Philippine women’s football team coach Alen Stajcic. AFC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Retaining the services of head coach Alen Stajcic for the Fifa Women’s World Cup will be the Philippine Football Federation’s top priority.
PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said they are willing to do “whatever it takes to get him.”
Stajcic’s contract is due to end after the Asian Cup.
“We have to talk to coach Alen because of course, he has brought the team to where it is now, and we want him to continue until probably the World Cup next year,” said Araneta said on Tuesday during the PSA Forum.
Stajic as taken the program to the next level in just a short time since being was tapped to take over the head coaching duties for the Philippine women’s football team last October.
On Monday, Stajcic steered the Philippines to its first ever berth in the World Cup following a dramatic win over Taiwan via penalty shootout in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup quarterfinal.
“We want to still get his team. His resumé is no joke. He is one of the best women coaches in the world,” said PFF secretary-general Edwin Gastanes.
Apart from Stajcic, the PFF is also keen on keeping his coaching staff which includes Italian strength and conditioning coach Luca Tonetti and Nahuel Arrate.
The Fifa Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand is slated for July 2023.
The PFF and Stajcic coming to terms on an extension would mean the Philippine team would be under his tutelage for the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games, ASEAN Football Championships in Manila and the Asian Games in China.
The three tournaments will also be part of the team’s buildup for the World Cup.