A bit too early for Alen Stajcic to decide his future as Filipinas make Asian Games debut
Alen Stajcic hasn’t decided yet on his future with the Filipinas following their group stage elimination from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
*Alen Stajcic during the Philippines-Norway pre-match presser.*
The Australian coach took the helm in October 2021 and has since taken Philippine football to a historic feat in the world stage. However, there’s no definite answer yet from the 49-year-old’s end whether he’ll move forward with the Filipinas after their World Cup stint. “It’s a bit early for all those questions. We just lost a game and got out of the World Cup, with that hope, that little bit of hope of an upset like we did [against New Zealand],” said Stajcic after the 46th-ranked Philippines’ crunch game against 1995 winner Norway ended in a 6-0 scoreline on Sunday, July 30. “We reflect on that for now and in the coming days we’ll have to start making plans for the future,” he added. This, as the Filipinas now prepare for their maiden appearance in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Tangled with all-too-familiar foes this time, the Philippines landed in Group E against South Korea (No. 17), Myanmar (No. 50) and Hong Kong (No. 78). Before stepping into the grandest football showpiece in New Zealand, the Filipinas suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Myanmar which put them out of medal contention in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games last May. A month before the regional tilt, though, the Philippines marched to the second round of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament happening this October at the expense of Hong Kong, 4-nil. In January 2022, the Filipinas qualified for their first-ever and the still ongoing World Cup following an epic penalty shootout victory over Chinese Taipei in the AFC Women's Asian Cup only to be handed a 2-0 loss by South Korea in the semifinals. With all this in Stajcic’s plate, the country that was just taken for a sweet ride in the football stage would have to hold its breath as the now three-time World Cup coach makes the call for his career.
*Alen Stajcic during the Philippines-Norway pre-match presser.*
The Australian coach took the helm in October 2021 and has since taken Philippine football to a historic feat in the world stage. However, there’s no definite answer yet from the 49-year-old’s end whether he’ll move forward with the Filipinas after their World Cup stint. “It’s a bit early for all those questions. We just lost a game and got out of the World Cup, with that hope, that little bit of hope of an upset like we did [against New Zealand],” said Stajcic after the 46th-ranked Philippines’ crunch game against 1995 winner Norway ended in a 6-0 scoreline on Sunday, July 30. “We reflect on that for now and in the coming days we’ll have to start making plans for the future,” he added. This, as the Filipinas now prepare for their maiden appearance in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Tangled with all-too-familiar foes this time, the Philippines landed in Group E against South Korea (No. 17), Myanmar (No. 50) and Hong Kong (No. 78). Before stepping into the grandest football showpiece in New Zealand, the Filipinas suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Myanmar which put them out of medal contention in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games last May. A month before the regional tilt, though, the Philippines marched to the second round of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament happening this October at the expense of Hong Kong, 4-nil. In January 2022, the Filipinas qualified for their first-ever and the still ongoing World Cup following an epic penalty shootout victory over Chinese Taipei in the AFC Women's Asian Cup only to be handed a 2-0 loss by South Korea in the semifinals. With all this in Stajcic’s plate, the country that was just taken for a sweet ride in the football stage would have to hold its breath as the now three-time World Cup coach makes the call for his career.