While the Canadian Premier League (CPL) announced it will be bringing the first professional soccer team to Langford last month, the next question was who would lead the team as head coach?
Pacific FC has found the answer in Michael Silberbauer, who was named head coach of the Langford-based team Monday.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great. ItB次元官网网址檚 unique whatB次元官网网址檚 happening here right now. ItB次元官网网址檚 a big thing getting your own league in a country of this size. ThereB次元官网网址檚 so much potential here,B次元官网网址� Silberbauer said.
B次元官网网址淭his is a huge opportunity to make something really great with young kids who are willing to learn and are motivated to make a dream come true.B次元官网网址�
Silberbauer has been involved in professional football for more than 20 years. Originally from Denmark, he signed his first professional contract when he was a teenager and carried on to have a successful career, playing for the Danish national team and participating in the 2012 Euros. HeB次元官网网址檚 played numerous positions over the years including striker and mid-field, left and right winger, and defensive mid-fielder.
Pacific FC announces Michael Silberbauer as the teamB次元官网网址檚 first head coach.
B次元官网网址� Kendra Wong (@Kendraewong)
Most recently, he was an assistant with the Swiss Super League Club FC Luzern.
B次元官网网址淲e wanted to find someone who could develop a technical foundation to support the growth of the game in the region. Someone with international experience, a global perspective, but also someone who is passionate about growing the game locally in the community,B次元官网网址� Pacific FC CEO Rob Friend said about hiring Silberbauer.
RELATED: Launch part for Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 new soccer team a success
While Silberbauer had other offers on the table, he chose the West Shore team because of the chance to build a club, including the players and fans, from the ground up.
B次元官网网址淭he biggest factor was being a part of building something and giving kids a chance, thatB次元官网网址檚 something that speaks to my heart,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧eople [in Langford] have been very friendly and the city is very nice. I have a really good feeling about it.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE: $4 million cost to move hydro pole holding up Langford stadium expansion
Despite flying into town last Friday, heB次元官网网址檚 showing no signs of slowing now. Silberbauer and Pacific FC upper management have already started putting together a player profile to determine the types of players theyB次元官网网址檇 like to see on the team.
They will start by looking at the roughly 100 Canadian players who are currently playing overseas, before scouting some foreign talent as well.
From there, Silberbauer will focus on getting to know players and building relationships with them B次元官网网址� something he believes is key to a strong team.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking for dynamic players. The most important thing is building that relationship with everybody,B次元官网网址� Silberbauer said.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a true believer in hard work and weB次元官网网址檒l take it from there. If we get the team spirit right, weB次元官网网址檒l be better than most.B次元官网网址�
The team also named the IslandB次元官网网址檚 own James Merriman as assistant coach.
Merriman oversees the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-15 residency team, which feeds into the U-17 and U-19 residency teams.
Pacific FC is one of the inaugural teams in the CPL alongside Hamilton, Winnipeg, York, Halifax, Edmonton, Ottawa and Calgary.
The season kicks off next April with home games taking place at the soon-to-be-expanded Westhills Stadium.
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