Jefferson Cheng is a Filipino businessman and football administrator. He is the owner of Philippines Football League club Davao Aguilas and a co-owner of A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers. He was the general manager of the Philippines women's national football team which qualified for their first ever FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023.
 Cheng in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2024 | Philippines (women) (general manager[a]) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Education
editCheng attended Xavier School where he used to play competitive football as a leftback. He also studied at the University of the Philippines where he graduated with a degree in architecture.[1]
Career
editFootball management
editClub
editCheng owns the Davao Aguilas of the Philippines Football League. He is also the co-owner of A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers.[2][3]
Philippine women national team
edit
Cheng has also been a sponsor of the Philippines women's national football team since 2017.[4] He was appointed the team manager of the team in 2017.[5] He has been also a co-chair of the Philippine Football Federation Women's Committee. As team manager, he oversaw the national team in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers, as well as the tournament proper held in India.[6][5] His connections in Australia, led to the hiring of Alen Stajcic as head coach for Philippines' stint in the Asian Cup. Under Stajcic and Cheng, the Philippines ended its campaign as semifinalists and qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup – their first ever World Cup.[5]
In January 2024, it was announced that Cheng was retained as team manager, following John Gutierrez's election as PFF president in November 2023.[7] However in June 2024, Cheng stepped down from the role citing the situation is "not workable" due to "incompatible" and "misalignment" of goals with the current organization.[8][9] Freddy Gonzales succeeded as interim manager.[10]
Philippine youth national teams
editCheng has also been a sponsor of the Philippine youth national team system; from the under-19 to the under-23 team.[11]
Other ventures
editCheng serves as the director of Sabre Sports United and president of the Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions.[12][13] He has been the director of the International Goalkeeping Academy of Jimmy Fraser.[13][14]
He also sponsors local youth tournaments in Davao through his company Speed Regalo.[15]
Personal life
editJefferson Cheng has a son named Enzo who has been a member of the Philippines national under-19 and under-22 national teams.[16]
Notes
edit- ^ General manager role. The role of the head coach is separate position.
References
edit- ^ "A football club is born: Meet Davao Aguilas FC". Rappler. March 27, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ Saberon-Abalayan, Marianne (March 9, 2017). "Aguilas awaits club license for pro league". Sun Star Davao. Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
- ^ "FFA confirms the sale of Western Sydney Wanderers to a consortium for a reported $10m fee". dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
- ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (October 26, 2021). "Ex-Matildas coach Stajcic named new PWNFT head coach". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c Fenix, Ryan (February 5, 2022). "From financial support to Stajcic hire, PH women's football team manager Jeff Cheng's impact crucial to World Cup run". GMA News. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "Football: PH women's team start preps for Asian Cup qualifiers". ABS-CBN News. August 5, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (January 11, 2024). "Freddy Gonzalez named men's football team manager, Director of National Teams". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Jeff Cheng exits as Filipinas' team manager: 'The situation is not workable'". ABS-CBN News. June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (June 23, 2024). "PFF admits 'lots to be done' to sustain Filipinas gains after Cheng departure". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ Anzures, Rom (July 1, 2024). "Football: Changes possible in Filipinas, says new PWNFT interim manager Fred Gonzalez". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "A football club is born: Meet Davao Aguilas FC". Rappler. March 27, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "Sale of Western Sydney Wanderers should be soon approved as Mebrahtu and Mullen sign on". dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
- ^ a b Smithies, Tom (February 2, 2014). "Changes aplenty for Wanderers". News.com.au. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ Biantan, Jack (April 10, 2017). "Biantan: Aguilas FC lucky to have Jefferson Cheng". Sunstar. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ Biantan, Javk (May 6, 2019). "PFF Should Apologise To Jeff Cheng". Pinoy Football. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "The kids are alright: Meet the U22 'Olympic' Azkals". Rappler. March 20, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2022.