The Perfect 10
Ep: 69 Emily Husband – From Mariners Coaching Masterclass to Matildas Mission
Published: 31 May 2026 at 07:37 Europe/London
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Episode notes
Episode #69 of The Perfect 10 features one of the brightest coaching minds in world football — Emily Husband, Assistant Coach of the CommBank Matildas and a woman whose extraordinary journey has taken her from the terraces of Leeds to the biggest stage in international sport.
Born in the UK, Emily fell in love with football as a little girl. Her Dad was a passionate Leeds United season ticket holder, and weekends were spent immersed in the atmosphere of Premier League and Europa League football. The game quickly became an obsession.
Emily played senior football in England before a move to the United States sparked a new chapter — coaching. It proved to be the perfect fit.
Since arriving in Australia, Husband’s rise has been remarkable. She built a powerhouse program at Sydney University under the guidance of her mentor John Curran – before taking on one of the toughest jobs in the A-League Womens competition — building the Central Coast Mariners from the ground up.
What followed was extraordinary.
In their very first season, the Mariners stormed into the Finals Series. One year later, Emily guided the club to the Championship, defeating powerhouse clubs Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory on the way to Grand Final glory. Her tactical brilliance, unwavering belief, and the culture she created transformed the Mariners into one of the great success stories in Australian sport.
Now, alongside Matildas Head Coach Joe Montemurro, Emily is helping guide Australia’s favourite sporting team towards the next FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
This is a conversation about leadership, high performance, culture, resilience, and an all-consuming love of one sporting code. Emily laughs that she’s a “one-sport pony,” but her passion for helping players unlock their full potential is what truly defines her.
An inspiring story from one of the game’s most respected coaches — a trailblazer -this is Emily Husband on The Perfect 10.
