Dan Palami steps down as Azkals team manager

Longtime team manager Dan Palami on Tuesday announced his intention to step down from his post with the Philippine men's football team, ending more than a decade of service that saw him contribute to the resurgence of the sport in the country.

Palami, who had been the Azkals team manager since 2009, said his stepping down is to give new Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president John Guttierez a "free hand" to make decisions as the football body ushers in a new era.

"I want to give (Gutierrez) the elbow room and free hand to do what he thinks is necessary for Philippine Football to move forward," Palami said.

Palami is best known for being one of the architects behind the famous "Miracle of Hanoi", where the Philippine side edged powerhouse Vietnam with a 2-0 sweep during the 2010 AFF Championship in Hanoi. Under his watch, the Philippines also consistently made an appearance in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

PFF has yet to reveal the successor of Palami as the team is set to open a new era this year. 

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News