POPULAR »
Fri 29 March 2024

Ex-AU Matildas coach to lead PH Malditas

[supsystic-social-sharing id="1"]

Philippine football has acquired perhaps the most decorated coach to head a national team.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) announced the hiring of former Australia women’s national football team head coach Alen Stajcic as head coach of the Philippine women’s national football team.
Stajcic, who coached the Australia Matildas from 2014 to 2019, appeared in the 2014 and 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Matildas finished runners-up in the 2014 and 2018 Asian Cup and quarterfinalists in the 2015 World Cup and Rio Olympics.

Stajcic, though, was sacked by the Football Federation Australia (FFA) in controversial fashion despite having secured a 2019 World Cup slot.

After a series of legal suits, Stajcic and the FFA reached a settlement on his dismissal.

“We are thrilled that Alen Stajcic has accepted the position to be the head coach of the Philippine Women’s National Team head coach. 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,” commented PFF president Nonong Araneta.

In addition, PFF also hired Stajcic’s assistant from 2017 to 2019 Nahuel Arrartle as assistant coach to the Malditas.

Marlon Maro, who steered the Malditas to a 2022 Asian Cup slot last month, was appointed as head of the PFF Coaching Education Program.

Stajcic is set to steer a pool of women booters that include veterans Sarina Bolden, Quinley Quezada, Hali Long, Inna Palacios, and Camille Rodriguez alongside emergent youngsters Chandler McDaniel, Arianna Lepage, and Alisha del Campo.

(Photo from the Philippine Football Federation Facebook page)



[supsystic-social-sharing id="2"]