By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Several days after announcing his departure from the Philippine Women’s National Football Team, head coach Alen Stajcic already found his new home after agreeing to a contract with Australian professional club Perth Glory confirmed last August 3, 2023.
Stajcic will be heading back home and will be tasked to return the Australian pro club back to its glory days.
Recently, the Perth Glory squad underwent a rough patch after their previous chief tactician and team owner left the franchise due to financial woes.
Now with a new management set to foresee the development, Perth Glory was quick to tap the services of Stajcic who already proved himself when he helped the Filipinas qualify for the first time in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Two years ago, the renowned football mentor took the Filipinas to new heights after leading them to a semifinal berth in the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup.
After the great start, Stajcic wasn’t done leading the team to a new standard of success after steering them to the championship title of the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship and a bronze medal finish at the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
Perhaps Stajcic’s biggest achievement as Filipinas’ head coach was helping them qualify for the prestigious FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Not only did they claim their first appearance in the most prestigious football stage but they also clinched a win against the host nation New Zealand, 1-0.
“Beating New Zealand on home soil and scoring our first World Cup goal and getting our first win was the things that dreams are made of,” said Stajcic.
Stajcic will now divert his focus to Perth Glory which will open a new season in the Isuzu UTE A- professional League Men.