A new chapter has begun for the Philippine Men’s National Football Team.
Just two weeks after Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet departed to lead the African nation of Mali, the Philippine Football Federation swiftly appointed his replacement.
The decision ensures the team will not miss a beat following the conclusion of the 2024 Merdeka Cup.
Albert Capellas is a Spanish coach with recent experience leading Danish Superliga side FC Midtjylland.
He has signed a multi-year contract to take the reins.
Norman Fegidero, who served as interim coach during the Merdeka Cup, will stay on as Capellas’ assistant.
“For me, it’s a fantastic feeling to be here, to help the Federation move to the next level because that’s what they’re aiming for,” Capellas said.
“When Freddy [Gonzalez] approached me to join this project and explained the Federation’s plans to enhance the development of football in the Philippines, I was aligned with their vision, and it immediately caught my attention.
Capellas emphasized the importance of personal connections in his decision, adding, “We clicked on a personal level, which is vital to me. Being able to work with people who share your passion is what drives success.”
He then declared, “That’s why I’m here. The goals we want to achieve won’t be easy – nothing in football is – but we promise to give our best. I hope the fans will enjoy the way we aim to play and perform.”
Philippine Football Federation Director of Senior National Teams Freddy Gonzalez highlighted the importance of quickly onboarding a coach who could adapt to the team’s needs, especially with the 2024–2025 Mitsubishi Electric Cup just a few months away.
Capellas had already been involved during the Merdeka Cup as an observer, making the transition smoother.
“Our priority was to find someone who not only shared our philosophy for the national teams but also had the capability to quickly implement that vision with our players,” Gonzalez explained.
“In Albert Capellas, we’ve found an ideal fit – someone with decades of experience successfully applying his style of play in elite environments across Europe and Asia.”
It has now been over a year since the Philippine men’s team secured a win at the senior level. Whether Capellas can reverse this trend remains to be seen, but his enthusiasm for the challenge is palpable.
What’s crucial for him in the coming months is to see his team embrace his philosophy on the field and for fans to rally behind this new chapter.
“This will be a journey – a process. There will be ups and downs, and at times, we will fail. Our job is to ensure we learn from those failures,” Capellas said.
“We’ll climb the mountain step by step and go as far as we can. I hope fans will start to see the changes in October, November, and December, but it won’t happen all at once.”
