Weiss will look bring success similar to what he enjoyed with the squad in his first stint.
Fresh off the official reveal that he is once again the Philippine men's national football team head coach, Hans Michael Weiss bared some of his plans for the Azkals.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Weiss committed to building the best team possible for their upcoming matches and tournaments.
“We are hands-on, 100% with the players in contact. Nobody will be unnoticed, and we will do everything to make a very strong competitive team,” said the gaffer.
It’s been nearly 10 years since Weiss last coached the national team.
Weiss assumed leadership of the Azkals from 2011 to 2014. During his tenure, the Philippines achieved their highest position in the FIFA World Rankings, reaching as high as 127.
The German tactician guided the team to a commendable third place in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup and a semifinal berth in the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup.
After his time with the Philippines, the 58-year-old coach went on to oversee the national teams of Mongolia and Laos.
10 years later, however, the Philippine football landscape has changed. The likes of Phil and James Younghusband, Chieffy Caligdong, and Stephan Shrock have all closed the chapter of their playing days.
The Azkals are now geared towards preparing for the future. In the moment, that may include winning but also losing.
Weiss made a plea to the fans to continue supporting the team.
"Come back to attend the games to support us. Even if it might not be the most exciting of times... but we want to start again,” said the veteran football manager.
"At the end of the day, we are here to win games. We are here to push the entire program forward,” he added.
First up for Weiss and the national team are matches against Nepal on June 15 and Chinese Taipei on June 19, which are both part of the FIFA international friendlies.
(GM)