Since arriving back from New Zealand, the Philippine national women’s football team has never stopped paying tribute to the Filipino fans who supported them all the way in the team’s fruitful campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
After all the sacrifices, the historic first win in the world’s grandest football stage, and the cheers and tears of victory, the Filipinas gave it back to the fans.
“To our 12th men and women, your support and cheers meant EVERYTHING to us,” read the post on the team’s official Facebook page.
“We love you 33,4697 (fans who watched and cheered for the Filipinas), along with the thousands more who watched in watch parties across the PH (Philippines) THANK YOU!!,”
On Thursday, the team had a meet-and-greet with fans at the Adidas Store in Glorietta 3 Mall in Makati. The next day, the Filipinas were treated as heroes with a parade and motorcade at BGC Taguig and again met their fans at Market Market.
So long, Coach
After the euphoria brought about by their historic 1-0 win against New Zealand, the Filipinas are moving on without coach Allen Stajcic, who will take a different path in his coaching career.
“We are really fortunate to have him. We wish him luck in everything, and everything he does,” said Filipinas’ goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.
“We are regrouping within ourselves, and moving on as a team,” added McDaniel.
Stajcic left the Filipinas this week after he was named the head coach of A-League soccer club Perth Glory
His time with Team Philippines ended following the conclusion of their campaign Sunday with a 0-6 loss to Norway in the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Stajcic replaced Kenny Lowe, who has been handling the Glory on an interim basis since last year.
The squad waits for their new coach to come aboard, and after 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 and then scored their first World Cup goal this year in a win over New Zealand.
Team’s Success
His successes included the time when he coached Australia’s Matildas between 2014 and 2019, during which the team made the quarterfinals of both the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Before he left, Allen has always made it feel like he is part of us. But we still have our team. And now, we’re excited to who our new coach is going to be,” said one of the team’s senior players Quinley Quezada.
Among the memorable moments Stajcic had with the Filipinas was a semifinal trip to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, along with their first-ever competitive bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.
There was also the ASEAN Football Federation title conquest in Manila and most recently, the Filipinas’ moving to their highest FIFA ranking thus far.