3 days ago
Albert Capellas parts ways with PMNFT, Carles Caudrat takes over
Philippine Men's National Football Team head coach Albert Capellas has parted ways with the squad and will be replaced by recently appointed assistant coach Carles Caudrat.
The Philippine Football Federation announced the development late Saturday, just less than two weeks before the Philippines' match against Tajikistain in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on June 10.
"My wonderful journey as head coach of the Philippine National Football Federation has come to an end and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have been part of it, especially the players and all the staff involved, the Director of National Teams Freddy Gonzalez, and the President John Gutierrez," Capellas, who was appointed as head coach in September 2024, said in a statement.
'Together, we have enjoyed an inspiring journey and have proven that Filipino football has a promising generation of young players with the potential to bring great pride and success to the country. I am sincerely grateful for the time we have shared and for the support and kindness I've received from the entire Filipino football community. I will always carry these memories with me and wish the Federation and the team continued growth and success in the years to come. With gratitude, Albert Capellas.'
According to Gonzalez, Capellas stepped down due to personal reasons.
'Personal reasons have led to Albert's departure. Out of great respect for him, we will not elaborate. We are grateful for his service, and wish him well. I continue to consider him a friend,' Gonzalez said.
'As with all things in life, change happens and one must always be prepared to handle unexpected turns. We move on, and keep pushing forward. Albert left us with a blueprint to follow and we thank him for bringing Carles on board, enabling him to be the interim head coach and provide continuity for what Albert has started. Now is the time to focus on the match with Tajikistan and push to be top of the group and focus on qualifying for the Asian Cup.'
With Capellas at the helm, the Philippine men's team reached the semis of the ASEAN Championships last December, which along the way included a historic win against Thailand in five decades.
Cuadrat, meanwhile, has worked with the national teams of Saudi Arabia and El Salvador, and top European clubs Barcelona Youth, Galatasaray and Midtjylland. Recently, he steered East Bengal FC to their first trophy in over a decade.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
