OPINION: As Filipinas coach bids farewell, it’s time to say #ThankYouStaj

By now, every football fan in the Philippines should have a favorite Alen Stajcic moment.

For some, it may be the immortal picture of Alen Stajcic stoically looking on while the rest of the team wildly celebrated the country’s first ever FIFA World Cup goal, against New Zealand.

For many, it might be the image of him hugging his fellow coaching staff as the final whistle blew in the title-clinching match of the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship held in Manila.

For me, it is the image of him classily consoling the Chinese Taipei players after the Philippines clinched a berth in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It summed up Stajcic in a nutshell – masterminding yet another triumph, but at the same time showing his human side.

Love this pic. On the other side of the coin, despair from the Chinese Taipei side. Here are PH Coach Alen Stajcic and assistant coach offering their commiserations. @PilipinasWNFT pic.twitter.com/H4ANg2Eaq2

— Ryan Fenix ???????? (@RyanFenix) January 31, 2022

I am admittedly late to the Alen Stajcic Fan Club, learning of his exploits only after he joined the Filipinas in late 2021. I still remember my very first thoughts, which turned out to be very prophetic: how fortunate can the Philippines be to have this experienced guy as our coach?

My first chance to meet him in person was in the 2022 SEA Games in Cam Pha, Vietnam where, in typical Stajcic fashion, he wasn’t too impressed with the team’s performance even after a 5-0 demolition of Cambodia in the group stages.

I’ve spent some more time with him since, taking in his thoughts from Manila to Cebu to Auckland, and each and every time I’ve always come away amazed at how grounded he is despite his success and reputation.

That he will go down as one of the most revered football coaches ever to coach the Philippines is unquestioned, and it is not just down to his successes nor his tactical acumen, but also of his demeanor off the field.

He is a model of professionalism, always refusing to be drawn into any public controversy with his answers to media.

But he is generous with his answers to the press, with a sprinkling of his brand of humor that perhaps the public does not always see.

As for his tactical acumen, specifically his in-tournament player management? Suffice to say, that the hashtag #InStajWeTrust did not come without merit.

It is a great testament to the trust that he has instilled in his players, and even in the general public, that almost all of his decisions went unquestioned, even amongst the most die-hard trolls on social media, who even clamored for him to coach the men’s national team at one point.

That his players also bought wholly into his system and management speaks volumes of their faith in him and his leadership.

The players respect him, as evidenced by the reverence they give in the interviews when asked about Stajcic.

“He is one of the great assets of this team and we have come a long way because of him,” Filipinas talisman and the country’s first ever goal-scorer on the World Cup level Sarina Bolden told fifa.com.

Veteran Quinley Quezada also told fifa.com, “His coaching has changed us so much in every way possible. He's the best coach I've ever had.”

“He's brought on so much organization and professionalism, everything that we need to become a top national team.”

One can then only wonder at how much of an effect he will have had on the youngsters trying out for the Philippine youth teams in Cebu and Davao early this year, and especially those who were under his wing in the U17s tournament.

So, after steering the Philippines to extraordinary highs and making history in each turn, Stajcic now bids the Filipinas farewell.

Perhaps he will feel that he’s taken the Philippines as far as he can, perhaps he feels a new challenge is necessary at this point in time, or perhaps after years of being a football husband, he will feel the need to be closer to his family in Australia.

He undoubtedly leaves the Philippines women’s team in a better place than when he first came, ultimately hallmarks of a very successful stint indeed.

He has certainly laid the foundations of the team with the development of young players such as Bella Pasion and Kaiya Jota among many others, and together with Coaches Nahuel Arrarte and Stevan Antonic, have revolutionized how to coach a Philippines national team and setting a very high bar indeed, with his successor having very big shoes to fill.

So, thank you Coach, farewell and good luck in the A-league.

We’ll miss you and your witticisms, your stoic expression and your very direct to the point answers.

But I daresay you too will miss the Philippines -- our sweet dried mangoes as well as the many Filipino fans continually asking you for a selfie or two.

Don’t fret, there will still be Filipinos in Perth asking for a picture, I guarantee it.

#InStajWeTrust still, but perhaps now is as best a time to trend another hashtag.

#ThankYouStaj

—JMB, GMA Integrated News