Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) – Australian coach Alen Stajcic will continue to call the shots for the World Cup-bound Philippine women’s football team after he signed a new contract earlier this week.
Jefferson Cheng, the team manager of the national women’s football team, announced the development on Friday.
Cheng said the 48-year-old mentor agreed to a contract extension until the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, in a meeting in Sydney on March 1.
Also retained to the illustrious squad’s coaching staff are assistant coach Nahuel Arrarte and strength and conditioning coach Luca Tonetti.
“The next 18 months will be challenging for all of us at the PWNT as we do our best to prepare for the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said Cheng. “We are all motivated, hopeful and looking forward to giving our best for the nation.”
Stajcic also expressed his delight to continue coaching the Filipinas, who at his helm clinched the country’s first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification.
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“The Asian Cup performances were remarkable and phenomenal, but to share it with a group of staff and players that exemplified humility, gratitude and passion for the (Philippines) shirt is what really made it special. I’m extremely excited to help lead the team in the next chapter as we head for the pinnacle of our sport,” said Stajcic.
The Australian mentor first came on board last October, guiding the squad on a two-month training camp in California before their historic AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign.
Before the much-anticipated Women’s World Cup stint in July next year, Stajcic will lead the Filipina booters in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in May, the ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championships in Manila in July, and the 19th Asian Games in China in September.
