Football: Carles Cuadrat named new head coach of PH men's team

MANILA, July 25 ------ Carles Cuadrat has been named the new head coach of the Philippine men's national football team, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) revealed. Cuadrat officially replaces Albert Capellas, who stepped down last May after leading the team to the 2024 ASEAN Championships semifinals. "We are pleased to welcome Coach Carles Cuadrat to lead our Senior Men’s National Team. His deep tactical understanding, coupled with a history of building winning teams and developing players, perfectly aligns with our vision for the future," PFF President John Gutierrez said.

Cuadrat is no stranger to the men's team, as he was appointed assistant coach following Capellas' departure. He stepped up as interim head coach for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers match against Tajikistan in June, where the Philippines secured a 2-2 draw. "We saw a glimpse of his immediate impact during the Tajikistan match, demonstrating his ability to inspire and adapt under pressure. We are confident that under his guidance, our national team will achieve new milestones and ignite even greater passion for football across the country," Gutierrez shared.

PFF cited Cuadrat's 'extensive career,' which includes being head coach of Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League from 2018 to 2021. He led the team to a historic ISL Championship in 2019 and the Indian Super Cup in 2018. Before his roles with the Philippines, Cuadrat worked with FC Barcelona, Galatasaray SK, and the Saudi Arabia National Team. He likewise held assistant coaching positions with the El Salvador National Team, Aris Limassol FC, and FC Midtjylland.

As a player, Cuadrat represented Barcelona during his youth on several occasions. "The PFF is confident that Coach Cuadrat’s leadership will significantly contribute to the development and success of the national team on the international stage," it said. "His appointment is a testament to the federation’s dedication to providing the best possible coaching expertise for its athletes," PFF added.

NEW TEAM MANAGER

PFF also appointed Miguel "Mico" Gutierrez as manager of the Philippine men's national football team. Gutierrez is the National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA) president and was a former captain and player of the University of the Philippines Men's Football Team. He served as manager of the U16 boys team that won the recently concluded Lion City Cup. Gutierrez was also tournament commissioner of the 2025 PFF Women’s Football League. "We thank Mico for taking on the important role of managing the Philippine Men’s National Team. PFF is confident that with his experience and expertise in football and business management, he will be able to bring our Men’s Team towards the direction we’ve set out to do from the very beginning– which is to build on the gains of the team and keep on advancing in the international stage," PFF President Gutierrez said.

The Philippines aims to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. It currently leads its group with four points. Up next for the team is back-to-back matches against Timor Leste in October.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com