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lot has changed since much-travelled Simon McMenemy last coached in the Philippines more than four years ago, when he helped the Azkals become Southeast Asian semifinalists for the first time at the 2010 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.

The result was seen as a big breakthrough for a side who were once regional whipping boys. Now, after two more Suzuki Cup semifinal appearances, including an impressive tournament under Thomas Dooley last December, the Philippines are Southeast Asia'€™s equal top-ranked side (tied with Vietnam at 132nd) on the official FIFA list.

McMenemy has always been talked about as the man who made the Azkals believe in themselves.

After stints in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Maldives, the England-raised Scot is back as manager of a Philippine club side, trying to help the nearly men of glamour-team Loyola Meralco Sparks FC claim a United Football League (UFL) title for the first time.

They made a winning start to the UFL season with a 1-0 victory over Team Socceroo in their opening fixture last Sunday. That followed on their success in last month'€™s Smart Club National Championships when they defeated defending UFL champions Global FC 2-0 in the final. It was the first major professional silverware of McMenemy'€™s career.

At Loyola, he has been reunited with the England-born Younghusband brothers, Phil and James '€” two of his key men from the 2010 Azkals '€” who are now national heroes, with a combined total of almost one million followers on Twitter. Football is not yet a major sport in the Philippines but it is making significant inroads into a basketball-mad country, thanks to players who first found their international feet under McMenemy in 2010.

And while there is not yet the money in the Philippine game to tempt Tim Cahill to choose Manila over Shanghai, McMenemy has pulled off a mini-coup by bringing another Aussie attacker, Tahj Minniecon '€” who has represented the Australian Olympic side and the Young Socceroos '€” into a rejuvenated squad.

Despite more than half a dozen entries on his footballing resume, McMenemy is only 37 years old. Trim, fit and fashionable with his designer tattoos, the former physical education student at the University of South Alabama could still easily pass for one of his players.

His return to the Philippines last September was like a homecoming. Despite taking the Philippines to the last four of the Suzuki Cup in 2010, McMenemy was controversially dismissed soon after, because he did not have the equivalent of a '€œB'€ license, which is the minimum required for an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) senior tournament.

He had taken over as the youngest ever coach of a national team at just 32 years of age.

'€œA lot of people are happy to have him back because he was the national coach who had success against all odds and was sacked to the chagrin of many fans,'€ said Philippine football commentator Ryan Fenix.

'€œPartly due to his age, he seems to be a coach who is easily able to relate to his players. He manages to galvanize the team together and make the players play for him, whether they are homegrown or based abroad.'€

Since McMenemy'€™s departure, the Philippines have had national coaches with a German background. Michael Weiss was followed by the incumbent Dooley, a former Bundesliga midfielder who became a naturalized American, earning 81 Team USA caps. Philippine football continues to receive funding from DFB, German soccer'€™s governing body.

While McMenemy'€™s return has been greeted with warmth and nostalgia, it will be a short honeymoon period if Loyola are not able to end their drought in the UFL.

They are backed by the biggest sports benefactor in the country '€” tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan '€” who is chairman of national electricity company Meralco and owns the TV network Sports5. Pangilinan also controls the Smart Gilas basketball team, which competed in last year'€™s World Cup.

As well as the Younghusband brothers and another English-born national team player in midfielder Simon Greatwich, Loyola have a Korean, Spaniard, Cameroonian and American on their books, alongside a list of talented locals. The debut of 25-year-old Minniecon has been delayed because the former Western Sydney winger has picked up a mosquito infection.

'€œContending for the title in every competition is the minimum requirement for such a big club that can attract better and more quality players,'€ Fenix said. '€œBecause of the Younghusbands, Loyola will always be one of the more popular teams but they'€™ve struggled to win any silverware in the league despite coming close numerous times.'€

McMenemy has progressed in leaps and bounds since he was an assistant manager in the Sussex County League barely five years ago. No longer an unknown coach trying his luck in Southeast Asia, he is now a seasoned campaigner who will be expected to deliver a first-ever UFL trophy to the Manila giants in his debut season.