PFF offers 2-year contract extension to coach Dooley

by Cedelf P. Tupas

A two-year contract extension is in place for coach Thomas Dooley who steered the Philippines to a runner-up finish in the AFC Challenge Cup and another semifinal appearance in the AFF Suzuki Cup early this year.

The Philippine Football Federation has already offered Dooley the new contract that will pave the way for the coach to handle the team that will play in the World Cup Qualifiers next year.

Dooley’s current contract runs until February, but the coach met with Azkals manager Dan Palami and PFF president Mariano Araneta earlier in the week to discuss the terms of the new deal.

Palami said Dooley will be evaluated at the end of every year.

“We’re quite happy with the development of the team under coach Dooley,” said Palami.

The German-American coach replaced Michael Weiss last February and implemented a more possession-based style of play. Dooley also showed trust on younger players like Daisuke Sato and Amani Aguinaldo.

The Challenge Cup in the Maldives last May proved to be the first real test for Dooley who came within a whisker of leading the Azkals to a first major title and a spot in the AFC Asian Cup.

Dooley was at the center of controversy after a highly publicized falling out with star Stephan Schrock came in the aftermath of the Challenge Cup loss.

But the Azkals bounced back at the end of the year with a string of impressive performances in the Suzuki Cup, beating Laos and Indonesia on their way to the semifinals where they bowed to eventual champion Thailand.

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Azkals praise new coach

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DUBAI—Coach Thomas Dooley knows that the ultimate test to his tenure as national team coach of the Philippines will be the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives in May.

Along the way, however, Dooley, who didn’t have any national team head coaching experience before taking the Azkals’ job, is chalking up minor victories with his brand of coaching—developing a style of play and earning the trust of players he’s only known for less than a month.

Morale is high as the Azkals prepare for a duel with a formidable Azerbaijan side on Wednesday at Al-Shabbab Stadium here.

It will be the first match for the Philippines against European opposition since 1997.

Replacing Michael Weiss, Dooley has been under the microscope since he took the job, but for some of the Azkals regulars, the former United States skipper has acquitted himself well.

“Just the respect he commands because of his experience as a player is huge for us,” said midfielder Jason de Jong of the coach who played in two World Cups.

“He’s given us a lot of confidence. We’re learning so much from him.” For skipper Rob Gier, who also does scouting work for the squad since 2011, it’s Dooley’s attention to detail that has impressed him the most.

“We’ve done a lot of discussions on how we want to play with coach and he wants us to play out of the backline as often as possible with short 1-2 passes,” said Gier.

The Azkals got off to an encouraging start under Dooley, holding a full-strength Malaysia side to a scoreless draw Saturday.

With an improved passing game, the Azkals also gave the Malaysians problems defensively.

“We’re a team in transition and there are going to be mistakes,” said Gier.

“It’s going to be a steep learning curve before May but the signs are positive.”

Azkals manager Dan Palami vowed to pull out all the stops to make sure the team is at its peak in the Challenge Cup.

“We will do whatever it takes to be the best prepared squad in the Challenge Cup,” said Palami, who, along with midfielder Ruben Doctora, joined the team here late after visa delays.

“I think that it’s important for all the stakeholders, especially the Philippine Football Federation, to go the extra mile in helping the team.”

On their first full day here, the Azkals spent a couple of hours viewing the tape of their scoreless draw against Malaysia, before training in the afternoon as they waited for the arrival of Europe-based teammates Stephan Schrock, Roland Muller, Jerry Lucena and Javier Patino.

How new Azkals coach will choose players

MANILA – New Philippine Azkals head coach Thomas Dooley has revealed the four factors that he will consider when it comes to choosing the players for the national football team.
Dooley was formally introduced as the head coach of the Azkals last Friday and his first challenge with the squad is to prepare the team for the AFC Challenge Cup in Maldives this May.
When asked what he kind of attitude he would require from his players, Dooley said there were “four things that I have to consider and evaluate.”
“No. 1 is, technically, you have to be good with the ball,” said the coach. “If you cannot handle the ball, then it’s difficult.”
“The second thing is, you have to understand what your role is in the game. For example, if I have a center-back who is always going up front and leaves the back, then I have to talk to him. ‘This is your position, and you have to play that role.’”
“He has to understand the tactical part.”
Dooley said a player’s attitude is also important.
“Everybody should come in and know that it’s a team,” he said, adding that he is looking for players who are willing to work hard for the team’s success.
“The last thing is, you have to be fit,” he said. “If you are not fit, you can’t play. It is impossible to play a professional game or in the national team if you are not fit.”
Dooley has only watched two Azkals games, but is planning to watch UFL games so can observe some of the national team players in action. He is also planning to contact some of the Azkals players who are based in Europe.
“I want to get in touch with them right now. I don’t want to waste any time,” said Dooley. “(They have to) understand how I want to play, and then they can think about already what kind of system we play, what the starting position is when we have the ball, or the starting position when we don’t have the ball.”
Dooley also stressed that it is important for the national team players to understand that they are representing the Philippines every time they step onto the pitch.
“They are representing the whole country,” he said. “And the fans in the Philippines are proud, and we can do a great job to make them happy. That’s what everybody has to understand, but that’s a lot of work.”

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