ALBERT Capellas has stepped down as head coach of the Philippine men’s football team after leading it to a historic campaign in last year’s ASEAN Championship.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) cited personal reasons for the departure of Capellas, who is thankful for his eight-month stint with the team.
Carles Cuadrat, another Spanish national who was recently appointed as part of the coaching staff, has taken over Capellas’ role on an interim basis.
He will be on the sidelines when the Philippines faces Tajikistan in the continuation of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10 at the New Clark City Stadium.
“My wonderful journey as head coach of the Philippine National Football Federation has come to an end and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have been part of it especially the players and all the staff involved, the [PFF] Director of National Teams Freddy Gonzalez, and the [PFF] President John Gutierrez,” Capellas in a statement.
“Together, we have enjoyed an inspiring journey and have proven that Filipino football has a promising generation of young players with the potential to bring great pride and success to the country.
"I am sincerely grateful for the time we have shared and for the support and kindness I’ve received from the entire Filipino football community. I will always carry these memories with me and wish the Federation and the team continued growth and success in the years to come,” the Spanish coach added.
Short but fruitful PMNT stint for Capellas
Under Capellas’ watch, the Philippine men’s football team reached new heights after it defeated Southeast Asia giants Thailand in the group stage of the then-AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup to reach the semifinals.
”Personal reasons have led to Albert’s departure. Out of great respect for him, we will not elaborate. We are grateful for his service, and wish him well. I continue to consider him a friend,” said Gonzalez.
“As with all things in life, change happens and one must always be prepared to handle unexpected turns. We move on, and keep pushing forward. Albert left us with a blueprint to follow and we thank him for bringing Carles on board, enabling him to be the interim head coach and provide continuity for what Albert has started.
"Now is the time to focus on the match with Tajikistan and push to be top of the group and focus on qualifying for the Asian Cup.”
Cuadrat previously worked with the national teams of Saudi Arabia and El Salvador, club teams Barcelona Youth, Galatasaray, and Midtjylland. He recently steered Indian side East Bengal FC to its first trophy in over a decade.
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