Jeff Hopkins has been appointed Head Coach of the Ninja A-League Women All Stars as the best from across the competition prepares to face English Women’s Super League giants, Chelsea FC, in August at Allianz Stadium.
The Melbourne Victory Head Coach will lead the side in its second appearance as a team, following the inaugural All Stars side faced Arsenal Women in front of a packed stadium in Melbourne in 2024. Jeff follows current Matildas’ boss, Joe Montemurro, as the second Head Coach of the representative side.
Hopkins is one of the most decorated coaches in A-League history having won; four Championships with Brisbane Roar (2009, 2011) and Melbourne Victory (2021, 2022), two Premierships with Roar in 08/09 and Victory in 18/19, being awarded the Ninja A-League Coach of the Year four times and coaching over 200 matches in the competition – the most of any coach in the league’s history.
The former Welsh international began his coaching career with the Gippsland Falcons in the National Soccer League, where he was one of the last player-coaches in Australian football. Hopkins returned to the dugout with Brisbane Roar Women’s side in 2008, taking out the Premiership-Championship double in the inaugural season of the competition and winning the title again in the 2010/11 season.
The 61-year-old then joined Melbourne Victory at the start of the 2016 season and has led the side for the past decade, most notably taking the club to back-to-back Championships in 2021 and 2022, and coaching Victory for over 150 matches in the competition.
Hopkins will lead the Ninja A-League Women All Stars that will feature the best-of-the-best of the Ninja A-League, with members of the squad to be announced in the lead-up to the blockbuster fixture in August.
Commenting on his appointment, Jeff Hopkins said: “It’s an honour to be named the Ninja A-League Women All Stars Head Coach. We have such fantastic talent across our league, current internationals and the next generation of stars, and I’m looking forward to showcasing what the league has to offer in such a historic fixture.”
A-Leagues CEO, Steve Rosich, said: “Jeff has been an incredible leader across the history of the Ninja A-League and his record speaks for itself. We’re delighted to have him lead the second-ever Ninja A-League Women All Stars.”
“It’s set to be a fantastic occasion to showcase women’s football, and we’re hoping for another packed stadium to cheer on the best from the Ninja A-League as they take on Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter’s Chelsea FC.”
The Ninja A-League Women All Stars will face Chelsea FC Women on Wednesday, August 12, at Allianz Stadium as part of the Sydney Super Cup, with the squad set to be announced closer to the fixture.
