“I want to speak from the heart, because I'm here because of the love of the game here and the opportunity to come back is a massive occasion,” Montemurro told a media conference in Sydney on Monday.

“To be given the opportunity, I think, to lead one of the best brands in the world, one of the most exciting teams in the world and to do it at home and with a level of pride is something quite emotional.”

Montemurro quit as Lyon coach on Sunday after a season with the French club to take on the role and brings a glittering resume to the Matildas after winning the FA Women’s Super League with Arsenal in 2019 and Serie A with Juventus Women in 2022.

He takes over a Matildas side that will be aiming to win the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time since 2010 when the country hosts the 12-team event from March 1 to 21 next year.

“I assessed a few things and I said to myself, and my wife and family, this is an exciting cycle for the Matildas; the Asian Cup, World Cup, Olympic Games and the opportunity was too good,” Montemurro said of his decision to take on the role.

“There’s something inside of me that was just telling me it’s time. I had to make a hard decision, a very difficult decision but I believe the decision, standing here now, is the right one.”

In his role as Matildas coach, Montemurro will be reunited with UEFA Women’s Champions League-winning trio Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord, who he signed during for Arsenal, and the Australians will be among the favourites for the continental title.

Australia were knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual winners China PR in the most recent edition in 2022 before going on to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup a year later in an event co-hosted by the Australians and New Zealand.

The Matildas then failed to progress beyond the group phase at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, a result that saw Gustavsson stand down upon the team’s return to Australia from France.

“I have to thank Tommy Sermanni,” said Montemurro. “Because, it being a non-qualifying year and there being no tournaments, it’s actually been a positive.

“Tom’s been able to do a process of bringing in some players and giving some opportunities to players and stabilising the situation and from there we can bring it forward.

“It’s all set up for me to take over with the staff and bring it to the next level. Is the Asian Cup winnable? Of course it is.”