Photo credit: Tom Saintfiet Instagram

In a surprising twist for Philippine football, Tom Saintfiet has decided to step down from his role as Head Coach of the Philippines Men's National Football Team effective immediately. The announcement came as a bit of a shock but with a clear sense of respect and understanding from the team.

Freddy Gonzalez, the Director of Senior National Teams, shared his thoughts in a recent statement: “From my first meeting with Tom, we had discussed the possibility of him leaving if a bigger opportunity came up. Tom came to us with great enthusiasm for our project, but his heart has always been in Africa. We truly appreciate his contributions and wish him all the best in his new role.”

With the Merdeka Cup just around the corner and preparations for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup in full swing, the team is already on the lookout for a new head coach. Gonzalez expressed confidence in finding someone who will fully embrace and commit to the team’s vision. “We need to move on quickly,” he said. “I’m optimistic that we’ll find the right person to lead us forward.”

Stay tuned as the search for the new head coach begins and the team prepares for the upcoming challenges.