Former Coach Returns For Another Stint As The Azkals Builds Up For Upcoming Friendlies

In the days leading up to the June Friendlies, The Philippine National Men's Football Team, passionately known as The Philippine Azkals, has just announced today that Hans Michael Weiss will be taking the reins of the team once more.

After the epic conclusion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, footballing nations have begun the process of gearing up for the new football cycle. The Philippines is no different. It's common to see new managers or coaches take charge as countries look to do better on the next installment of the world's largest spectacle.

The Philippines is yet to find its own footing, especially with who would be the best fit to lead the nation further along. Since the new cycle has started, Weiss would be the third gaffer to have a go.

We started with Josep Ferré from Spain, who was given quite an assignment. He was tasked to lead the Azkals at the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup (formerly the AFF Suzuki Cup). The Eat Sleep Breathe Football gang had the opportunity to have a chat with the then-new, head coach.

Overall, the gang was pleased with his answers. Especially with how he tactfully tackled difficult questions. Unfortunately, the short lead time also cut his chances short as the men in blue gave one of their worst performances since the Miracle in Hanoi.

Up next came Barae Jrondi, a Moroccan coach with experience from the Middle East. He was given the task to head the Azkals into the West Asia training camp. The camp went and gone, again with a string of losses.

Then there was silence. The 2023 Southeast Asian Games with the U22 Philippine Team headed by Rob Gier, and Jrondi's involvement was barely mentioned.

It was not until only recently did we find out that the head coach position for the senior team was vacant.

Into the present, Weiss is the third coach since 2023 to try and turn the Azkal's fortunes around. He returns to the helm with new experience from Romanian top-flight club ASC Oțelul Galați and with Mongolian and Laos national teams. His first stint had a record of 21 wins in 44 games, giving him a Win Percentage of 47.7%.

He led the Azkals to a third-place finish in the AFC Challenge Cup in 2012 and a semifinal appearance in the, then called, AFF Suzuki Cup in the same year. In an effort to revive some old glory of the Azkals, Weiss confirmed that he'll be around for a year as stated in their agreement with the Azkals and the PFF.

In these coming months, Weiss plans to use whoever's available and willing to represent the country not just because of lineage but because they really want to put on that Philippine shirt. During his interview at the Eat Sleep Breathe Football Show last June 11th, coach Michael Weiss pointed out that it's important that they show up for the motherland and not just because the papers have been processed for them.

"There are so many kids out there all over the world. We have to find them. We have to see that they are committed and we have to see that they make sacrifices because it's not an automatic thing that you're being called up just because your mother is from the Philippines, you have to commit," said Weiss emphasizing on being committed to the call ups.

He also added, " You cannot get the federation and the Azkals management to do all the things to get you a passport and then not show up. We don't like that. We want people who are committed to come over and contribute to the next wave of players for the stability of the team. That's what we need right now."

As for the fans, Weiss doesn't expect to please everybody despite his successful run in the past and what he's given to the national team but instead, he wants the fans to continue supporting the team no matter what happens, especially now that they are doing huge efforts to make the Azkals great again.

"In this moment, I cannot convince anyone. We, all together, have to convince (the fans) with our performance on the pitch. We have to show and give our hearts out, the players have to commit. We have to get together and play regularly and that means all stakeholders involved have to contribute to the development."

He added, " I hope the fans, the people who are interested in soccer, give us a chance, come to the stadiums. I can promise we will play our hearts out, we will show passion and determination in the two games against Nepal and Chinese Taipei which will not be walks in the part. Other nations don't sleep and we are not so far away from them."

With those words, Weiss made it clear that he's back and just like in his first stint with the Azkals, it's all about those who are willing to play for the country not because of personal gains, but because they really love to play for the Philippines. All will be put to the test come the 15th of June against Nepal and the 19th of June against Chinese Taipei, both at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium on a 7PM kick-off.