FILE PHOTO: Hans Michael Weiss is back as Azkals’ coach.
The Philippine Azkals have brought back Michael Weiss to once again call the shots in the latest coaching move ahead of the team’s two international friendly matches this month at home.
Weiss’ reappointment was announced Tuesday by the Philippine Football Federation as the German becomes the fourth Azkals coach in the last 12 months.
He will be at the touchline when the Azkals host Nepal on June 15 and Chinese-Taipei on June 19, both to be held at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
It’s the second Azkals stint for Weiss, who coached the national squad from 2011 to 2013.
During his tenure, the Azkals placed third in the 2012 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup and made the semifinals of the 2012 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.
The PFF didn’t extend Weiss after his contract expired in Dec. 2013, and later coached the national teams of Mongolia (2017 to 2020) and Laos (2020 to 2023).
The Azkals have been searching for stability in terms of having a coach after short term tenures of Weiss’ previous successor Thomas Dooley (June 2022 in the Asian Cup Qualifiers), Josep Ferre (Dec. 2022 to Jan. 2023 in the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup) and Barae Jrondi (March 2023 friendlies).
During that stretch, the Azkals won only thrice in 11 matches.