Filipino-German Stephan Schrock doesn’t hide the fact that he is angling for the head coaching job of the Philippine Azkals.
Currently the team captain of the Azkals Development Team, Schrock said in a television interview that calling the shots for the men’s squad is down the road if everything falls into place.
The ADT is currently fifth in the 2022-2023 Philippines Football League behind a 2-3-3 win-draw-loss record.
“It’s a different kind of work obviously. It’s a bit more than bringing your boots to training but I enjoy them. I embrace the challenges and I grow everyday,” said Schrock in a television interview.
“I always love to be involved in mentoring young kids. Eventually, I’m part of the coaching staff and as a player so I use my influence on and off the pitch. Eventually, I want to gun for the Azkals head coach job.”
Schrock has the track record to handle coaching the Azkals.
He has years of experience campaigning not only for the Azkals but in Germany as well.
The 36-year-old suited for Germany in the U18, U19 and U20 before relocating to the Philippines and becoming a vital part of the Azkals roster.
He also played for Eintracht Frankfurt from 2014 to 2016 where he played in the Bundesliga and in the UEFA Europa League, where he scored a goal in the club’s 2-0 win over APOEL Nicosia of Cyprus in 2013.
As for his accomplishment in the Philippines Football League, Schrock won four league titles with United City FC from 2017 to 2020.
Schrock was also the lone Azkals player to score in the 2019 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in their 3-1 loss to Kyrgyzstan in the elimination round.
Julian Schwarzer, one of the players in ADT, said he hopes to emulate Schrock’s competitiveness in the game.
“It’s the fact that he encapsulates what an Azkal is. Hunger. Anyone can bring this to their daily life,” said Schwarzer, son of Mark Schwarzer, who was part of 2015-2016 Premier League title run of Leicester City F.C.
“It’s serious business going on and this is the man who will bring the country forward. I’m fully behind that and everyone should be behind that definitely.”
