Philippine Daily Inquirer

STILL NOT ROAD’S END FOR PHIL, JAMES IN PH

- By Cedelf P. Tupas @cedelfptin­q

Philippine football has not seen the end of Phil and James Younghusba­nd yet.

While the brothers are already retired after remarkable careers representi­ng the country, both Phil and James are not ruling out a return albeit in a different capacity.

The brothers have hinted at coaching as the next phase of their careers as they intend to utilize their connection­s overseas to upgrade their skills and earn the necessary credential­s.

Phil and James were former members of the reserve team of English Premier League giants Chelsea before they moved to the Philippine­s almost a decade ago and became poster boys to the rise of the team as a force in Southeast Asia.

“My goal was always to help develop Philippine football and to go abroad, learn and come back and share that to the Philippine­s,” said James, 33, who announced his retirement from the game last week just a few months after Phil also called time to his career.

“I want to go back to England, speak to our contacts at Chelsea if I can gain some experience there, gain some knowledge there and also look to go to the United States as well because I realize, I think with the Philippine­s, we share similariti­es with the American system, in terms of schooling and sports so I think it’s a good place to learn how they do things there and can bring back to the Philippine­s,” James added.

Phil, who is now based in Kent, England, said giving back to the sport will always be their priority.

“James and I have always said a lot of our knowledge and experience came from our time at Chelsea football club,” Phil, 32, said during the brothers’ appearance at “CPT Crossover” podcast on Tuesday night.

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