Australian head coach set to lead PH women’s football squad

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

One of Australia’s finest football coaches is set to take the Philippines by storm.

Eager to have their best performance on the international stage, the Philippine women’s football team announced the arrival of their new head tactician Alen Stajcic, the former Australian women’s football manager.

Stajcic replaced coach Marlon Maro who led the PH Malditas during the recently concluded Asian Cup qualifiers.

Now that the Malditas earned their ticket in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to be held in India next year, newly-designated coach Stajcic will be looking to take the team to greater heights.

During the Asian Cup qualifiers, the PH Malditas had a decent outing when they stunned the world with huge victories over Nepal and Hong Kong.

With everything all set, coach Stajcic is seeking to replicate what he did with the Australian women’s national team.

It was a historic moment for the Australian women’s football squad when Stajcic led the team to a quarterfinal finish during the Women’s World Cup.

The tremendous finish helped them earn the world no. 4 rank during 2017 and he was also nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach Award in 2018.

“We are thrilled that Alen Stajcic has accepted the position to be the head coach of the Philippine women’s national team. 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,” said Ilonggo PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.