MEMBERS of the Philippine National Women’s Team have found encouraging words from former coach Alen Stajcic before he left for his new job.
Stajcic has inspired the Filipinas to stay together and be like a family when their new mentor comes aboard.
“Before he left, Alen has always made it feel like he is part of us. But we still have our team. And now, we’re excited as to who our new coach is going to be,” said Quinley Quezada, one of the team’s senior players.
Quezada and her teammates talked to scribes during a meet-and-greet with fans, organized Thursday at the adidas Store in Glorietta 3 Mall in Makati City.
The Filipinas arrived in Manila last Thursday without Hali Long and Tahnnai Annis.
Stajcic left the Filipinas this week and instead accepted the offer to coach A-League soccer club Perth Glory in his home country Australia.
“He encouraged us to keep our core values the same. Be together as a group and be a family,” said another squad member, Sofia Harrison.
Stajcic’s departure as coach of the Filipinas came after Team Philippines ended its campaign Sunday with a 0-6 loss to Norway in the group stage of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Before the Filipinas bowed out of contention, Stajcic headed the Philippines women’s national team for 20 months.
During his time, the Filipinas won their first major international trophy in the ASEAN Football Federation women’s tourney last year, before scoring their first World Cup goal this year in a win over New Zealand.
His successes included the time when he coached the Matildas between 2014 and 2019, during which the team made the quarter-finals of both the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Other memorable moments Stajcic had with the Filipinas were their semifinal trip to the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup and their first-ever competitive bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.
Then, there was also the ASEAN Football Federation title conquest in Manila and the Filipinas having their highest FIFA ranking of no. 46.
Stajcic will be leading the Perth Glory, which has not received good coaching since 2018.
