Alen Stajcic and his long-time assistant Nahuel Arrarte, the coaching tandem that brought the Philippine women’s national football team to the World Cup, decided not to extend their contract with the Filipinas after masterminding the country’s first-ever win in the global sports spectacle.
The Filipinas scored their first goal and win against World Cup co-host New Zealand in only their second game of the group stage but failed to advance to the Round of 16 after losing to former champion Norway. The Filipinas also lost their debut game against Switzerland.
The Philippine Football Federation said Stajcic and Arrarte “decided to explore other options upon the conclusion of the Philippines’ campaign in the 2023 World Cup.”
What Stajcic and Arrarte achieved in less than two years for the Filipinas—turning one of a weakest national football teams in Asia to a World Cup debutante in 20 months—surely isn’t lost on the football teams around the world.
PFF president Mariano Araneta said that under Stajcic’s guidance, the Philippine women’s national football team dared to hope and break the glass ceiling, along the way winning a medal in the Southeast Asian Games, emerging at the top of the the Asian Football Federation Championship, and then qualified for the World Cup in a shootout.
“Indeed, Coach Alen showed full dedication to hone the Filipinas into a fighting team. He will long be remembered as the coach who trained and dare the team to win at any international competition. Maraming salamat, Coach Alen,” said Araneta.
Atty. Edwin Gastanes, PFF general secretary, also thanked Stajcic for polishing the team and harnessing its potential to do well in international competitions.
“His journey with the team was successful, resulting in World Cup qualification and having the first goal and win in its maiden World Cup campaign,” said Gastanes. For Stajcic service and success, he added, Filipinos are truly grateful.
