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Coach Alen Stajcic

Alen Stajcic left as coach of the Philippine women’s football team on Tuesday, but not without reflecting on a tenure that will be remembered for a long time following a dream Fifa (International Association Football Federation) Women’s World Cup debut that set a standard for the national coaches of the future.

“The last match against Norway, where 34,000 patrons attended—with 30,000 singing for the Filipinas—brought shivers down our spine,” Stajcic said as part of a statement announcing his desire to go on a different path. “It showed that football does belong in the Philippines and that legacy is something we are all proud of.”

The contracts of Stajcic and his assistant, Nahuel Arrarte, expired after the Filipinas concluded their World Cup stint with a 6-0 loss to Norway at Auckland’s Eden Park. Team manager Jeff Cheng said that both “will not be renewed as both coaches have asked to explore other options.”

It’s still unknown where Stajcic will head next, but he had been linked last month to a potential coaching position back in his home country Australia for A-League men’s side Perth Glory, as per one media outlet Down Under.

The big question lies between now and the succeeding tournaments for the Filipinas, namely the Hangzhou Asian Games and the second round of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and team management are now left to scramble to find someone of Stajcic’s caliber.

“Coach Alen Stajcic’s appointment as Philippine Women’s National Team head coach brought women’s football in the Philippines to new heights and hope,” PFF president Mariano Araneta said in his statement.

Dared to win

“Coach Alen showed full dedication to [honing] the Filipinas into a fighting team. He will long be remembered as the coach who trained and dared the team to win at any international competition,” Araneta said.

Stajcic’s resume will be hard to equal after he steered the Filipinas to that World Cup berth during the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup. It was followed by more successful runs against neighboring countries as the Philippines won the bronze medal in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games and ruled the AFF Women’s Championship.

Apart from those is the continuous climb of the Philippines in Fifa’s women’s football rankings, now currently at 46th and could jump more by the time the World Cup is concluded.

“All of which were special and memorable and brought much-deserved attention to the team,” Stajcic said. “But without question, the two best experiences of my coaching career thus far were the last two World Cup matches.”

Tribute to players

In New Zealand, the Filipinas reached new heights in front of the football world when Sarina Bolden’s goal, Olivia McDaniel’s reflexes between the sticks and the stellar play at the back resulted in a win over the co-host despite having just two games of experience in the highest point of women’s competition.

Stajcic, whose previous experience of guiding Australia to quarterfinal appearances in the World Cup and the Olympics before taking the Philippine job, has considered that triumphant performance in Wellington as second to none.

“Throughout nearly 20 months we went on a journey together as a team from outsiders in Southeast Asia to winning a match at a World Cup,” said Stajcic.

In leaving the team, Stajcic expressed appreciation to those who have been part of the unbelievable ride as he’ll be on the outside looking in.

“To the players, I can only say, you were courageous, passionate, disciplined and loyal to the team, the flag and the country,” he said. “Your sacrifices should be long remembered by all Philippine sports fans. To give hope and inspiration is the greatest of all achievements.

“I wish everyone a great future and look forward to following the next chapters in the story.” INQ

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