Alen Stajcic’s incredible journey from Matildas sacking to Philippines World Cup fairytale

“A million to one” are the odds the former Matildas coach offers.

Stajcic is coaching the Philippines. At a World Cup. Next month.

It is a miracle. When Stajcic masterminded qualification last January, 20 of the 23-player squad didn’t have a club.

Now it is about performing and winning a game or two or, perish the thought, more at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“I’m a little bit of a dreamer,” Stajcic says, before rattling off a series of some of the greatest surprises in recent football history.

“Denmark (1992 Euros), Greece (2004 Euros), Leicester (2016 Premier League), even Morocco at the last men’s World Cup.

“The unpredictable can happen, especially in a tournament.”

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This unlikely tale started with a call from a likely source.

Jim Fraser, the talkative former Socceroos goalkeeper, seems to know everyone in Australian football, including a Filipino businessman with a kind heart and deep pockets: Jefferson Cheng.

Cheng is part-owner of Western Sydney Wanderers and, as it turns out, bank to the Philippines women’s football team. Cheng wanted the best for the team, so in mid-2021 he called Fraser to see if Stajcic was interested.

Out of work after exhausting himself in hauling Central Coast Mariners out of a four-wooden-spoon mire, Stajcic agreed to a challenge with plenty of upside.

Stajcic took over four months before the World Cup qualifiers, which doubled as the 2022 Asian Cup in India. The Philippines were ranked No. 64 in the world or, more importantly, 10th of 12 nations competing. Only four would progress to the World Cup.

Fail, and it is expected.

Succeed, and it is a miracle.

The first trick was to deepen the talent pool. Mid-pandemic, Stajcic held a camp in California to find as many female Filipinos who could kick a football as possible. The Philippines was locked down so Stajcic chose the USA, where one third of the global Filipino diaspora of 12 million live.

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A hundred or so, many playing football in the US college system, showed up to what Stajcic calls “a peculiar experience”.

“They all had a different shirt on, looked like under 12s rep trials, coming from 20 different clubs!”

The aim was to sharpen those good enough so they could achieve something that had never been achieved. Qualify for a World Cup, through the 2022 Asian Cup.

The team arrived on the subcontinent as subpar, on paper.

Somehow, with Stajcic and his staff setting high standards, infusing belief and unprecedented tactical detail, the team got through. A semi-final appearance – outdoing the Matildas, who crashed out in the quarter-finals to South Korea – booked a ticket to the World Cup.

“It is movie-like. Wrexham without the superstar movie moguls running it,” Stajcic notes.

The Australian had the chance to walk away after qualification, but given financial backing by Cheng – “about 2-3 million dollars” is Stajcic’s estimate – he set about preparing the team like it had never prepared before.

They have played over 30 matches, flying to every corner of the globe. The process has given Stajcic a fresh perspective on why he does what he does.

There was a fortnight in Cam Pha, far north Vietnam, walking streets Anthony Bourdain would have thought twice about, soaking in the love of football, on screens in every shop and shanty.

A trip to Costa Rica, where the Philippines played twice last October, sticks in the mind too.

“It’s bigger than religion there,” Stajcic says. “Ten different TV screens in the hotel lobby, all on a different league from around the world.

“The passion for the game around the world is something you bring back with you.”

*****

In a parallel universe, Stajcic is preparing for the World Cup as Matildas coach.

That possibility ended acrimoniously in January 2019 when he was sacked. Wrongfully, as it turns out. A six-figure payout proves it, though it took an enormous emotional toll.

He let go of the anger a while ago. All along, there’s been nothing but goodwill for the women he once guided.

“I think they can win it, been saying that for the last four years,” Stajcic says of the Matildas’ hopes.

“Got enough firepower, weapons in the team to beat anyone.”

Stajcic helped develop players like Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Ellie Carpenter from teenagers to top-shelf internationals in elite junior programs through to football’s greatest stages.

“Really proud of how far all of them have gone. Most of them are key players with their teams over in Europe.”

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In some ways, there are similarities between his time developing Matildas and what he is trying to do now with the Filipino team.

“It’s all the same process,” Stajcic says.

“Those Matildas started at that point some of these players are now.

“Still recall Sammy (Kerr) when she was 13-14, training with Alistair Edwards and Ali’s sons in Perth, getting that attachment to football when wavering between netball and AFL.

“Caitlin (Foord) is the same, could have played touch, anything. Just phenomenal athletes.”

The Philippines have some rough diamonds too.

Stajcic convinced Angie Beard, who recently played for the Matildas, to use her Filipino heritage and join the squad, the majority of whom are US born and raised, including gun striker Sarina Bolden.

Some are quiet teenagers, not yet sure of their place. Across the squad, though, there is no danger of anyone getting ahead of themselves.

“They have such a respectful culture,” Stajcic says.

“Values inside the group are in some respects better than any other group I’ve been a part of.

“They haven’t been tarnished by money or rewards or fame. Really humble, a lot more appreciative of being given anything.”

Stajcic is under no illusions about the test awaiting his team, who have climbed the global rankings but still sit 46th as they prepare to play all three group games in New Zealand.

First is Switzerland (world No. 20), then hosts New Zealand (world No. 26) and finally Norway (world No. 12) and its 2018 world player of the year, Ada Hegerberg.

“It’s going to be an incredible test,” Stajcic concedes.

“Expectation to perform is now there with 30,000 in a stadium and 20-30 million watching on TV, which has never happened before.

“But this is the start of a massive trajectory for the team and the country. The World Cup is just another dot on that trajectory.”

Stajcic won’t be drawn on where he goes after the World Cup, and if he’ll remain part of that trajectory.

For now, all that matters is the day-to-day process, helping players flourish at their own pace. It is the part of the process that Stajcic loves.

On the day CODE Sports witnessed Philippines training, Stajcic took the encore with the strikers; finishing practice.

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Miracles in Manila: Stajcic and the Philippines

Adam Peacock

There was a twist. Players could score with left-foot volleys only. One after another, with varying degrees of success, the Filipino strikers put everything into the task. Stajcic corrected technique, and praised success.

The possibility of having a left-foot volley chance in any game, for any striker, is slim.

But in football, you just never know.