Butcher sets WC target for Philippines

MANILA: England great Terry Butcher said he was targeting taking the Philippines all the way to the World Cup after being named head coach in a shake-up.

Butcher, who will lead the Azkals at their first ever Asian Cup in January, said in Moscow that the World Cup “is our target for the Philippines”.

“The Philippines is in the Asian Cup. Why can’t we look further on? That what we have to do,” Butcher said in a video interview released by the Philippine team.

Butcher, a veteran of three World Cups who has managed clubs in England, Scotland, Wales and Australia, was speaking as the current World Cup got underway in Russia.

Butcher praised his predecessor, former USA captain Thomas Dooley, who guided the Philippines to their first ever Asian Cup qualification as well as an all-time high of 115th in the FIFA world rankings.

But he added: “It is okay to (be) reaching a level but it is horrible and awful to just rest on your laurels at that level.” Butcher compared it to climbing Mount Everest, saying: “You don’t stop halfway up. You want to go right to the top.” Butcher was named late Thursday as the new coach of the Azkals — slang for feral dogs — after Dooley’s four-year reign ended on March 18. Although the American won credit for his success, he also publicly squabbled with one of his players, midfielder Stephan Schrock, who was later dropped.