New coach to boost Azkals bid in Asean, AFC Asian Cup

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Azkals hope to benefit from newly appointed coach Sven-Goran Eriksson’s vast experience and knowledge as they scale greater heights in  next month’s Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup and a strong debut in next year’s AFC Asian Cup.

The appointment of the 70-year-old Eriksson, who coached England in the 2002 and 2006 Fifa World Cup, ended the Azkals’ search for a tactician following the sudden withdrawal of former English captain Terry Butcher last August.

“He will be a great addition to the team and I’m sure the players will learn a lot from him,” Azkals manager Dan Palami said during yesterday’s Philippine leg of the Suzuki Cup Trophy Tour at the World Trade Center.

Palami said Eriksson, the first foreigner to call the shots for England and also a former mentor of the national sides of Mexico and Ivory Coast, will arrive next week to oversee  the Azkals’ final training camp before their Suzuki Cup opener on Nov. 13 against Singapore at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod.

Eriksson will join hands with Irish coach Scott Cooper, who handled Phl XI on an interim basis in the aftermath of Butcher’s departure. Eriksson and Cooper previously worked together at Premier League side Leicester City from 2010-11.

“This is one of the moves we’ve done in order for us to even do better in this edition of the Suzuki Cup,” said Palami.

The Azkals need to beef up their ranks as they tackle what’s largely considered the Group of Death in the 2018 Asean meet in the company of holder Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and qualifier Timor Leste.