MANILA – German mentor Sven-Goran Eriksson has formalized his exit as the head coach of the national men’s football team, a Philippine Football Federation (PFF) official said.
According to PFF general secretary Edwin Gastanes, the 70-year-old Eriksson left the Azkals after finishing his short term contract. Scott Cooper will serve as Azkals’ interim coach.
“He (Eriksson) was really on a short-term engagement as previously announced last year,” Gastanes said in an interview with the AFP. “But he is available for consultation still.”
Gastanes added that Eriksson was not fired but was really hired for the 2018 Asian Football Federation Suzuki Cup late last year and the 2019 Asian Cup in United Arab Emirates early this year.
Rumors about Eriksson’s exit with the Azkals surfaced last week after he reportedly filed his application for the vacant head coaching post of the Australian-based football team Brisbane Roar.
During his time as the Azkals mentor, Eriksson guided the national men’s football team in the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup where they bowed out in the semifinals round after losing to Vietnam.
In their just concluded campaign in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, the Azkals dropped all of their three matches against South Korea, China and Kyrgyzstan and only scored a goal the entire competition.
Prior to his Azkals coaching stint, Eriksson has coached Chinese clubs Shenzhen, Shanghai SIPG and Guangzhou R&F. His last gig in Europe was with Leicester City in 2010-11./PN
