 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Melissa Jane Andreatta[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Brisbane,Australia | ||
| Position | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Scotland (Head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Taringa Rovers | |||
| The Gap | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2008 | The Gap | ||
| 2003–2004 | NNSW Pride | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2007–2008 | The Gap (women) | ||
| 2011–2016 | Brisbane Roar (assistant) | ||
| 2011 | Football QLD National Training Centre (women) | ||
| 2013–2014 | Australia U-17 (assistant) | ||
| 2016–2018 | Brisbane Roar | ||
| 2018–2025 | Australia (assistant) | ||
| 2019–2020 | Brisbane Strikers (U-16 & U-18 Boys) | ||
| 2022–2025 | Australia U-23 | ||
| 2025– | Scotland | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Melissa Jane Andreatta is an Australiansoccer coach who currently works as head coach forScotland women's national football team.[2]
Andreatta was born inBrisbane, Australia to mother, Charmaine, who was a teacher aide, and her Italian father, Mario.[3] She started playing football in high school atBrigidine College at outdoor football before joining Brisbane-based Taringa Rovers after graduation.[4] After she injured her ACL in the first 12 months, Andreatta went on to play forThe Gap.[4] In 2003, Andreatta was named in the Northern NSW Pride Squad for the 2003/04Women's National Soccer League season. She made her national league debut against Adelaide Sensation on 26 October.[5]
After completing her teaching qualifications at 21 years old, Andreatta returned toThe Gap as Head coach of the Women's Team winning the State League Championship in 2007 and 2008.[3] In 2011, Andreatta joinedBrisbane Roar as Assistant Coach toJeff Hopkins.[6] While she at Brisbane Roar, Andreatta moved into Football Australia's Technical Department when she was named to the Technical Staff of theJunior Matildas (U-17) as Assistant Coach.[7] During this period she also served as the National Training Centre and Football Queensland Girls State Team coach.[8]
In 2016 joinedThe Matildas Technical Staff as a Technical Analyst scouting for the team in the lead up to and during theRio 2016.[3]
After four years as an assistant, Andreatta was appointed the third Head Coach ofBrisbane Roar in 2016 when she took over from Belinda Wilson.[8] After a re-building season in 2016/17, Andreatta guided the Roar to their thirdW-League Premiership in 2018 as they finished the regular season on top of the ladder. She was only the third female coach in the competition's history to lead a team to the Premier's Plate.[9] During those two seasons, Andreatta coached national team players including highest capped MatildaClare Polkinghorne, goalkeeperMackenzie Arnold, wingerHayley Raso, midfielderTameka Yallop, forwardEmily Gielnik and midfielderKatrina Gorry.[10] For an outstanding season, Melissa Andreatta voted theW-League Coach of the Year becoming only the second female coach to earn the honour.[11] In the2018–19 Andreatta led the Roar to another top two regular season finish as they pushed eventual Premiership winnersMelbourne Victory all the way. In recognition of her leadership, she was named the rebel Female Football Week Female Coach of the Year.[12]
2019 saw Andreatta promoted in the national team set up as she was transitioned to the Assistant Coach role under the newly appointedAnte Milicic atThe Matildas.[13] Her Assistant Coach role saw her alongside Milicic for Australia's2019 campaign in France whereThe Matildas made the knockout phase before falling toNorway in the Round of 16.
After three successful seasons at Brisbane Roar, prior to the 2019/2020 season Andreatta stepped down from her Head Coach role at the Roar and joined theBrisbane Strikers as the 16 & U18 Boys Head Coach in theQueensland.[14]
While serving as a part of the coaching staff of the Matildas, Andreatta assisted the team in qualifying for the2020 and their second straight Women's Olympic Football Tournament.
Following the declaration of the COVID-19 Global pandemic theTokyo 2020 were postponed until 2021.[15] The postpone resulted in the departure of Milicic[16] with new head coachTony Gustavsson appointed in September 2020.[17]
Under Gustavsson Andreatta moved up to the lead Assistant Coach role for theTokyo 2020 campaign. That tournament sawThe Matildas record their best finish at the Olympics when they finished fourth in the2020.[18]
2022 saw Andreatta as part of Australia's2022 campaign which saw a quarter-final exit.[19] In July 2022, Andreatta was appointed Head Coach of the first everAustralia U-23 team.[20] She led the team in the2022 recording 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in the competition featuring the senior national teams in the South-East Asian region.
With Australia co-hosting theFIFA Women's World Cup later in the year, Australia commenced their preparations with the four nations2023 with Spain, Czechia and Jamaica participating. Andreatta was in the coaching team that ledThe Matildas to a second title with three straight wins.
July 2023 saw Andreatta participate in her fifth major international tournament as an Assistant Coach for Australia during the2023. The tournament saw another historic result for Australia as the team finished fourth – the nation's best ever result at a FIFA World Cup finals (women's or men's).[21]
In April 2025, Mel was appointed as Head Coach of the Scotland Women’s National Team.[22]
Andreatta graduated fromQueensland University of Technology in 2003 with aBachelor of Education in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching.[23]
In 2021 Andreatta obtained her AFC/FFA Pro Diploma to become one of only a handful of Australian women with the highest coaching licence in the AFC.[24]