RAFA Merino has been appointed as the technical director of the Philippine Football Federation’s futsal program.
Merino will now handle the PFF’s long-term development strategy anchored on grassroots growth, coaching education, and integrated player pathways.
A tactician from Barcelona, Spain, Merino brings with him his experience from across Europe, having coached extensively in Spain and spending a season in England’s National Futsal League.
“Rafa has already demonstrated his ability to elevate our futsal program and deliver results at both the regional and international levels,” said PFF president John Gutierrez in a statement.
Merino takes the place of Josep Ferre, who played a key role in strengthening the federation’s development framework.
As head coach of the Filipina5, the team qualified for its first-ever AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup finals in May 2025.
Merino guided the team back to the semifinals of the Southeast Asian Games for the first time in 18 years.
The Filipina5 also had a historic win against Myanmar and a draw against Australia in the 2026 ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship.
Merino is expected to oversee the federation’s broader football philosophy, aligning youth development programs, national team structures, and coaching education initiatives under a unified technical vision.
“His appointment as Technical Director reflects our confidence in his vision and our determination to modernize the philosophy of Philippine football and foundational development of Filipino youth players through a more cohesive and forward-looking development structure,” added Gutierrez.
