Lyon women have appointed Australian coach Joe Montemurro, the club announced on Wednesday, replacing Sonia Bompastor, who left to take over at Chelsea this summer.
Montemurro, 54, has previously coached Arsenal and Juventus. He has signed a two-year deal at French powerhouse Lyon, who reached the Women’s Champions League final last season only to be defeated at the hands of Barcelona.
“I am extremely honored to be part of an organization as exceptional as Olympique Lyonnais, a world leader in women’s football,” Montemurro said in a statement. “When I think of Lyon, I think of high level professionalism and excellence. Facing this team always represented the pinnacle of football for me. It has always brought me joy and inspiration.”
Lyon have won the Women’s Champions League a record eight times and are the all-time leaders in French Division 1 trophies –they have been denied the title on one occasion since 2007.
Montemurro becomes the seventh coach in the club’s history.
American businesswoman Michele Kang completed the purchase of Lyon women in February, taking a majority ownership stake of 52.9%. By separating the ownership from the men’s side, the club said the deal was desgined to foster the “full and independent development” of their women’s side.
