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Mixed emotions for outgoing Azkals coach Michael Weiss

When we sat down in an Italian restaurant with former Azkals coach Michael Weiss, who was replaced after three years as Philippine coach despite having turned in remarkable results, it was a time of mixed emotions for the strapping German.

While there was obviously disappointment in his removal, Weiss had the good sense if not the decency not to criticize those who hired him and then effectively fired him, realizing that his is a fairly common happening in the world of football.

Weiss began our conversation by saying “I want to thank everyone who supported me the last three years fantastically. Foremost  were the players who have a fantastic character, the coaching staff and also the management even though I must say that 2013 was not so good anymore.”

He noted that “we didn’t have the support we needed to make the team stronger and to prepare accordingly for the Challenge Cup which was my ultimate target.”

The inability to lead the team in the coveted Challenge Cup was unmistakably his biggest disappointment because he had brought the Azkals this far.

“Of course I am disappointed to be taken out of the opportunity for which I have worked very hard together with the staff and the players for three years,” he told Yahoo Philippines, adding “to be taken away, this dream to go to the Asian Cup for the Philippines and the Filipino people is a sad thing”  but he acknowledged that “it happens in football where people have the right to make decisions like that.”

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Despite the setback Weiss wished “management and the PFF all the best.”

Trying to analyze what happened, Weiss believes it may have been triggered by the fact that things got a little bit testy because “I was very vocal. I strongly defended the team and maybe some people took it personally which was not my intention. It was for the team as well as the nation. We wanted to achieve going to the Asian Cup.”

Weiss was deprived of the opportunity after being replaced by Thomas Dooley, an American with German roots who represented the United States in two World Cups.

He was touched by the response of the Azkals. Weiss told us “many players called me. They were very warm. [They] sent me emails, texted me saying 'Coach we are very sorry, you don’t deserve to be let go like this.'”

The outgoing coach referred to their achievement of bringing the team from 160 in 2011 to 127 in the FIFA world rankings and emerging as the  No.1 team in the highly competitive Southeast Asian soccer environment.



 

 

 


Weiss took his non-renewal as calmly as he could stating simply “they have their reasons . We have to accept this and move on.”

He recalled that in 2011 “when we were playing in the Challenge Cup in Myanmar and we had to win the last game against Bangladesh that was very interesting. We made it and went to the World Cup qualifiers. We were a little bit unlucky against Kuwait –an already established nation. We had them on the verge after Stephan Schrock got that goal in Manila. It was a sensation.”

Then there was the third place finish in the  Challenge Cup in Nepal and the Suzuki Cup where the Azkals  narrowly missed out on a place in the finals, losing 1-0 against the eventual winners, Singapore.

Weiss, during his stint, also brought the German FA here for a couple of weeks and organized camps.

“I think the numbers don’t lie. I don’t want to place it only on my shoulders. It’s the team and I am part of the team. I am very happy being part of this experience.”

There are some unresolved issues of financial incentives that haven’t been fulfilled as yet but Weiss  emphasized, “I don’t want to go too much into details. This is not something for the public. We are in communication as I have met the people and have been working with them to settle some financial issues.”

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In the English Premier League, for instance, coaches come and go but their contracts have to be fulfilled in financial terms until it runs out. The clubs either pay the fired coach the full amount or they reach a mutually agreeable settlement.

Weiss was being more than the consummate diplomat when he told Yahoo Philippines, “whatever the reasons for the parting, the farewell  has to be gentleman-like. I can only hope and be positive that we can reach a settlement. I am grateful for being given this chance and the achievements speak for themselves. I  hope the Philippines reach its goal in the Challenge Cup.”

Discussing goals Weiss remarked that his “personal goal was always to train the local players, to take players based in the Philippines and to develop pure (homegrown) Filipinos and at the end of the day if I think this player can help the national team I will invest a lot of time to help the much requested homegrown Filipinos.”

He said the highest target set for the Azkals was a ranking in the 120s, but Weiss added “you need a certain quality and that cannot be below that.”

There was an effort “to compromise to find ways to satisfy both parts by playing  with our big European-based professionals and working with the local guys.”

That was hampered because when “ compared to 2011 and 2012 where I was with the team each year for six to seven months. [In] 2013 [it was] just 23 training days – imagine – 9 games.  Whatever the reason, in that time you cannot achieve the much desired Asian results . Nevertheless  we managed. Despite the shortcomings we got good results – the rankings speak for themselves. I think the future will show if the new coach and management make the right decisions.”

On the level when you play Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Weiss stressed “ you need top players and you might be able to achieve it with the locals but they have to play together for six to seven months a year.”

He revealed he was carefully studying the neighboring countries and pointed out that Singapore has an under-21 team playing in the Malaysian league and they were champions while the under-23 team is playing in Australia the whole year in the pro league.”

One nagging issue was that “schools don’t always release their players and don’t have the high level of training in order to be an international player. It's still very complex and we have to take all this into consideration.”



Regarding the Challenge Cup the clubs had a meeting with the PFF and the new coach and they agreed to release the players when needed which is something Weiss was trying to implement. But he isn’t bitter. “That’s good," he said. "I’m happy, for that may mean the future is brighter.”

While the players understood the difference in philosophy between management and coach on how to achieve goals, Weiss enjoined the players, “the way how you worked with me and for me you have to work for the new coach and  listen to what he is  saying and listen to his philosophy and strategy and it's for the country not for yourselves.”

The Azkals were a multi-cultural set-up with Fil-foreigners from Britain, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States among others and Weiss pointed out that “to put these  characters together, each with a  different mindset was a good achievement.”

He made it clear that discipline was a basic factor even as he mentioned that “with limited time you cannot work so much on tactics.  I was hoping to play more attractive football but it was not possible because of the short time.”
He also noted changes in the team saying “when you bring in foreign players it takes time. You cannot just put them there.”

Weiss commended his players. He said “we had super characters and that was the secret of our success. “

Asked to highlight particular Azkal achievements, Weiss told us he didn’t wish to point out any team but stated “there are three who will be in my memory.”

 He listed them as follows:

 1. “ When we won the Peace Cup without James and Phil Younghusband and won with  locally based players. That was fantastic. Young players, beautiful football and we won all the games convincingly. That was  very nice to remember.”

2. “In Nepal when we achieved third place.

3. "When we beat Cambodia and Turkmenistan here and qualified for the AFC Challenge Cup.”

Asked about his future plans, Weiss said “I have to make sure my family is settled in Japan and see what will happen from there.”

Weiss believes he has the  credentials having  worked in Africa, Japan, China and the Philippines. To him “something should come up sooner or later.”

Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.