Manager justifies restoring Sam Kerr to Australian captaincy

Manager Joe Montemurro has justified returning the captaincy to Sam Kerr for the Australian womens team, describing it as a choice focused on the sport rather than politics.

The 32 year old forward from Chelsea donned the armband in the Matildas 3 0 loss against England in Derby on Tuesday, marking her second appearance since a lengthy layoff of almost two years due to a major knee problem.

While sidelined, she faced a prominent legal battle in London over claims of racially motivated abuse towards a police officer on a night out involving alcohol.

She was cleared of the charges, though the judge noted that her actions played a key role in leading to the accusation.

This incident damaged her reputation, and parts of the public in Australia resisted her regaining the role of national leader.

We reached a conclusion within the team that supports top performance on the pitch and benefits the squad overall, Montemurro explained post game.

I focus on choices related to the game. I avoid political ones; these are strictly about football, and Sam plays a vital role in our plans.

From our viewpoint, we maintained the existing setup moving ahead, and we are pleased with her staying as captain.

Defender Steph Catley from Arsenal led the team during Kerrs recovery period.

Ellie Carpenter, who plays alongside Kerr at Chelsea, supported the managers choice.

Sam has always served as our captain, she stated. She transformed the sport in Australia. Having her in the lineup provides a huge lift for the group.