Loading The Tokyo Olympics were pushed back to mid 2021 because of coronavirus and it seems likely a new coach will be appointed later in 2020 in time to prepare the side for a medal attempt. It would be incredibly difficult for Milicic to coach the Matildas to the Olympic Games and lead Macarthur in an inaugural A-League campaign, yet there is a school of thought at FFA headquarters that some players might push for him to stay in charge of the women’s national team. While it isn’t common, some coaches have juggled club duties with national team responsibilities; Guus Hiddink did in qualifying the Socceroos for the 2006 World Cup and leading them to Germany as he simultaneously coached PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie. However, the added responsibility and work required to get an expansion team up and running in its first season, as Milicic must, makes this highly unlikely, despite some players feeling disappointed that the man who helped them qualify for Tokyo won’t lead them into the tournament.

Claire Polkinghorne, Lydia Williams, Elise Kellond-Knight and Aivi Luik are all senior Matildas and some had been considering (to varying extents) retirement after Tokyo and now need to aim for 2021 rather than 2020, if they choose to go on. Loading Williams, who was working through a club transfer to Europe (thought to be in England), has also had to put those negotiations on hold because of coronavirus. Veteran striker Lisa De Vanna has been frozen out of the Matildas squad under Milicic. Yet a new coach, as well as her very good form for Fiorentina in Italy before the lockdown, could see her recalled. She has not officially retired from national duty. Milicic is one of the 70 per cent of FFA staff that have been stood down during the coronavirus pandemic, as are Matildas and the Socceroos support staff.