Filtered By: Sports
Sports

Azkals formally introduce Thomas Dooley as new head coach


Thomas Dooley takes questions from the media during his introductory press conference as Azkals head coach. Mark Cristino

(Updated 6:54pm) The Philippine Football Federation formally introduced Thomas Dooley as the new head coach of the Philippine Men's National Football Team, more popularly known as the Azkals. The press conference, held Friday at the PFF House of Football, was also attended by PFF President Nonong Araneta, General Secretary Ed Gastanes, and National Teams Committee Chairman Dan Palami.

Dooley arrives with an impressive playing record. Born in Germany, he played in the Bundesliga, working his way up from the third division to the first. He won championships with FC 08 Homburg in the third and second divisions before joining FC Kaiserlautern in the first division, which won the Bundesliga championship in 1991. In 1993, he was called up for the US Men's Soccer Team, joining the 1994 World Cup team. In 1997, he played for FC Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga, winning the UEFA Cup. He then captained the US side in their 1998 World Cup campaign.

The 6'1" Dooley also garnered several awards, including Honda US Player of the Year (1993), US Soccer Male Athlete of the Year (1993), and USA Male Athlete of the Year. In 2010, he was inducted into the USA Football Hall of Fame.

Dooley started coaching in 2002, steering FC Saarbruecken in the Bundesliga's second division, before assisting Coaches Jurgen Klinsman and Bruce Arena in the USA Men's National Team and also in the U20 Men's Team. He also holds a UEFA PRO Coaching License, perhaps the highest license attainable.

Although his coaching resume may seem somewhat thin, Dooley seems confident about what he can accomplish with the Azkals, saying, "You have to know what players think, and I know that."

Palami agrees: "He had a good playing history, so the players will respect him and he knows where they're coming from."

"The shortest goal that we have is winning the Challenge Cup. We have to prepare right now," said the American, who still speaks with a slight German accent.

Aware of the fact that the Azkals are made up of players both based in Manila and abroad, Dooley said: "I will try to contact them as soon as possible, whether via Skype, phone, even e-mail." For the players here, the coach already has a schedule of UAAP, NCAA and UFL games. He plans to watch as many games as he can here in Manila.

"The task at hand is winning the Challenge Cup, the entry of Coach Thomas makes our chances better," said Palami.

Dooley already has some tactics in mind, adding that from what he has seen of the Azkals, most of them are technically spund. After meeting with the UFL team representatives tonight, he hopes to hash out a schedule that will enable the members of the Azkals' pool to train as soon as possible.

"My idea is to play a 4-2-3-1 system, tactically we have to work a little bit. You have to form a team, you can't rely on just one player," emphasized the coach.

Although preparation time for the Challenge Cup is far from ideal, Dooley said he will make do with what is available, adding, "We don't need 25 games to see what a player can and cannot do."

There is a sense of urgency with this coach, as he reiterated that he does not want to waste any time with preparations for the Challenge Cup. "Whatever is necessary, we will do it."

However, when asked whether he will scout Fil-foreigners to join the squad, Dooley said that while they will be invited to come and join the team, he will not personally do the scouting. This seemed to tie-in well with his belief that there is enough talent in the current pool of players.

Another important aspect of the game that Dooley kept on underlining was fitness, and at 52, the coach still looks like he himself is still fit to play.

Dooley's contract will be for at least a year, said President Araneta. "He is here for the Challenge Cup and the Suzuki Cup, and, if we qualify, the Asian Cup in 2015 in Australia."

When asked whether Dooley would help with the SEA Games, Araneta could not help but take potshots at sports officials, saying that the SEA Games are for the U23 and not the Azkals, but that a team will be sent to the 2017 SEA Games, adding that there will be no team sent in 2015 because the sports officials and their demands will still be the same.

When asked about possibly playing versus the US national team, Dooley said, "If we win the Challenge Cup and if they have a good run in the World Cup, who knows? Maybe Jurgen will want to play with us."

Two friendlies have already been confirmed before the Challenge Cup. March 1 will be a game versus Malaysia in Selayang, while March 5 will be versus Azerbaijan in Dubai. Another set of friendlies is in the works for April.

The camp planned before the Challenge Cup will be in a foreign country and then the Azkals will go straight to the Maldives.

"The more games we play, the better," said the new national team coach. - AMD, GMA News
LOADING CONTENT