Birarda named Canadian U-20 head coach
The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Bob Birarda has been named Canada’s women’s U-20 youth head coach. Birarda will be in charge of Canada’s efforts at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship and hopefully the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
‘It is exciting to think about getting the players together and evaluating where we are after such a long time away from each other,’ says Birarda. ‘This group of players has some great qualities. We are looking forward to building a team that can first qualify for Chile 2008 and then challenge for a world championship.’
Birarda had been serving as an assistant coach with Canada’s women’s national senior team under head coach Even Pellerud. He had also been an assistant coach with the women’s youth team under coach Ian Bridge (who is now with the senior team). Birarda also serves as head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps women’s team, recently guiding them to a W-League championship in 2006.
To qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008, Canada – whose title sponsor is Winners – will need to finish amongst the top-three teams in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship. The tournament will feature players born in 1988 or later. Canada has qualified for every FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since its inauguration in 2002 (then known as the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship).
While Canada did not have to qualify within their confederation as FIFA hosts in 2002, they came away with a silver medal at the world event. In 2004, Canada hosted the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship in Montréal, QC and Ottawa, ON and came away as champions after a 2:1 a.e.t victory over the United States. In 2006, Canada finished second in their confederation after a 2:3 loss to the United States in Veracruz, México.
‘I certainly believe that there will be several future World Cup (senior) team players that emerge from this pool,’ says Birarda of the 1988 players. ‘It is fantastic that those players’ development can continue next year through the exciting challenge of CONCACAF and FIFA events.’
As for Birarda’s coaching career, he has also been the head coach of the Canadian U-15, U-16, U-18 and Olympic development national teams over the past three years. In April, he helped the Canadian development team finish first at the 2007 International Soccer Festival in Alabama.
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