Stajcic who has turned the women’s national football team into a world force beat out Stephen Desovich (winter sport), Tom Westgarth (rowing) Andrea King (canoeing) for the top gong.

Women’s football were finalists in six award categories highlighting the national team’s meteoric rise.

Australia’s Winter Olympians and Paralympians dominated the list of finalists for this year’s awards.

Matildas and Perth Glory strike ace Sam Kerr missed out on the female athlete of the Year. That honour went to hurdles world champion Sally Pearson. Britteny Cox (winter sport) and Jessica Fox (canoeing) were also in the running.

Australian Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard picked up the Team of the Year ahead of the Matildas,  Australian Rowing and Australian Track Cycling (cycling).

But both Kerr and the Matildas cleaned up in the public choice awards.

Under Stajcic the Matildas reached their highest world ranking of 5 (currently 6).

The coach, who was recognised by an AIS panel of experts,was humbled to receive the prestigious personal award.

“To have received this kind of recognition and respect from the Australian public is unbelievable,” Stajcic said.

“To know that our team has had this kind of cut-through in the Australian sporting landscape is just mind-boggling.

“To think that we have had 50,000 people come and watch us in Australia over the last few months shows that we have made great steps."

It has been a watershed year for the national team. In July they took out the Tournament of Nations, stunning the USA with an historic first-ever win over the women’s football powerhouse, followed by a cleansweep of friendlies against Brazil and China.

The Matildas were also finalists in the Best Sporting Moment of the Year for their historic victory at the Tournament of Nations. That honour was taken out by world champion boxer Jeff Horn for his underdog victory against Manny Pacquiao.