At 27 years of age, Johnathan Clemente has put his name in the headlines becoming the youngest Head Coach in A-Leagues history with Brisbane Roar, capping off a meteoric rise through professional football.
Clemente’s turbulent journey through Australian football has seen him climb through the rankings. Starting out coaching at his boyhood club of Essendon Royals at 19, he guided the recently relegated women’s side back to State League 1 in his first season in charge. Previously leaving the club at 15, it was the return only one could dream of helping his club earn promotion and kick-start their rise to the NPLW.
Breaking records seems to follow Clemente wherever he goes. In 2019 following his success at the Royals, Clemente was appointed Head Coach of the Heidelberg United women’s team, becoming the youngest head coach in NPL history, a teaser almost to his future accolade at Brisbane.
His tenure at Heidelberg saw a rise in women’s football at the club, securing their highest league finish in 12 years and coming narrowly close to capturing silverware in his last season at the club.
It was this rebuild at Heidelberg, which caught the attention of one Melbourne Victory. Clemente joined the club as assistant coach of the A-League women’s side, working under the legendary coach Jeff Hopkins. Spending four years at the club and learning under Hopkins, Clemente has now departed to take up a new challenge at Brisbane Roar.
Looking back at his coaching journey, Clemente always hoped “It was a matter of time for the right opportunity.”
“I always knew I’d be ready for this position with the work I’ve put in and I’m grateful I’ve been given the opportunity”. In my first season for the Royals Women’s in 2019, I wrote down a goal of being a NPLW head coach by 25, so I’m grateful the hard work has sped up the process!.”
Starting out coaching senior football at such a young age, Clemente attributes the leaders around him as to what drew him in so early heaping praise to a few names in particular.
“[It was] great mentors who gave me the platform to lead and be inquisitive to the game.
“Ric Marchioli and Lachlan Armstrong have both been there since I was 13 years old and of course Jeff Hopkins and there are so many others who have supported me along the way.”
Despite the attention being around his history making appointment, Clemente isn’t too focused on the buzz, rather the continued success he is aiming for.
“It’s a nice headline, but I don’t want to be the youngest ever, I want to be the best ever, so I’ll work for that headline hopefully one day.”
The young coach is simply full of ambition, already looking ahead to the work that is required of him to hit the ground running with the Roar.
“There’s always more to achieve, I’ve had my day or so to take it in, but now it’s not about being in this position it’s about staying in it.”
Looking at last seasons results Brisbane Roar finished fourth during the 25/26 Ninja A-League women’s season, nine points off eventual premiers Melbourne City and falling just short of reaching a sixth Grand Final. Brisbane Roar will be hoping the appointment of Clemente will help them reach the pinnacle of Australian women’s football once again, last winning the competition in 2011.
Johnathan Clemente is no stranger to the responsibility of leading a team as head coach and his advice to aspiring coaches looking at his journey is a simple one:
“Don’t stop believing.”