Pellerud named new Canadian coach

The Canadian Soccer Association today announced the hiring of its new National Women’s Team Coach. Mr. Even Pellerud, 46 years of age of Oslo, Norway, has signed a 5 year contract through to the conclusion of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Recognised as one of the World’s foremost Coaches in Women’s Soccer, Pellerud was head coach of the Norwegian National Women’s Team from 1989 to 1996, leading the Scandinavian country to a silver medal at the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in China in 1991, losing to the USA in a hard fought final and then achieving worldwide acclaim as Champions of the Second FIFA Women’s World Cup 4 years later in Sweden in 1995.



“I am excited to come to Canada and take full charge of the entire Women’s Team program,” stated Pellerud from Oslo. “I believe we have many talented players and it is my hope that I will be able, over the next five years, to get the team playing to its true potential and qualify for both the 2003 FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games in Athens the following year.”



Pellerud is currently retained as a Technical Advisor to one of Norway’s top Clubs in the Norwegian Men’s Premiere League, FC Valerengen in Oslo. He will finish his contract by the end of the month, come to Canada in November for 2 weeks to work with Canada’s U-18 Women’s Team at an international tournament in Tuscon, Arizona along with attending various business meetings of the Association as well.



“We are delighted to attract to Canada one of the most famous and successful Coaches in the world of Women’s soccer,” claimed Jim Fleming, CSA President. “Mr. Even Pellerud knows what it takes to succeed and how to plan for success, having achieved silver and gold medals at the World Cup, silver and gold medals at the European Championships along with a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in 1996 in Atlanta. We are certain he will be a key component in our plans to build an exciting National Team over the next 5 years, achieving the goal we have set to be one of the top eight countries in the world.”



A top licensed coach with the Norwegian Football Federation, Pellerud has been coaching in the Norwegian and Danish men’s Premiere Leagues since his departure from the NFF following the Olympics in 1996. He has also been working with the Norwegian Olympic Committee as well in a consulting capacity. A former professional player in Norway, he enjoyed a lengthy playing career, lasting 14 seasons from 1973 to 1986 while also graduating from the Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education, possessing a teacher’s license.



Pellerud, and his wife, Anne, will relocate to Canada with their twin 3 year old daughters in early January. He will work out of the CSA’s office in Vaughan at the Ontario Soccer Centre, reporting to National Coach/Technical Director Holger Osieck. The hiring of Pellerud brings to a close an intense search process. The Association received more than 40 applications from throughout North America and Western Europe for the position and, in the end, was successful in securing its number one choice it identified through its worldwide search campaign.

In 2000, Pellerud will have an intense program to work with. Already confirmed on the agenda, following the youth tournament in Tuscon next month, are full National Senior team camps in February/March followed by the first edition of the biennial Pacific Cup in Australia, June 1-11 involving the National squads of USA, Australia, China, Japan, Canada and others. (Canada will host the 2002 edition.) The inaugural CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup tentatively set for August will yield another 4-5 international ‘A’ matches. International tours with both the U-19 and U-17 squads along with commencing an intense nationwide scouting program will fill out 2000.



The Association has also initiated formal discussions with the hosts of the prestigious Algarve Cup held every March in Portugal involving the very best Nations in Women’s Football such as USA, China, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and others. It is the hope of the Association that CSA will be granted a permanent entry into this annual event in the weeks to come and has fully budgeted for this occurrence.



Finally, the Association is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with US Soccer for an annual exchange beginning in 2001 with both the full Senior National Women’s Teams and the National U-20 Women’s Teams as well. This will be a home/away series, July 1 in Canada and July 4 in USA with doubleheaders set to occur on each countries’ national holiday.