With EUFA-A Pro Diploma coaching accreditation in Italy completed and a solid year overseeing Victorian Women’s Football at the FFV, Joe (Pepe) Montemurro has signed with the City Group where he will initially oversee the Youth NPL team for 2015.
After an interesting year coaching Melbourne Victory Women’s Football Team, searching for back-to-back championships, Joe (Pepe) Montemurro has decided to move across to Melbourne City FC.
Lured by the professionalism and aura of working for a significantly resourced and financially sound club, Craig Stockdale (of Stocky’s Scribbles) secured an exclusive interview with the UEFA-A accredited coach to uncover the real reasons behind the move, his plans in 2015 and the impact his decision will have on Women’s Football in Victoria.
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Melbourne City and the NPL 1 West
Q. Joe, tell us about the reasons behind your move to City and your plans for 2015?
When the opportunity came to be involved with Melbourne City FC, I saw it as a very exciting project in a very exciting organisation. I will be working with the youth sector coaching the NPL team that has recently won the NYL. Our project is to develop potential NYL and A-League players.
Q. What is the culture like at the City Group and what attracted you there?
Quality and professionalism come to mind. As we all know, Melbourne City Football Club is a professional football club that competes in the major Australian domestic competition, the Hyundai A-League and it’s this professionalism that attracted me to the organisation.
As background for our readers, City Football Group is the owner of a number of football related businesses with global relevance. These include high profile professional football clubs, academies, technical support and marketing companies. CFG’s clubs include Premier League Title Winners 2013-14 Manchester City FC, Melbourne City FC of the A-League and MLS Franchise New York City Football Club, due to begin its inaugural season in March 2015. CFG is also a minority shareholder in Yokohama F·Marinos of the J-League. The common aim across all clubs is to provide the best possible experience and an unmatched opportunity for fans and communities to participate in, and benefit from, football at both a local and global level.
Q. How did you feel about departing FFV, NTC and the MVWFC at this point in time?
In football anything is possible and I did not expect the opportunity at this stage of my coaching. I felt that the foundations were established for an exciting future for the girls I have worked with. It’s always sad to leave something you have started and not see it develop into its full potential. But I thank the FFV and Victory for the opportunity to develop my coaching.
Q. After a year at NTC/MVWFC, how would you best describe your coaching style or philosophy in 2015?
The ‘buzz’ philosophy word, I believe my philosophy is more from outside of football than football. Words like respect, work ethic, integrity mean more than a playing style or vision – they are the difference for me than the type of football you play, so I suppose my philosophy is more about how football can make us better people. I think my football reflects these words.
Q. City is now a massive conglomerate globally – what investments are being made locally for football across both genders?
This is a question for the Club’s administration, but what we have already seen is that there has been investment in the City Football Academy, Melbourne, which is home to our A-League, NYL and NPL sides and administration, which will only help to grow football at a grassroots level and provide inspiration for young boys and girls.
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Women’s football in Victoria
Q. How did you view the year at Melbourne Victory Women’s in 2014?
Fragmented, I feel is the best word. I do feel we could have gone one better [Grand final instead of Semi] – but as discussed in the earlier question it was a year of laying some foundations both culturally and in development. I think we did that which hopefully will leave the position in good shape for the next coach to carry on.
Q. Did the Melbourne Victory team exceed your expectations and if so, why?
I expected the team to be involved in finals and I feel we played a good brand for the fans. No doubt every coach wants to win a championship and that is always the end game at a professional level.
Q. Are we likely to see a Melbourne City W-League team? Surely we are due for one?
Melbourne City FC continue to work closely with Football Federation Australia and the local Federation (FFV) on the opportunity of introducing a Women’s team in the future. I am not at liberty to elaborate on this any further other than to say I believe that Victoria could support another team in the W League right now.