Meet the youngest coach in Australian history on a quest to be ‘best ever’

It is the coaching journey that began as a 13-year-old, and has now culminated in a role spearheading the next generation of Matildas.

Johnathan Clemente made history when he was unveiled as the new A-League Women’s coach of the Brisbane Roar, making him the youngest boss ever across the male and female competitions.

It is a feat barely rivalled across codes, with the 27-year-old bettering rugby league mentor Nathan Brown (29) and former Western Force Super Rugby honcho Dave Wessels (33) when they took the reins, while equalling St Kilda VFL winner Allan Jeans.

But as Clemente says: “Leadership has no age in today’s society”.

“It’s a nice headline, but for me, age has never really been a factor. I’ve always been seen because I’ve put the hard work in.

“Mum and dad are happy with it – it’s on the fridge – but ultimately, I want to be in a position where I’m the best ever, not just the youngest ever.”

Like most young players, Clemente dreamed of international stardom in Australian colours. That focus was quick to shift.

As a young teenager at the Essendon Royals in Victoria, Clemente’s coaches saw he was inquisitive, and provided him the opportunity to lead an under-four to eights program. From there, he knew a career leading from the sidelines would be his life’s purpose.

“We all wish we were footballers, but I’m not great,” Clemente laughs.

“I think anyone trying to reach the pinnacle of any profession, you’re always going to need that sacrifice and hard work, but underpinned by that passion.

“You’ve got to understand you’re going to miss birthdays, Christmases, a lot of things because the football schedule is unrelenting. But if you want to be a professional they’re the sacrifices you’ve got to make.”

Six years later, as the Royals’ women’s team were about to fold upon their relegation to the State League 2 North-West competition, Clemente sought to rescue them from the doldrums.

Eager to make the club community-driven, Clemente and Essendon secured promotion in his first season. That talent took him to the reins of National Premier League outfit Heidelberg United the following year.

“All the players had left, and then they thought ‘why are they signing a 19-year-old as a coach?’” Clemente says.

“Good culture brings good players. We were very people-centric and empowered as many people as possible.

“Football teams and clubs are communities, and I think if you build something so attractive, it will draw good players towards the club and what you’re trying to build.”

After fostering 10 United squad members into A-League players, Clemente joined the Melbourne Victory under four-time championship winner Jeff Hopkins – the latter’s leadership style in not seeing his staff as “under him” but alongside him a trait Clemente is determined to bring to Brisbane.

Clemente has not wasted time. The early loss of Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop to the Wellington Phoenix for family reasons has left an “irreplaceable” void in the roster.

He saw a need to bring championship-winning quality into the squad to offset a growing youthful contingent he felt would become the future faces of the international outfit.

Clemente wants the Brisbane program to be built on homegrown prospects, saying the Queensland talent pool had been an alluring factor for the role.

“I think Brisbane have been known for producing the most Matildas than any other club. That’s something I think is a proud tradition,” he says.

“The quality coming through … needs to be shown, and there needs to be a clear pathway for those young players.”

Clemente hopes to bring the same sense of community he experienced in Essendon. And it is the style of play he is seeking which he believes can draw a wider fan base.

He hopes to encourage a “fearless” mentality, one which he believes can put his group in the “shop window for a great move and a great career overseas”.

The ultimate goal, he said, was to empower his players to have the freedom to attack, and mistakes they will inevitably learn from.

“We want to be as attacking as possible; how that looks will change from time to time – being fluid and flexible in how we play, and I think that’s the way the modern game is going,” he says.

“No matter the circumstances or the opposition, we can find solutions to go out and perform and excite the fans along the way.”

The financial state of the A-League Women’s has left a void in the competition: a lack of current Matildas plying their trade at home.

Of the 26 squad members for this year’s Asian Cup, only veteran Michelle Heyman (Canberra United), Holly McNamara (Melbourne City, since signing with Everton) and goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln (Roar) were based in Australia.

Many players have voiced their desire to finish their careers where it all began, however the code’s positioning – where the average player income is around $30,000 – made that unfeasible, as Katrina Gorry alluded to in an interview with this masthead in March.

But Clemente sees opportunity in youth to draw them back.

“Of course, we would like as many Matildas to come back to the competition as possible. Ultimately, the league’s not in a financial position to do that,” Clemente said.

“However, the caveat with that is we’ve got so many great young players coming through as well, and then hopefully they’re the face of our Matildas for the years to come.

“We want to develop talent to play overseas and hopefully represent our national team. We need to create an environment where it’s exciting for the fan, but we’re developing talent.

“If you do those two things, the finances will come with that, and hopefully, we get some returning Matildas because of that.”

Brisbane begin their 2026-27 season on October 17 against the Mariners.

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