Tom Sermanni best coach in Asia.

Well done to Aussie Matildas Coach Tom Sermanni. Collette McCallum aslo came second in Asian Player of the Year. See FFA release below for more details.

MATILDAS COACH TOM SERMANNI NAMED ASIAN COACH OF THE YEAR



Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has been named AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Coach of the Year overnight at the AFC Women’s Awards held overnight in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Australian referee Tammy Ogston won the AFC Women's Referee of the Year award, while Matildas midfielder Collette McCallum was named 2nd runner-up in the major award of the evening - the AFC Women’s Player of the Year.

Sermanni’s award comes on the back of the Matildas most successful appearance in a major tournament where they finished sixth in reaching the quarter finals at September’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in China after being knocked out by eventual runners-up Brazil. Following the tournament Australia moved to an all-time high of 12 in the FIFA Women's World Rankings.

Sermanni won the ahead of other nominees Hiroshi Ohashi of Japan and DPR (North) Korea coach Kwang-Min Kim.

“It was a great honour to win the award though really it is a recognition of the hard work and magnificent achievements of the players,” said Sermanni.

“It was pleasing to see Australia nominated in so many categories which is evidence of how far we have progressed in recent years.

“The award is also reflective of the support of the FFA and the AIS, and also the team support staff and the families of all involved.”

Brisbane’s Ogston refereed the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup final between Germany and Brazil, and received her award ahead of other nominees Mayumi Oiwa of Japan and China’s HuiJun Nui.

DPR Korea’s Ri Kum Suk won the prestigious Women’s Player of the Year award followed by Japan’s Homare Sawa and the Perth-based McCallum. The 21-year-old midfielder featured in every minute of Australia’s four World Cup matches scoring with a spectacular free-kick in the decisive group match against Canada that helped ensure Australia’s historic qualification for the quarter finals.

Matildas captain Cheryl Salisbury and midfielder Heather Garriock had earlier been short-listed in the top ten players nominated for the award prior to the list of nominees being reduced to three.

Australia were also unsuccessful nominees in the categories of Women's National Team of the Year and the Fair Play Award.

The Matildas next major outing will be the 2008 AFC Asian Cup which commences in May.

The 2007 Asian Football Confederation Gala Awards will be held in Sydney on November 28.