Philippine Football Federation Appoints Spanish Coaches to Support National Team

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has announced the addition of two experienced Spanish coaches, Albert Roca and Dimas Delgado, to assist national team head coach Carles Cuadrat. Both new deputies bring extensive backgrounds linked to FC Barcelona and international football leagues, reinforcing the technical leadership of the Philippine men’s football team.

PFF President John Gutierrez emphasized the federation’s commitment to advancing Philippine football, stating, "The PFF is focused on pushing Philippine football to a forward trajectory. The gains we have accumulated from 2024 (to the present) will not be wasted; we will ensure incremental progress of our football programs. We are very eager to build the Philippines as a strong football force in Southeast Asia and beyond."

Albert Roca, 62, who previously served as the national coach of El Salvador (2014-2015), also worked as an assistant under Dutch legend Frank Rijkaard for Saudi Arabia’s national team. His coaching résumé includes roles at FC Barcelona and Turkish club Galatasaray.

Dimas Delgado, 42, hailing from Catalonia like Cuadrat, played as a midfielder for Barcelona’s B team in the early 2000s. He later captained the Western Sydney Wanderers, who secured the AFC Champions League title in 2014, under coach Tony Popovic, now head coach of Australia’s Socceroos.

The newly appointed coaching duo will join Cuadrat in preparing the Philippine national team for critical AFC Asian Cup qualifying matches against Timor Leste on October 9 in Darwin, Australia, and the return leg at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, on October 14.