Gonzalez, 46, who will also directly oversee the Philippine Men’s National Team (PMNT) will take on the role as the PMNT prepares for a pair of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying matches in March.
“We are proud to have Freddy Gonzalez on board as Director of National Teams,, and as concurrent Manager of the PMNT,” said PFF President John Gutierrez.
“Mr. Gonzalez’s appointment represent the start of a new era and direction for the PMNT. As a former national team player himself, his passion to play for the country, his football knowledge, and his experience all give him a clear understanding on what needs to be done to be successful at the international level.”
Gutierrez added: “Freddy has always been driven to win. His drive for excellence, professionalism, attention to detail, and great organizational skills are important qualities we need. We cannot wait for him to get started and the PFF will be working closely with him in putting together the team that will support our players and coaching staff.”
One of the finest locally-developed players during his prime, Gonzalez played for the country from 1997 to 2002.
He was widely regarded as one of Southeast Asia’s top strikers with his performances in regional competitions leading to a contract with Ngan Hang Dong A in the Vietnamese top-flight, the first Filipino player to have achieved the feat.
He briefly made a comeback in 2011 to play in the United Football League for three seasons, before focusing on his various business interests.
Gonzalez is relishing the opportunity to give back to the national team.
“It is a huge honor to be part of the Philippine Men’s National Team once again, this time on the management side,” said Gonzalez, who studied at the University of Portland and is an alumnus of the Colegio San Agustin Makati.
“President John Gutierrez’s mandate is to improve all our national teams. We have been talking about the possibility of me helping out the national teams during his campaign, which is something that I was also open to doing.”
Gonzalez added: “Personally, there is no greater honor than representing the country. My time with the national team was one of my most memorable as a player. Managing the team is a huge challenge but it’s a challenge that I’m excited to take on. There is massive potential in the PMNT and we’re ready to forge ahead with our plans and programs. With such a short turnaround before the next set of matches in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, we have plans in place for the team to ensure their readiness for battle. We will continue to work on assembling the strongest national team and make sure that they are supported. With consistency, we can hopefully see changes translate into improved results on the field.”
The Philippine Women’s National Team will continue to be managed by Mr.Jeff Cheng, who brought Philippine women’s football to new heights after reaching the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “Mr. Jeff Cheng will remain as the The Philippine Women’s Team Manager and we have the highest confidence in his leadership. We look forward to seeing our female squad achieve more, and inspire more young girls to become excellent footballers,” said Gutierrez.
No comments:
Post a Comment