THE Philippine Women’s National Team gets a huge shakeup ahead of next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 with a new coach to lead the squad.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) relieved head coach Marlon Maro of his duties and tapped the services of decorated Aussie coach Alen Stajcic as the mentor of the women’s team with its goal of a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“We are thrilled that Alen Stajcic has accepted the position to be the head coach of the Philippine Women’s National Team,” PFF president Mariano Araneta Jr. said in a report posted at the PFF’s official website. “His appointment shows the commitment and determination of the PFF to give our women’s national team the best possible chance to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
Stajcic has an impressive coaching resume and served as the Australia Matildas head coach from 2014 to 2019. He led the Matildas to the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics, in which he led Australia to the quarterfinals.
Stanjcic also mentored the Sydney FC women’s team and the A-League squad Central Coast Mariners.
“Coach Alen Stajcic has the capabilities to elevate the Philippine Women’s team on the Asian stage and beyond,” said PFF general secretary, lawyer Edwin Gastanes. “We look forward to what he can bring to the team which has qualified to the final competition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022.”
The Philippines qualified for the AFC Asian Cup 2022 India, which will be held in January, after beating Nepal and Hong Kong in the qualifiers in September in Uzbekistan.
Maro, on the other hand, was appointed by the PFF as the Head of PFF Coaching Education. (EKA)