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The Matildas celebrate after securing their qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics – coach Tony Gustavsson reveals the secrets to their success. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Matilda’s coach Tony Gustavsson has revealed the secrets to the Matilda’s success in a key note at property industry event Ready24 in Sydney on Tuesday.
“Their why is so much more than sport,” he said to the room of real estate professionals.
He spoke of the pillars of what made the Australian women’s soccer team not just so successful in the game, but loved by so many – despite never getting a medal.
They won the hearts of the country in the FIFA women’s world cup, where they made it to the semi finals for the first time in the team’s history.
They call it “the golden mindset.”
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Tony Gustavsson spoke about ‘The Golden Mindset’ at the Ready24 REA Group industry event.
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Gustavsson said the teams ‘winning’ mindset didn’t have much to do with winning at all.
The Matildas coach told anecdotes of how they use this mindset not just in games, but in training and every day life.
He spoke about three carpets that lay on the dressing room floor that each have a different phrase on them.
BELIEF was written on one of the three carpets.
“If you want to believe in what you’re doing, you need to prepare,” he said.
Team huddles were an important part of the Matilda’s golden mindset. (L-R) Mary Fowler, Tameka Yallop, Alanna Kennedy, Sam Kerr, Claire Hunt, Hayley Raso, Kyah Simon and Mackenzie Arnold.
He spoke of how each practice for PKs’ (penalty kicks) each team member would replicate the exact same steps in practice as they would for the game.
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The way they reached for the ball, the way they lined up for goal – everything was the same.
He also noted when a goal was scored – particularly when captain Sam Kerr was on the bench due to injury in the FIFA world cup – the goal scorer would run to the bench to celebrate with the whole team, not just those on the field.
Matilda’s captain Sam Kerr.
“You’re thanking the team for preparing,” he said.
“Remember to credit the ones in the backroom that got you there to close that deal or score that goal.”
NEVER SAY DIE
Gustavsson spoke about resilience, and coming back after losses.
He said the Matildas had “scars” from loosing at penalty shoot outs before.
“How do you prep players that have scars from the past?” he said.
Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson speaks to the media during an Australia Matildas media opportunity at Blues Point Reserve on March 05, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
As a coach he said he had to show his vulnerability and do something that made him fearful, something he asks the team of everyday.
With a phobia of heights, at one of their team training camps, he promised the team he would face his fears and jump off a 15m high block into water.
All the team stood on the jetty and watched him face his fears in support.
FAMILY
“This is not a team, it’s a family,” he said.
Before each game, Gustavsson talked of how their team huddle includes every single person involved with the team from trainers, physios, support staff – all were in the huddle.
He said although they hate loosing, winning isn’t spoken about in the huddle.
“Otherwise we loose perspective of why we are there,” he said.
Matilda’s stars Kyra Cooney-Cross holding fellow teammate Katrina Gorry’s daughter Harper. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
He showed pictures of how every penalty shoot out, the Matildas were seen in a tight huddle, supporting each other physically while their team member took the shot.
He said whoever was up next for the shot, would be in the middle of the huddle so they knew they were fully supported.
After the key note, Gustavsson was joined by Matilda’s and Brisbane Roar legend Tameka Yallop who talked about how the Tillys felt like a family.
Tameka Yallop playing for Brisbane Roar (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Having nurtured a family like quality, team members like Yallop and Katrina Gorrie travel with and have their children with them at training camps and games.
Yallop said that her favourite memory was having her daughter with her watching during the world cup.
She said the best part of being a Matilda is the change they have made for young girls and boys seeing Women’s sport on a world stage.
Having recently qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Gustavsson said they were determined to bring back a medal this year after coming so close in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.