangor

Perak

Wael Gharzeddine

SAS

Etihad

Lebanon

Lalitpur City

Calicut FC

Mirko Jeličić

Locomotiv Tashkent

Harry Kewell

Yokohama F Marinos

The New Saints

Arsenal Women

Juventus Women

Lyon Women

Kevin Muscat

Yokohama F Marinos

Shanghai Port

Yokohama F Marinos

Celtic

Tottenham Hotspur

Philippines women's national football team

Zayid Ramsay

Geylang International

Balestier Khalsa

BG Pathum United

Selangor

References

  1. ^ sachapisani (2022-02-20). "The new 'Aussies Abroad' list: Elite coaches overseas". A-Leagues. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  2. ^ "Kisnorbo takes the reins at Troyes". Ligue1 COM. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  3. ^ "Optus Sport". sport.optus.com.au. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  4. ^ "Ange Postecoglou silences critics the only way he knows how — by winning". ABC News. 2022-05-11. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  5. ^ "Europa League Final LIVE: Tottenham vs Man Utd - score, radio & updates". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-05-21.