FREDDIE Gonzalez has accepted a significant role in the Philippine national team where he was once a part of.
Gonzalez has been appointed by the Philippine Football Federation as the Director for National Teams while also taking over the team manager position of the Philippine men’s national team.
The 46-year-old Gonzalez takes over the managerial role of the men’s national squad previously handled by Dan Palami after being at the helm for 14 years.
Considered as one of the best local players of his time, Gonzalez played for the national team from 1997 to 2002. And long before Filipino footballers made their entry in Southeast Asian leagues such as Thailand and Malaysia, Gonzalez got a break by signing a contract with Vietnamese side Ngan Hang Dong A during his heydays.
The PFF said Gonzalez’s experience with the national team will play a vital part in his new role.
“We are proud to have Freddy Gonzalez on board as Director of National Teams, and as concurrent Manager of the PMNT,” said PFF president John Gutierrez. “Mr. Gonzalez’s appointment represent the start of a new era and direction for the PMNT.
“As a former national team player himself, his passion to play for the country, his football knowledge, and his experience all give him a clear understanding on what needs to be done to be successful at the international level.”
After his playing career, Gonzalez attended to his various business interests.
“Freddy has always been driven to win. His drive for excellence, professionalism, attention to detail, and great organizational skills are important qualities we need. We cannot wait for him to get started and the PFF will be working closely with him in putting together the team that will support our players and coaching staff,” said Gutierrez.
Gonzalez, an alumnus of Colegio De San Agustin in Makati and University of Portland, will now take the helm with the Philippine team set to continue its campaign in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers during the March 2024 window.
“There is massive potential in the PMNT and we’re ready to forge ahead with our plans and programs. With such a short turnaround before the next set of matches in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, we have plans in place for the team to ensure their readiness for battle,” said Gonzalez.
“We will continue to work on assembling the strongest national team and make sure that they are supported. With consistency, we can hopefully see changes translate into improved results on the field.”
The PFF also announced that Jeff Cheng will stay as team manager of the Philippine women’s team that competed in the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year.
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