Countries
	Argentina
	Brazil
	Cameroon
	Ghana
	Kenya
	Nigeria
	Philippines
Future countries
	China
	Colombia
	Haiti
	Latvia
	Romania
	Russia
	Rwanda
	Trinidad & Tobago
	Ukraine

Subscribe to newsletter

Name:

Email:

Send

Philippines

Philippines soccer information

Historically, football here had already achieved its peak in the thirties and early forties. After the game was introduced by British sailors from Hong Kong in the 1900's, foreigners have dictated the pace of the game. Although the British and Chinese presence are being felt in Manila and other southern cities, the Spanish connection remains the sole influence that dominates.

Before the war, basketball fever had begun to catch up with football but good games continued to pack the rafters at one time with 26,000 paying spectators. European sides often visited and played with local elevens like Turba Salvaje, YCO Athletic Club, Nomads, Casino and school squads like the University of Santo Tomas often played in floodlit fields. Through the years that football is recovering from its war years-slump, Spanish influence in the game remains strong. Traditionally, Spanish corporations like San Miguel and Elizalde continue to fund, organize and play in a game they are committed to develop.

In the fifties, football began to perk up again largely through the enthusiasm generated by top school squads like Letran, University of Santo Tomas, San Beda, Ateneo, La Salle, University of San Carlos, Silliman, University of Visayas and others. San Miguel Brewery, though the Philippine Football Association, decided that to develop the sport and sustain the people's enthusiasm, foreign know-how should be imported. Thus, the Soriano group funded and acquired in the early 60's the services of foremost British coaches Alan Rogers and Brian Birch to train referees, coaches and players. Noting the lack in playing facilities, the duo introduced the Five-A-Side football which requires only five players on each side, playing a field size of a basketball court. Later, they were relieved by the pair of Danny McClelan and Graham Adams who also trained the national and youth players.

Later, in 1961, San Miguel via the PFA invited four medical students from Spain who were proficient in the game. Felipe Monserrat, the PFA prexy, expected the group to provide an added attraction to the games and consequently train local booters. The quartet included Francisco Escarte and Enrique dela Mata, who left after a year's stay; Claudio Sanchez and Juan Cutillas España. The group was then followed by another Briton, Peter Leaver, who concentrated on such schools as Ateneo and La Salle. With the SMC efforts starting to pay off and with promotional support coming from Elizalde Company, 20,000 trooped to the Rizal Football Stadium to watch the finals of the 8th Asian Youth Football Tournament in 1966.

Meanwhile, SMC protege Juan Cutillas, after leaving the country in 1965, came back a balikbayan doctor in 1968 and started to crowd the football headlines. Armed with a Physical Training diploma from Madrid, a Spanish national coaching license, a doctorate in medicine and a lot of corporate influence, Cutillas literally made football "tsunamis." The Spanish doctor steered a spectacular win by a Philippine Selection over a visiting pro team, Dallas Tornadoes, 2-1, in 1968. The former Atletico Madrid midfielder coached the San Beda Red Lions and led them to three consecutive NCAA victories in as many seasons since 1968. From that year on, Cutillas has handled the national football team as coach and other sports as trainer. The only time he did not coach a national team was in '73 and '74 when he was relieved by Florentino Broce. Cutillas also led the SMC team to five championships in seven PFA tournament stagings.

In 1971, Cutillas, going through with tradition, selected four top-caliber Spanish players and one Chinese to beef up the Philippine Selection. The formula again worked as prestigious tournaments insisted on having them on the field. Participating in such prestigious events as the Merdeka Invitationals, Pesta Sukan, Indonesia's Anniversary Cup and the President Park tournament, the Philippine Selection managed to come up with rare feats in beating Thailand, Singapore and mighty Korea. Simply stated, it is Philippine football popularity resurrected.
- That's as far as football has gone in the Philippines. For when the Spaniards Lozano, Cuenca, Gutierrez and Roxas left the football scenario due to lack of funds, basketball went in for the kill as it grabbed the spotlight and the crowd. It's turning professional in 1974 is but a nail in football's coffin. Never losing hope, the PFA made a last ditch effort to revive football - comatose since 1975. Association elder Fernando Alvarez went to the German Embassy and sought help. Instead of sending top players, the German authorities, quite adroitly sent a doctor by the name of Bernhard Zgoll, an internationally renowned sports expert who specializes in football. Zgoll carefully conducted his diagnosis which he based on extensive talks with local football officials and a tour around the archipelago. The Zgoll study, which presented an expert recommendation, was immediately approved by President Marcos during a meeting with MYSD Minister Gilberto Duavit.
With this breakthrough and guaranteed government cooperation, fullest development of football as a national sport is on the way.