PFF names Mark Torcaso as new Filipinas head coach

The Philippine Football Federation on Wednesday announced Australian coach Mark Torcaso as the new head coach of the Philippine national women's football team.

Torcaso will replace Alen Stajcic, who is set to be the new coach of A-League team Perth Glory. Stajcic handled the Filipinas from October 2021 up to the end of their historic campaign in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. 

The 42-year old Torcaso, who is the coach of the Melbourne-based club Western United, is the reigning A-League Women Coach of the Year as he steered his club to the grand finals in its inaugural league season.

The Philippine Football Federation is delighted to announce the appointment of Australian coach Mark Torcaso as head coach of the PWNT.

Torcaso, 42, is the reigning A-League Women Coach of the Year, having led Melbourne-based club Western United to the grand finals last season. pic.twitter.com/51XVAvIZR7

— Philippine WNT ? (@PilipinasWNFT) August 23, 2023

The agreement for Torcaso to handle the Filipinas was formalized after PFF president Mariano Araneta, PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes, and PWNT team manager Jeff Cheng met with the coach in Sydney over the weekend.

According to Gastanes, Torcaso will handle the Filipinas in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September and the AFC Olympic Qualifiers in Perth, Australia in October.

Torcaso will have Sinisha Cohadzic and Andrew Durante as part of his coaching staff.

Cohadzic will also be the head coach of the Girls' Under-17 and Women's Under-20 national teams and will handle the Girls’ Under-17 in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifying Tournament in Vietnam next month.

Torcaso said he is looking forward to handle the Filipinas.

“Watching the development of the team over the last couple of years has been amazing, from the AFF Championship to the World Cup, and I feel honored to be able to try to continue this growth,” said Torcaso.

“I am excited to take on this opportunity and I can’t wait to meet the players and the other staff in camp next week. I look forward to the challenge alongside Sinisha (Cohadzic) and Andrew (Durante).”

The PFF and PWNT, meanwhile, welcomed Torcaso as they look to continue developing the women's team.

“We welcome coach Mark (Torcaso) and his staff to the PFF family,” Araneta said in a statement. “We are confident that they will continue raising the standards of the Philippine Women’s National Team on all aspects and take the team to greater heights at the back of a historic and memorable 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.”

Gastanes, meanwhile, said it is important to keep the momentum going for the Filipinas.

“We have a motivated and accomplished coach in Mark Torcaso together with his staff, ready to lead our women’s teams in upcoming competitions," he added.

“We are all excited to start training and competing again. We welcome Coach Mark and his team to Philippine football, and are excited to see them build on the Filipinas’ recent achievements,” added Cheng.

Cheng recently said he is committed to support the Filipinas through the Asian Games and the second round of the Olympic qualifiers.

The Philippines made its historic debut in the recent 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup where it had a win against New Zealand and losses against Switzerland and Norway. Spain eventually won the title against England in the World Cup finals.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News