Albo not leader, but chuffed soccer dad

Nathan Albanese wiped away tears as his father apologised for letting him down, but promised to become a more involved soccer dad.

It was a poignant moment during Anthony Albanese's graceful concession speech following the month-long Labor leadership contest.

"To my most enthusiastic campaigner Nathan Albanese, I'm sorry I let you down," he said during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Sunday.

Nathan had been convinced victory over Bill Shorten would be his father's.

"The good news is I'm no longer deputy leader of the Labor Party," Mr Albanese said.

Instead he intends to be the deputy coach of the under-14 Rebels Canterbury division six-a-side soccer team.

"Mick (Godfrey the coach), if you're watching ... you'll have an assistant of variable ability but some enthusiasm," Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese also paid tribute to the love and support of his wife Carmel Tebbutt, a former Labor deputy premier of NSW, saying he would not have run without her support.

He admitted a lifetime ambition to lead the party, even if it was something he only considered in recent times.

"I always thought I would be a team player, that would be the contribution I would make rather than be leader."

Mr Albanese intends to go back to being a team player, predicting Mr Shorten will emerge as a great Labor leader.

Mr Albanese was heartened to have received 60 per cent of the rank-and-file vote.

"I have my little place in the record books," he said, reflecting on his origins as the son of a single mother, on the invalid pension, living in a council house.

Mr Albanese hailed the double-header leadership ballot a success.

"This is not the end point of democratisation of the Australian Labor Party, this is just the beginning.

"I say to those people who questioned the process, just try to dismantle it."

Mr Albanese fired a shot at the Abbott government on his way out.

"In the words of that great philosopher Tex Perkins - the honeymoon is over baby," he said.