Coach Thomas Dooley is giving way to former England captain Terry Butcher as the new head coach of the Philippine Azkals national men's football team.
Butcher is expected to whip the Azkals into fighting form in the 2018 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup and Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup UAE 2019.
The decision to evaluate and eventually replace Dooley came after he steered the Azkals to a historic Asian Cup berth a few months ago.
Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said the Azkals are first scheduled for friendlies with clubs in Bahrain and a tuneup with Bahrain national team this September.
Butcher played 77 times for England and saw action in three World Cup selections.
As a player, he spent his best years at the Scottish side Rangers, where he had 127 caps and had eight goals. He was also a player-manager on his final playing years, handling Coventry City, Sunderland and Clydebank from 1990 to 1993.
The 59-year-old Butcher last handled League Two side Newport Country AFC back in 2015.
The Azkals are getting ready for big challenges when they make their Asian Cup debut against Korea Republic on Jan. 7, 2019 at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Then, they face China on Jan. 11 at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The last match of the group stage will be against Kyrgyz Republic on Jan. 16 at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai.
The Azkals secured qualification to the final round last March 27 following a 2-1 win over Tajikistan at the Rizal Memorial Stadium to win Group F with 12 points.
