The Philippine Azkals and Afghanistan battle in a friendly football match in Manila on September 12, 2023 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File.

MANILA -- The Philippine men's national football team will no longer be referred to as the "Azkals."

This, according to Freddy Gonzalez, who serves as the manager of the squad as well as the director of national teams for the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Gonzalez explained that the squad will be called the "Philippine men's national team" for now. 

"Right now, we're not even thinking about the moniker," said Gonzalez, stressing that their focus is on the team's preparation for their upcoming FIFA World Cup/AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in March.

"We feel that, you know, while the Azkals name was great, it has served its purpose, and we feel like we are going to the next step of Philippine football," he explained.

The "Azkals" moniker grew into prominence during the national team's campaign in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, which marked the squad's renaissance and thrust the players into the spotlight. 

But Gonzalez believes that as the team has changed its management and coaching staff, it is now the time to change its nickname as well. On Monday, the PFF formally announced that Belgian Tom Saintfiet will be the new coach of the team.

READ: Tom Saintfiet named new head coach of PH men's team

"It made sense to call the team [the Azkals] before," Gonzalez said. "But because of the way we're organizing everything, and with the whole new staff and whole new management in place, it's time we moved on from that name and just evolve into something else."

He stressed that the change is not due to copyright or trademark issues, as the previous Azkals management "was willing to turn over the trademark."

"It's nothing against them or that. It's just that it's a new evolution and we just need to move forward and move on," said Gonzalez. 

Gonzalez was named the new team manager in January, shortly after longtime team manager Dan Palami stepped down.

READ: PFF appoints Freddy Gonzalez as director of national teams

READ: Dan Palami steps down as Azkals manager

A new moniker for the national team may come from the management or from the fans, although Gonzalez did not offer a timeline as to when they will announce a new name.

The PFF also memorably changed the nickname of the popular women's national team in 2021, when then-coach Marlo Maro distanced himself from the moniker "Malditas." They officially adopted the "Filipinas" moniker in March 2022.

READ: PH women's football team will be 'Malditas' no more, says coach

READ: PH women's football team gets new official moniker

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