The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that it has appointed Tony Fonseca to the men’s national staff coaching position. Mr. Fonseca’s coaching responsibilities in the technical and national-team area will include the men’s national youth teams up to the U-20 level, the national-training centres, scouting duties and the Association’s coaching development courses.
\u200b“We are very pleased that Mr. Fonseca has accepted the position to join our team,\u0094 said Canadian Soccer Association technical director Stephen Hart. \u0093Having had the opportunity to work with Tony on the Canadian senior team, I am well aware of his qualities, both on and off the field. I am confident that Tony will be influential within the Association’s coaching and player-development structure as we progress.”
\u200bMr. Fonseca most recently served as an advance scout with the national team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa\u0099 Qualifiers. He was previously an assistant coach with the national team, helping Canada reach the semi-final stage of the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In 2008 as an assistant coach with the U-23 team, he helped Canada finish third at the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournament.
\u200b“I am very honoured to be part of Canadian Soccer Association’s staff coaching under the guidance of Stephen Hart,\u0094 said Mr. Fonseca.
\u200bMr. Fonseca’s previous coaching experience includes eight years with the Vancouver Whitecaps, serving as an assistant coach (when the team was known as the 86ers), head coach, and technical director. As the Whitecaps’ technical director, he was responsible for the training and development of players in the clubs, academy and youth teams.
\u200bAs a player, Mr. Fonseca is a former Portugese international, having made seven appearances for the national team plus 33 for the youth team. At the professional level, he played for more than 15 seasons in Portugal, most notably four seasons with S.L. Benfica and seven seasons with C.F. Estrela da Amadora. He then completed his professional career at the turn of the century with the Vancouver 86ers.