Head coach Alen Stajcic to leave Filipinas as contract expires

Alen Stajcic will no longer be calling the shots for the Philippine women's national football team, the Filipinas, as his and assistant Nahuel Arrarte's contracts expired at the end of the country's campaign in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Filipinas team manager Jeff Cheng bared the development on Tuesday morning just days after the Philippines bowed out of contention in the quadrennial event with a gallant 1-0-2 win-draw-loss card.

Cheng added that Stajcic and Arrarte won't be renewing their contracts as they look to "explore their options".

"The contracts of Coach Alen Stajcic and Assistant Coach Nahuel Arrarte expired at the conclusion of the PWNFT’s World Cup campaign. They will not be renewed as both coaches have asked to explore other options," the statement read.

"Coach Alen and Coach Naz have expressed their deepest gratitude for the opportunity and support they have received from the Philippine football community."

Stajcic, for his part, expressed gratitude to the team management for putting him at the helm of the national team, which achieved plenty of success under his tutelage.

With the Australian tactician leading the Filipinas, they reached the semifinals of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in February 2022 to qualify to the World Cup before earning the bronze medal in the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam in May 2022.

They then emerged victorious during the AFF Women's Championship in July last year as they won the title in front of a packed home crowd at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

At the World Cup, the world no. 46 Filipinas showed their might by beating co-host New Zealand, but their losses to Switzerland and powerhouse Norway ultimately ended their run.

"I would first and foremost like to express my gratitude to Sir Jeff for giving us the opportunity and entrusting us with the keys to the National Team. Throughout nearly 20 months we went on a journey together as a Team from outsiders in South-East Asia to winning a match at a World Cup," Stajcic said.

"To the players, I can only say, you were courageous, passionate, disciplined and loyal to the Team, the Flag and the Country."

With Stajcic's exit, the Philippines will now need to look for a replacement as the Filipinas will compete in the Asian Games this September in China.

The 49-year-old Stajcic was hired in October 2021 to replace Marlon Maro at the post. In March 2022, his contract was renewed and part of the deal was he would coach until after the World Cup.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News