Yu Hoshide Steps Down as Kaya FC-Iloilo Head Coach After seven years of success on the domestic and continental stage, the most successful coach in club history bids farewell to Kaya.
Kaya FC–Iloilo would like to announce that Yu Hoshide has stepped down from his role as Head Coach after seven years of service to the club. On behalf of everyone at Kaya, we extend our deepest gratitude to Coach Yu for his extraordinary contribution and wish him well in the next chapter of his career.
Coach Yu joined the club’s coaching staff in January 2019, before being appointed Head Coach in 2020. From that point forward, he led Kaya Futbol Club through the most successful period in its history.
His first major piece of silverware came in 2021 when Kaya lifted the Copa Paulino Alcantara, a trophy he would win again in 2023 alongside Coach Colum Curtis. Championships followed in historic fashion, as Kaya won three consecutive Philippines Football League (PFL) titles in the 2022-23, 2024, and 2024-25 seasons. During this stretch, he also oversaw a remarkable 42-match unbeaten run in domestic competition. In 2025, his role expanded to include the women’s team, leading Kaya to the PFF Women’s League title in the same year.
In addition to the club’s domestic success, Coach Yu helped guide the club through five AFC campaigns, representing the Philippines on the continental stage in the AFC Cup, AFC Champions League, and AFC Champions League Two.
Coach Yu departs as the most successful coach in Kaya FC–Iloilo’s history, and he leaves with the full respect, admiration, and gratitude of everyone at the club.
Kaya FC–Iloilo President Paul Tolentino paid tribute to Coach Yu’s contribution to the club:
“I would like to personally thank Coach Hoshide for his seven years of hard work and service to the club. I truly learned a lot from him and enjoyed working so closely with him throughout that time.
From navigating the challenges of COVID, to guiding us through five AFC campaigns, to achieving our historic league titles, his trust, loyalty, and commitment have meant so much to me and to everyone at Kaya. Along the way, he helped bring the club two Copas, three PFL league titles, and one PFF Women’s League title. Beyond the trophies, seeing the individual development of the players he coached has been incredibly rewarding.
We are all very excited for the next step in his coaching career. It’s a little bittersweet, but I’ll be watching closely and rooting for him.
Arigato gozaimasu, legend. Maraming salamat, Hoshi-san. I hope our paths cross again soon.”
Reflecting on his time with the club, Coach Yu expressed his gratitude to the Kaya family.
“After seven unforgettable years with Kaya FC–Iloilo, I have made one of the most difficult decisions of my life to step down and take on a new challenge.
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Paul Tolentino for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to be part of the coaching staff. That trust changed my life and I will always be thankful.
Kaya means so much to me. The experiences I have gained here are truly priceless and this club will always be my family. There were good times and difficult moments but we went through everything together and grew stronger over these seven years.
To the players, staff, supporters, fans and everyone involved, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. Your passion, your sacrifices, and your unwavering belief meant everything to me. It was an honor to fight alongside you, and I will never forget what we shared together.
I leave with great pride and unforgettable memories and I will carry everything I have learned here into my next challenge. I will always be a big supporter of Kaya and I hope to continue learning and growing so that one day I can return to this club again.
Maraming, maraming salamat po. Una Kaya!”
Everyone at Kaya FC–Iloilo wishes Coach Yu the very best for the future, and he will always be welcome here and part of the Kaya family.
