Husband and Jackson make it Back-to-Back Coach of the Month Doubles

Emily Husband and Mark Jackson have both won the February Coach of the Month Awards for the Liberty A-League and Isuzu UTE A-League respectively.

The February awards make it back-to-back Mariners Doubles, after the pair were also awarded both of January’s awards.

February saw Husband’s side kick-start a five match unbeaten run that has led to them confirming a Liberty A-League Finals spot with two games to spare.

Our Head Coach beat Western United’s Kat Smith, Newcastle Jets’ Ryan Campbell and Melbourne Victory’s Jeff Hopkins to her second consecutive award.

Bouncing back from defeat to second-placed Western United, the Mariners drew with Melbourne Victory at Our Paradise, before putting on one of their performances of the season away to Perth Glory.

The win in Perth prior to the International break, proved to be a springboard for Husband’s side who are on a current run of four wins on the bounce, our best run of the season so far the current best streak in the competition.

After defeating Canberra United 4-1 last time out, the Mariners secured a Finals spot with two games to spare, a phenomenal achievement in our return season to the Liberty A-League.

Paramount+ Pundit, former player and current Western Sydney Wanderers coach, Catherine Cannuli was full of praise for Emily and her team, plus the unity of the club.

I know Emily personally. I know how much work she put in before the season, she didn’t sleep much. She’s one of the hardest working coaches in the league.

Paramount+ pundit Catherine Cannuli on Emily Husband.

Husband’s side face a challenging trip to Melbourne City this weekend, before returning home for the final game of the season at home to Western United.

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In the Isuzu UTE A-League, Jackson’s award sees him win Coach of the Month for the third consecutive month, after picking up the most points of any coach in February.

A hectic February schedule saw the Mariners play seven games across the A-League and AFC Cup, starting with one of our performances of the season as we ran out 4-0 winners at Coopers Stadium against Adelaide.

The squad then travelled straight across to Wellington and played out a 0-0 draw with the league leaders, before returning home to face Sydney FC where we fell to our first defeat in 14 games.

Jackson got an immediate positive response from his players just three days later as we brushed aside Phnom Penh to advance in the AFC Cup, before returning to winning ways in the A-League at home to Western Sydney Wanderers later that week.

A week later, following midweek success in the AFC Cup at Campbelltown, the Mariners took all three points against Melbourne Victory, another landmark moment in the season as we ended our AAMI Park hoodoo.

“It’s really pleasing for the players and the staff. Ultimately it’s my name that gets mentioned but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s a collective effort from the players and staff who have worked tirelessly since I came to the club.” Jackson said.

There shouldn’t be one person who takes the sole credit, it’s a collective effort from everybody.

Mark Jackson on winning three consecutive Isuzu UTE A-League Coach of the Month awards.

“I see Emily has got two consecutive awards as well so that is fantastic to see. Me and Emily are always in conversation with each other. Her wider team and staff all work together as well, I’m sure she’s the same as me, she will credit [the award] to her players and staff.” Jackson said.

“It’s fantastic for the club on a whole, really pleased for everybody involved but it doesn’t mean anything at this moment in time. We have to keep building, keep going with the processes and continue to try and win games.”

“We’re in position now that we’re happy with. There is a long way to go even though it doesn’t look like it when you look at the amount of games left. I will always stick to the same mantra of one game at a time.”

Mark Jackson on the possibility of more Mariners silverware this season.

“We have six hurdles ahead of us in the league, two in the AFC Cup and we take each of those one at a time. We have to navigate every game, and we know that the teams we are coming up against are pushing for things as well so we have to be prepared, ready and focussed.” Jackson said.

“Nothing changes, we’re fully focussed on winning the next football match which is Sydney,” he said.

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