Coach Christopher Robert “Chris” Greatwich
Coaching Profile
Chris Greatwich - Executive Director
Philippine National Team and Kaya legend Chris Greatwich heads the Kaya FC Academy program, the largest football Academy in the country.
As a ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, he scored and assisted Phil Younghusband in ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ผ๐ถ, the most pivotal moment in Philippine football history. Yet another one of his goals sent the Philippines to the final of the AFC Challenge Cup in 2014.
As ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, he took the club to win the to the UFL Cup, PFL Cup and became the first ever Philippine club to qualify for the AFC Cup. In 2016 Greatwich was named number 12 in ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ง๐๐ผโ๐ โ๐ง๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ญ๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ๐โ in the ASEAN/
Australian region.
As ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐’๐ ๐๐
๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ, he holds a ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ (one of the highest coaching licenses) and developed the Academy’s program with the goal of elevating the level of domestic football by instilling a positive approach towards ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐, ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป for the team and society as a whole.
His contribution to Philippine football and passion for youth development is undeniable.
Detailed Profile
Coach Christopher Robert "Chris" Greatwich
Executive Director
Start Date with Kaya: 2013
Qualifications: UEFA “A” License
Previous Coaching Experience:
- Kaya FC Men’s Team (2015 -2018)
- Morris Country Colonials (USA – NPSL 2012)
- STA Academy (USA, 2008 -2012)
Playing Experience & Bio:
- Assistant Coach – Philippine National Football Team (2004 – Present)
- Kaya FC (2013 – 2015)
- Morris Country Colonials (USA, 20010 -2012)
- Bognor Regis Town FC (UK, Conference South, 2007 – 2008)
- Lewes FC (UK, Conference South, 2007)
- Hartwick College (USA NCAA D1, 2006 – 2007)
- Drury University (USA NCAA D1,ย 2004 – 2005)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (UK, Championship, 1996-2003)
Coach Chris has been at the forefront of Philippine football since his debut with the National Team in 2004. Known as the original โAzkalโ, Chris was a pioneer as the first of the new wave of foreign-born Filipinos to play for the Philippine National Team.
In 2010, Chris was an integral member of the โMiracle in Hanoiโ Suzuki Cup team that propelled the Azkals to superstardom. His late equalizer against Singapore and goal and assist in victory over Vietnam are some of the most important and memorable moments in Philippine football history.
Coach Chris went on to Assist with the National Team initially under Thomas Dooley, and then with Scott Cooper before working with former England Manager Sven Goran Ericsson. Chris was part of the coaching staff when the Azkals qualified for the Asian Cup in 2019 and was in Qatar for the countries first appearance in Asiaโs biggest football tournament.
At the domestic level, Chris had success initially as a Player-Manager with Kaya FC’s menโs team, and then as a full-time Manager- twice winning the domestic Cup, as well as leading the team to the knock-out rounds of the AFC Cup (at the time, the first for a Filipino team).
At the academy level, Chris has transformed Kaya FC Academy into the biggest academy in the Philippines. The academy has won multiple domestic titles as well as competing in some of the biggest international tournaments.
Chris continues to work closely with the academy teamsโ as he looks to develop the next generation of Philippine footballers.