Freddy Gonzalez, the national training director, has been appointed as the team manager for both the national men’s and women’s football teams.
This announcement was made by Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Gutierrez, following the recent resignation of Jefferson Cheng from his role with the Philippine Women’s National Football Team.
“We thank Jeff Cheng for his contributions. It’s time to move forward, and we’re ready to take on the challenges and build upon the progress we’ve made,” Gutierrez stated during a press briefing at Studio 300 in Makati City.
Gutierrez revealed that Gonzalez has been appointed as the interim team manager, a role that will see him oversee both national team programs.
“I and many stakeholders have great confidence in Fred Gonzalez’s abilities and management style. He has extensive experience as both a player and a manager,” added Gutierrez.
Cheng, one of the sport’s most successful managers, cited conflicts of interest as his reason for stepping down.
“We are confident that Freddy is up to the task. The men’s team has been well-organized and successful under his setup in recent months, and we plan to apply the same approach to the women’s team moving forward,” Gutierrez remarked.
A meeting with national women’s coach Mark Torcaso regarding potential changes in the coaching staff is scheduled for this week.
“We’ll review the coaching staff, just as we did with the men’s team, to determine the best way forward. We may either continue with the current setup or consider new directions,” Gutierrez explained.
Under Cheng’s leadership, Philippine women’s football achieved significant milestones on the ASEAN, Asian, and world stages. Coaches Marlon Maro and Alen Stajcic led the Filipinas to successful runs in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in India.
“The women’s program will continue as planned by Jeff. We’re not going to change anything,” Gutierrez said.
