'About truth and winning the moment': Long time lieutenants on what makes Staj tick

The news that Alen Stajcic will be sticking with the Philippines as they embark on their first ever World Cup adventure next year has not only excited football fans across a country with 109 million people, but also fans down under who have a lot of affection for the former Matildas coach.

Stajcic, who took the Matildas to number four in the world in 2017 and coached them at the 2015 World Cup, is a much revered figure in Australian football.

He is fast building that reputation around the world after he took the Malditas – the Philippines national women’s team – to the Asian Cup semi-finals in India recently, and consequently qualified them for the 2023 World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.

Joining Stajcic in the Philippines setup will be long time trusted lieutenants Nahuel Arrarte and Luca Tonetti.

Arrarte was glowing in his tribute of the man they call ‘Staj’, insisting it is exciting what he could potentially do with the Malditas.

“Staj is an exceptional coach who transmits his passion for the game through his strategic manner of coaching,” he said. 

“His ability to turn problems into solutions is inspiring. I really admire his ability to stay calm and collected in a crisis.

. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

“He trusts, believes in his staff and allows you to share your thoughts and opinions.”

Stajcic had tremendous success in Australian football wherever he went. Before coaching the Matildas, he won two W-League Championships with Sydney FC (2009 and 2012-13) and a NWSL title with the NSW Sapphires (2003-4).

He was also assistant coach to Alistair Edwards when the Young Matildas last qualified for a World U-20’s Women Championships (2006). Australia have missed out on qualification seven times since then.

Last season, he took the Central Coast Mariners from cellar dwellers to finalists.

Arrarte, who also worked with Stajcic in the Matildas setup and at the Mariners, believes the winning mentality that has been instilled in every team that Stajcic has been involved in, is due to the positive culture he creates.

“His results with Sydney FC Women winning championships, with Matildas taking them to number four which is our highest ever ranking in the world, Central Coast Mariners from wooden spoon to semi-finalist and most recently with Phillipines Womens (ranked 64 in the world), achieving semi-finals in the Asian Cup and qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in history, speak for themselves,” he said.

Current Adelaide United A-League Men’s assistant Ross Aloisi, who worked with Stajcic in the Matildas setup in 2015, echoed Arrarte’s sentiments while also emphasising the genuine care Stajcic has for his players and the team first mentality he instills.

“He shows that he cares and he has a really good relationship with a lot of players, he is really honest which is another positive aspect,” said Aloisi. “When we were with the Matildas we did a lot of team building.

“It was all about truths and winning the moment and owning your performance. It was all about the team.”

Aloisi also outlined how Stajcic ensured the players were treated as footballers, setting up a professional environment for them to work in.

“A lot of it was to do with structures and the way he wanted to play. He always pushed the girls to the max. The winning mentality came in training sessions, it was about treating them as footballers,” he said.

“If you have the right coaching staff as well, the players buy into it. They wanted to be treated as footballers but wanted a professional environment.

“He (Stajcic) provided the most professional environment he knew of and he could.”

Aloisi admitted he was excited about seeing Stajcic at the 2023 World Cup. He believes the Philippines will go into the tournament with a lot of self belief as well as organisation.

“I think his structures and playing together as a team. A lot of coaches out there, don’t have real structures,” said Aloisi. “That winning mentality of going out there and believing you’re the best. That was the thing, he made the girls believe.

“And if you have got that belief and you are treated as a footballer and that is what you are craving for, you want to learn … players always want to learn … it’s not about just making them happy because some players want short cuts.

“One thing they will be is fit, and they will have a clear idea of what they need to do on the pitch.“

Stajcic’s next few assignments with the Philippines will include the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in May, the ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championships in Manila in July and the Asian Games in China in September.

Stajcic has only committed to the Malditas until the World Cup, with his future beyond that, unclear at this stage.

Whether Stajcic will work again in Australia will likely be discussed at length in 2023, especially if the Philippines do well at the World Cup.

For now he will focus on the Malditas, who will undoubtedly be adopted as a second team by many Australian fans in 2023.