HELLO, EUROPE! World-class Filipinas land European gigs
‘I love exploring new places and meeting new people so I can’t wait to join the players and become closer to the group.’
Daily Tribune‘I love exploring new places and meeting new people so I can’t wait to join the players and become closer to the group.’
Angela Beard, Oliva McDaniel and Chandler McDaniel are expected to take Europe by storm. | Photographs courtesy of PFF
Three members of the Philippine national women's football team have formally received offers from top European clubs following their historic debut in the FIFA Women's World Cup in New Zealand.
Filipinas defender Angela Beard joined Swedish club Linkoping FC while sisters Olivia and Chandler McDaniel signed with Austrian team FC Pinzgau Saalfelden, thanks to their stellar performances in the prestigious 32-nation tournament last July.
The Swedish club made that announcement on 29 August, saying the Beard and Malin Brenn of Norway would join them in the next season.
Although the Norwegians defeated the Filipinas, 6-0, in the World Cup group stages, Beard never faced off with Brenn as she was listed as a reserve player.
The Filipino-Australian defender thanked his former team, Western United, for the experience and stressed that she is ready to face a new challenge in her football career.
"To the club and the girls — thank you for welcoming me into the team and allowing me to play a small part in your historical inaugural season," she said.
"Although my career takes me back to European football, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Western United and I wish the team the best of luck for the upcoming season."
Beard only played three games for Western United and with a contract of up to 2025 with Linkoping FC, the Filipinas defender can't wait to help her new club, which finished third in the 2022 season, claim its fourth title in the OBOS Damallsvenskan — the top women's football league in Sweden.
"I am very grateful to be joining Linkoping for the next seasons. They are a historically successful and renowned club, I hope my presence here can help bring more victories, more trophies and more success to the club," Beard said.
"My meetings with Head Coach Anders Jacobson and Coach Jesper Ny have been pleasant and I'm looking forward to working together with them. I love exploring new places and meeting new people so I can't wait to join the players and become closer to the group. I play football to win games and I'm excited to get started with Linkoping FC."
Jacobson is thrilled to have Beard on board as she could play as early as 6 September in the Union of European Football Associations Women's Champions League qualifying round against Arsenal at the Linköping Arena in Sweden.
The club will have to survive two knockout games to get a slot to the group stages of the biggest club football tournament in the world.
"It feels very good to have Angela and Malin in the squad. Angela has great offensive qualities while having strong defensive qualities that we will benefit greatly from. She can play both in a three-back line and act as a wingback. Our main idea is to play her as one of three inside defenders," said Jacobson, whose club is currently second in the league with a 13-2-3 win-draw-loss record.
Meanwhile, Olivia and Chandler are set to play FC Pinzgau Saalfelden in the 2. OFB Frauen Bundesliga in Austria.
The club currently is in second place with a 1-0-0 record after a 2-0 win over SV Horn last 26 August at the 1508 Saalfelden Arena in Salzburg, Austria.
Both Olivia and Chandler recently played for Stallion Laguna FC in the Philippine Football Federation Women's League last 12 August where they were battered by De La Salle University, 4-0, at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
The McDaniel sisters could see action in the team's second match of the season against SG FAC — USC Landhaus at Union Landhaus in Vienna.
