McGill grad named coach of Canadian U-20 soccer squad
Ìý
(FILE PHOTO BY GARY RUSH: Valerio Gazzola, then head coach of the Montreal Impact, presents Game MVP honours to McGill's Mayer Yehia, who tallied the game-winner in the 1996 QSSF soccer championship final)
Ìý
OTTAWA -- Valerio Gazzola, a former McGill player and coach, has been appointed by the Canadian Soccer Association as head coach of the Canadian men's under-20 team.
Ìý
Gazzola is a former all-star player with the Redmen from 1983 to 1988 and served as a co-captain with the team in 1986. He stayed on as an assistant coach with the Redmen, graduated with an education degree in 1991 and later served as head coach at McGill in 1993. He guided the Redmen to a 10-3-4 record and won Quebec conference coach-of-the-year honours that season, then stepped down to take over the coaching duties of the Montreal Impact, where he served two terms (1994 to 1997 and 2000 to 2001)
Ìý
In his first year with the Impact, Gazzola led them to North American Cup championship. Over the next three seasons, he guided Montreal to three straight first-place finishes.
Ìý
"It is an honour to be involved with the national program," Gazzola said in a statement. "I look forward to the challenge of helping this team qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup."
Ìý
Gazzola recently served as an assistant with the U-20 team, which placed fourth at the Francophone Games in Lebanon last year. He replaces Tony Fonseca, who was elevated to an assistant coaching position with the national team and head coach of the men's under-23 squad.
Ìý
Gazzola most recently served as technical director of ARS Laval, a position he held since 2007. He has also coached with Dollard, Monteuil and Lac St-Louis, in addition to numerous provincial all-star teams.
Ìý
Canada will participate in next year's CONCACAF U-20 championship. The tournament will serve as the qualification phase for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Ìý
-30-
Ìý
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation, Room 225 B
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
earl.zukerman [at] mcgill.ca
Ìý