Association appoints Stephen Hart as interim head coach

The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that technical director Stephen Hart will assume, on an interim basis, the head coaching responsibilities for the men’s senior national team for the duration of the 2009 season. Mr. Hart will lead Canada at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer, starting with the international friendly match in Larnaca against Cyprus on 30 May.



“We are very happy to have Mr. Hart in this role for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup,” said Canadian Soccer Association President Dr. Dominic Maestracci.



Canada’s 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup schedule opens 3 July against Jamaica in Los Angeles, CA. Canada then faces El Salvador on 7 July in Columbus, OH and Costa Rica on 10 July in Miami, FL. There are three groups of four teams, so eight of the 12 teams will advance to the quarter-final stage in Philadelphia, PA (18 July) and Dallas, TX (19 July). The tournament then moves to Chicago, IL for the semi-final on 23 July and New York, NY for the championship final on 26 July.



“The task in hand will be to lead Canada at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup,” said Canadian Soccer Association Technical Director Stephen Hart.



Mr. Hart was named the Canadian Soccer Association’s Technical Director in March 2008. He heads the Association’s long-term player development plan, specifically the Wellness to World Cup campaign. He is also in charge of directing and monitoring the national development teams, the coaching education program, the National Training Centres, and the sports medicine program. With the national teams, he has most recently served as an assistant coach with the men’s national team. Two years ago as the team’s interim head coach, he led Canada to a semi-final finish at the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.