Stephan Markus Cabizares Schröck[2] (German: [ˈʃʁøːk]; born 21 August 1986)[2] is a football coach and former player who played as an attacking midfielder or winger.

He joined Filipino club Ceres (later United City) on loan in 2016, with a permanent transfer taking place the following season.

Schröck helped Ceres/United City win four consecutive Philippines Football League titles from 2017 to 2020, and received the Golden Ball award in the last two seasons.

[5] Schröck started at Greuther Fürth in 2001, going through the junior teams and made the leap into the professional squad in the 2004–05 season.

[citation needed] He also wanted to reach the Bundesliga with the club and believed it would be an achievable target before his contract expired.

[citation needed] In the 2011–12 season, his final year at the club, he helped the team win the league title and gain promotion to the Bundesliga.

[11] He made his debut against champions Bayern Munich and received a yellow card after a foul on Franck Ribéry.

Schröck wanted to play as an attacking midfielder instead of a right back; however, the position was contested among other players of the club such as Sebastian Freis.

[17] On 13 January 2016, United Football League side Ceres announced that they signed Schröck to play for the club on a loan basis at least until August.

Ceres coach Ali Go remarked that the club was still exploring what position is the best for Schröck adding that with a few more games, the footballer would get used to the Philippine and Asian-style of play.

[25] On 28 July 2020, it was announced that Schröck would remain in the newly renamed club and was also designated captain and playing assistant coach.

[26] Due to logistical issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-2020, Schröck was left stranded in Germany where he joined TV Königsberg, a lower division club, as a guest player in order to maintain his fitness.

[33] A veteran among the roster filled with prospect national team players, Schröck was named captain of the club.

[40] Schröck was born to a German father and a Filipina mother, making him eligible to represent Germany or the Philippines at the international level.

[citation needed] Under previous FIFA statutes, Schröck could have switched to the Philippines until his 21st birthday but he did not take that option, neither was he called up during this time.

In July 2010, Schröck announced his intention to play for the Philippines in the 2010 AFF Championship qualification tournament in Laos,[citation needed] but was ultimately left out of the squad as his documents had not been processed in time.

[47] However, he received another yellow card and was suspended along with team captain Alexander Borromeo for the first leg of the second round qualifiers against Kuwait.

[51] He would score the opening goal from 25 yards deep into the first half injury time, but it was not enough to help the Philippines make a comeback as they eventually lost 2–1.

[52] Schröck scored his second international goal less than a minute into the second half of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifier against Cambodia.

It was scored from a far away free kick; the ball was meant to be head-butted in but no player reached it—and to the goalie's surprise—it bounced and made it into the back of the net.

[citation needed] After the AFC Asian Cup, Schröck expressed his intention to retire from the national team, citing his age and plans to focus on his family and club career.