By Jonas Terrado
Philippine Azkals team manager Dan Palami said the bold move to get Sven-Goran Erikkson as coach has given the national side a huge boost ahead of its participation in the AFF Suzuki Cup slated in the second week of November and the Asian Cup in January.
The Azkals made buzz over the weekend by announcing the signing of the Swedish-born coach, an addition seen as a showcase of the Philippines’ serious intention to finally win the Suzuki Cup crown while looking to make a good impression in its breakthrough stint in the Asian Cup.
“At first, there was a disbelief among the players that Sven agreed to coach the Philippines,” Palami said during yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Cubao branch of Tapa King. “But right now, the players are excited to be under the tutelage of somebody who has coached the likes of Beckham and Rooney.”
The Swedish-born Erikkson is known prominently for becoming the first foreign coach of England in the 2000s, steering a team led by David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney to World Cup appearances in 2002 and 2006.
Palami, with help from the Azkals’ official marketing arm M Sports and the Philippine Football Federation, took a gamble at offering Erikkson a contract several months back.
To the team’s surprise, Erikkson accepted the Azkals role despite better offers from Cameroon and Iraq.
His arrival has also sparked interest from Fil-foreign players based in Europe and South Africa, Palami said.
Erikkson is due to arrive on Nov. 2, in time for the start of the Azkals’ training camp in preparation for their Suzuki Cup campaign which opens with a home match against Singapore on Nov. 13 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
The Azkals are also scheduled to take on Timor-Leste on Nov. 17 in Kuala Lumpur, Thailand on Nov. 21 in Bacolod and Indonesia on Nov. 25 in Jakarta.
Bracketed in Group B, the Azkals are seeking to a return trip to the semifinals after failing to reach past the group stage in 2016.
The Azkals will make their Asian Cup debut on Jan. 7 against South Korea in Dubai.
