Mike Vitulano joins Canada Soccer as Men’s Regional Excel Director

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Program has added Mike Vitulano as the Men’s Regional Excel Director. Mr. Vitulano will be responsible for leading the pathway of talented players from the Regional Excel (REX) to Canada Soccer’s National Excel Program. He will work closely with Canada Soccer’s provincial and territorial member associations as well as other player developers across the country.

Mr. Vitulano will also work in conjunction with Canada Soccer’s Development Department to align initiatives in coaching education and National Club Licensing initiatives. He will also support Youth National Teams activities and the Pro Club-NEX integration activities.

Mr. Vitulano joins Canada Soccer from Soccer Québec where he served as the Director of Development. He has tremendous experience leading both regional and provincial member associations and has been a leader in coach education. He also has experience working with Canada Soccer’s National Excel Program and served as an assistant coach at several Concacaf youth championships as well as the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019.

CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team are three-time Concacaf champions, previously winning the 1985 Concacaf Championship, 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup, and 2021-22 Concacaf Qualifiers. Canada most recently qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and have previously featured at the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Games, the 1986 FIFA World Cup, and the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. 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 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, which was the last FIFA men’s youth competition before the global pandemic.