THOMAS Dooley returns as the Azkals head coach after the recent departure of Scott Cooper.
The Philippine Football Federation officially announced Dooley as the new head coach that will spearhead the Philippine National Men’s Team in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on June 8-June 14, 2022 in Mongolia.
“I’m honored to take responsibility to bring the team back where they belong,” said Dooley in a report posted at the PFF’s official website. “Thank you to PFF for the trust you have in me.”
PFF president Mariano Araneta Jr. welcomed Dooley in his second run as the Azkals head coach and is optimistic that he’ll bring success to the squad, which he once did in the past.
“We would like to welcome Coach Thomas Dooley back with the Men’s National Team,” said Araneta Jr. “We trust that he can take the team to greater heights in his second stint as head coach. We wish him and the team well as they prepare for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers next month.”
The 61-year-old Dooley, a former player for the US National Team, held the head coaching position of the Azkals from 2014 to 2018. He helped the Philippines earn its first ever qualification to the AFC Asia Cup after a win over Tajikistan in 2018. Dooley also coached the Azkals in the 2018 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers and had wins over Bahrain and North Korea, considered an upset.
Dooley’s contract with the Azkals ended in 2018, wherein he was replaced by Terry Butcher.
After his first stint with the Philippines, he became the sports director of Vietnamese club Viettel FC from 2019 to 2020 before moving to Malaysia to coach Sri Pahang FC.