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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alen Stajcic says 'long way to go' for him and Filipinas after parting ways

Alen Stajcic says 'long way to go' for him and Filipinas after parting ways

Published Aug 9, 2023 09:01 am

At A Glance

  • The Australian mentor, who has decided to move back to Australia to call the shots for pro men's football team Perth Glory in A-League, said that both he and the Filipinas 'still have a long way to go' in their now separate football paths. 
  •  

It may have been short-lived, but the partnership between Alen Stajcic and the Philippine women's national football team has now become an important piece in the country's sporting history.

The Australian mentor, who has decided to move back to Australia to call the shots for pro men's football team Perth Glory in A-League, said that both he and the Filipinas 'still have a long way to go' in their now separate football paths. 

“We had a lot of catching up to do. It’s still a long way to go for me and for them to be really competitive and genuinely consistent internationally but the journey we went on was just remarkable,” said Stajcic in an interview with Optus Sport.

“It’ll probably never happen ever again but I’m so proud of the playing group and everyone who was involved to get to that point," he added. 

In his tenure with the Nationals, Stajcic brought the country along for a sweet football ride and narrowed the gap in experience between them and the world's best. 

The Philippines finished at the bottom of the table in Group A but took home its first-ever win at the World Cup, male or female, following a captivating 1-nil victory over tournament co-host New Zealand. 

Widely regarded to struggle against highly ranked opponents, the Filipinas fought hard to make a good account of themselves at the world stage, despite the campaign ultimately ending with a 6-0 loss to world No. 12 Norway. 

“It’s been unbelievable to think about where we started. Outside, we were 30-40 years behind every other team and over 18 months, we probably narrowed that gap to maybe five years behind everyone,” said Stajcic.

“We didn’t have long enough, really. But all the superlatives, I’ve used them all up. It was memorable, magical and unforgettable to feel and see that many Filipinos connected and engaged with the team," he concluded. 

The 49-year-old mentor announced his departure from the post two days after the Philippines' dream run ended.

The Filipinas are now expected to prepare for the upcoming Asian Games happening this September and the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament the following month.

Still, there hasn't been updates yet from the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) who will replace Stajcic at the helm for the in-form Filipinas.   

Related Tags

Alen Stajcic Philippine Women's National Team 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
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