ALEN Stajcic, who recently parted ways with the Philippine women’s football program that went through a meteoric rise since 2021, was formally named as the new coach of A-League men’s club Perth Glory.

The 49-year-old, who was the architect of the Filipinas unprecedented run in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, has enjoyed an illustrious coaching career, notably guiding Australia’s Matildas to two AFC Women’s Asian Cup Finals, the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup, the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics and a highest-ever position of fourth in the FIFA World Rankings.

He will be back handling a men’s team, having steered the Central Coast Mariners to the A-League Finals in 2020-21.

Stajcic won two Premierships and two Championships as Sydney FC Women’s head coach.

One of Stajcic’s high moments when hehelped the Philippines qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals for the first time in the nation’s history.

Stajcic returned to women’s international football in October 2021 when he was appointed as the Filipinas’ head coach, leading the team to the AFF Women’s Championship title, the semifinals of the Asian Cup and ultimately, qualification for the World Cup.

The Philippines’ produced one of the most stunning results of this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup when it downed co-hosts New Zealand in the group stages.

Stajcic will arrive in Perth next week and is set to be joined at the club by his long-standing assistant coach Nahuel Arrarte and analyst Stevan Antonic.

Widely acknowledged as one of the most accomplished Australian coaches, Stajcic is exploring this new opportunity to bring Perth back to its old glory.

After all, Stajcic is known to be miracle worker like what he did for the Filipinas.

“I vividly recall the late 90s and early 2000s when Perth Glory revolutionised the National League with its connection to the city, its level of support and a team that was leading the way on the pitch,” Stajcic said.

“I believe an incredible opportunity now exists to re-establish Glory as one of the giants of Australian football and that vision is one shared by everyone at the club,” he added.

“I take great confidence from the groundwork which has been put in over the last year to set the club back on the path to success and am excited to help continue that process.”

“Perth has a such a rich history in football and a rich history in developing players. It is our vision to once again give the Perth football community a team and a club which they can be truly proud of.”

With Stajcic at the helm, the Philippine football fans will reacquaint with Perth Glory. The Glory have visited the country in July 2016, having played with the Philippine Azkals and now defunct Global FC in friendlies.