Filipino Football: May 2024

17 May 2024

PFL - Saturday's Matches

PFF appoints Josep Ferré as Technical Director

The Filippiner Football Federation has announced the appointment of Josep “Pep" Ferré as the federation’s new Technical Director. Ferré is a UEFA Coach who obtained his PRO license through the Royal Spanish Federation, the football association of Spain. Coach Pep holds a Bachelor Degree in Sports Sciences from the University of Barcelona and a Masters degree in football coaching from the Coaches Formation Center CENAFE in Madrid.

No stranger to the local football scene, 40-year old Ferré was the head coach of the Philippine Men’s National Football Team during the squad’s campaign at the 2022 AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup. He brings to the PFF more than 20 years of experience.

Among the professional teams Ferré has mentored include Indonesia’s Persis Solo and India’s East Bengal FC both for which he was the Assistant Coach; Thai Premier League’s Bangkok Glass FC and Ratchaburi for which he was the Head coach; and FC Bayamon Puerto Rico for which he was the Head Coach, too.

On the youth level, Ferré served as the Head Coach of Thailand Premier League’s Buriram United Team B and Academy Director, U19 Head Coach of Kitchee SC of Hong Kong, and FC Barcelona Escola Egypt Academy Director.

PFF President John Gutierrez said, “We look forward to collaborating with Coach Pep Ferré in creating and implementing a national plan that leverages on the development of not just the players and the coaches, but all the football stakeholders in the country, with a special focus on what our regional FAs can contribute.”

Together with other key experts, such as PFF Director of Football Vincent Santos, Ferré has been going around the country to observe matches, talk with FA officials and coaches, and assess players.

15 May 2024

FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup to Philippines !

The Philippines will officially host the inaugural 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™, as announced today by FIFA, the world governing body of football, futsal, and beach soccer.

The appointment of the Philippines as the host of the first ever World Cup for women’s futsal was made today by the FIFA Council in Bangkok.

“We are both humbled and honored by the faith and confidence that FIFA has placed in the Philippine Football Federation to stage a historic event not just for football and futsal, but for women’s sport.” Said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Anthony Gutierrez.

The PFF has invested in all forms of women’s football, including futsal, and has yielded results with the Philippine National Women’s Football Team, the “Filipinas”, qualifying for the country’s first ever FIFA World Cup berth at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™. Since 2022, the PFF has worked on the development of all forms of the women’s game, and organized and hosted a series of local international women’s futsal tournaments to build on the popularity of the modality of futsal among girls in local public schools and communities.

PFF President John Gutierrez adds, “This is the first time that the Philippines will be hosting a FIFA World Cup event, so on behalf of the PFF, I thank the FIFA Council for their trust, and look forward to working with all our local stakeholders in organizing a historic event. The PFF is excited to showcase to the world our world-class Filipino hospitality, and we are eager to use this event to inspire millions of children, especially girls, across the country to play the beautiful game.”