Andrew Olivieri appointed Men’s National Youth Excel Director

Canada Soccer have appointed Andrew Olivieri as the Men’s National Youth Excel Director to oversee Canada Soccer’s Men’s Youth National Teams, the Men’s Regional EXCEL Program, the Men’s National EXCEL-PRO Integration Program, and upcoming participation in Concacaf and FIFA tournaments at the U-20, U-17 and U-15 levels. Olivieri will lead the revitalization of the Men’s Youth National Teams with the restart of Concacaf and FIFA competitions coming out of the global pandemic.
 
Olivieri, who previously served as Men’s EXCEL U-14 to U-17 Program Director, takes over the Men’s National Youth Excel Program from John Herdman, who is focused solely on Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team including qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. Eric Tenllado will transition roles to focus solely as a Men’s National Team Assistant Coach while Mauro Biello will continue to work across both the Men’s National Team and Men’s Youth EXCEL Program.
 
This summer, Canada will participate in the Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship, which serves as the region’s qualification route to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Indonesia 2023. The competition will feature players born 2003 or later, with only four Concacaf nations to advance to the FIFA youth tournament. Also within the next year, Canada will begin preparing for the next Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship (on the road to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2023) and the Concacaf Men’s Under-15 Championship.

 CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAMS
Canada Soccer’s Men’s EXCEL Program channels our nation’s exceptional players into the best soccer environments. The Canada Soccer Pathway works in collaboration with our provincial and territory partners as well as the professional clubs and academies. For Canada’s elite players, the program emphasizes player development on the pathway to representing Canada’s Men’s National Team in international soccer.
 
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Youth Teams have won two CONCACAF titles: both the 1986 and 1996 CONCACAF Men’s Youth Championships. Canada have now qualified for 15 FIFA men’s youth tournaments: eight editions of the FIFA U-20 World Cup and seven editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Canada most recently qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019.