Stajcic, Filipinas part ways

AUCKLAND – It was a magical run under his watch but the era of coach Alen Stajcic in the red-hot Filipinas women’s football program has ended.

Just three days separate from the Pinay booters’ sparkling debut in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Australian coach and the Philippine team parted ways.

According to team manager Jeff Cheng, the contract of Stajcic expired after the football showcase, and the venerated mentor had expressed his desire to ply his trade elsewhere.

His assistant, Nahuel Arrarte, is also leaving.

“They will not be renewed as both coaches have asked to explore other options,” Cheng said in a statement that came as a surprise to football fans.

Stajcic’s next destination is not disclosed but there had been talks about A-League club Perth Glory eyeing him for the job vacated by Ruben Zadkovich.

“We wish Coach Alen and Coach Naz the best of luck in their next football adventure, and we will forever be grateful to them for changing the landscape of Philippine football forever,” said Cheng.

An equally grateful Stajcic said it was a special and memorable journey with the Philippines.

He counted the World Cup as the highlight of his tenure with the Philippine lady booters.

“The two best experiences of my coaching career thus far were the last two World Cup matches,” he said.

“Beating New Zealand on home soil and scoring our first World Cup goal and getting our first win was the things that dreams are made of. And despite the scoreline, the last match against Norway, where 34,000 patrons attended, with 30,000 singing for the Filipinas,  brought shivers down our spine.”

“It showed that football does belong in the Philippines, and that legacy is something we are all proud of,” he added.

A former mentor for Australia’s national team Matildas, the 49-year-old was largely credited for taking the team from football minnows Philippines into unimaginable heights.

Since taking the reins 20 months ago, Stajcic and Arrarte steered the Filipinas to the semifinal of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which led to a historic ticket to the World Cup.

This the team followed by a bronze medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, the first since 1985, a milestone triumph in the Asean Championship before a roaring 8,000 home crowd at Rizal Memorial and attaining new all-time high in FIFA world rankings.

Currently ranked at 46th, Stajcic’s troops recorded their first goal and first win in a WC game via a 1-0 upset of host New Zealand, reviving widespread interest among basketball loving Pinoys back home and here.