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Lenarduzzi quits national team
As expected, Lenarduzzi quit as head coach of the national program and immediately accepted the general manager's position with the Vancouver 86ers of the semipro A-League.
His resignation caps a horrible year for Canada's soccer team, which went 1-6-3 in the final round of qualifying for next year's World Cup and rarely looked competitive.
"There's huge disappointment," said Lenarduzzi, the only Canadian to coach the national team. "Not with anyone or anything.
"The sport lifts you up and brings you back down just as quickly. There are peaks and valleys and I'm hoping this will turn into a peak."
Kevan Pipe, chief operating officer of the Canadian Soccer Association, will scour international coaching ranks for a replacement to lead Canada's 2002 World Cup qualifying team.
"I think we all still believe the talent is still there," Pipe said. "We had a black cloud follow us in '97."
Lenarduzzi, 42, coached the World Cup and Olympic qualifying teams for five years without reaching his goals.
He was a proven winner the last time he managed and coached the 86ers in the former Canadian Soccer League. Vancouver won four straight championships from 1987 to '90, setting the stage for his promotion to the national team.
Pipe did not criticize Lenarduzzi's work with the national team, which sank to No. 63 in the most recent world rankings from No. 40 at the end of 1996.
"Bobby made the decision to resign and we wish him the best of luck," Pipe said from Ottawa.
"We will conduct a world-wide search for another coach, but if there's somebody in Canada who feels they can fill the bill, then we'd be pleased to receive that application."
The Vancouver-born Lenarduzzi played for the Whitecaps in 1979 when they won the North American Soccer League championship. Later he was a starting fullback on Canada's only World Cup team in 1986.
"I want to help restructure the game," Lenarduzzi said, adding soccer in Canada is "really not accepted by the mainstream.
"Lots of kids playing, lots of participants ... but they really don't understand the sport. It's not ingrained in the fabric of our culture. Tradition is what establishes a sport."
Lenarduzzi cited several areas that hurt Canada in its fruitless attempt to qualify for the World Cup in France:
-- The occasional unavailability of European-based players like Paul Peschisolido because of pressure from their club teams.
-- Controversy created by player Fernando Aguiar speaking out against coaching decisions.
-- Problems coping with the difficult qualifying schedule and the speed of teams like the United States.
-- Not making proper coaching adjustments.
"I chose not to blame others," Lenarduzzi said. "I'm accountable."
Pipe said the CSA can't afford a million-dollar coaching contract for Lenarduzzi's replacement, but there will be an "attractive package for a first-class, qualified individual."
Lenarduzzi has a one-year contract with the 86ers because that's how long new owner David Braley has given the team to get its finances in order.
The 86ers will use the same marketing and promotional staff as the B.C. Lions of the CFL, also owned by Braley.
Carl Valentine, 86ers coach and director of soccer operations, will work alongside Lenarduzzi, once his teammate on the 86ers and national teams.
Lenarduzzi said his priorities with the 86ers were to improve the bottom line, win a championship and retain a strong local talent base.
The A-League has three Canadian teams -- Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto -- among 28 franchises. The league operates a division below Major League Soccer in the United States.
Position: general manager.
Ownership: David Braley of Hamilton.
President: Glen Ringdal.
Head coach: Carl Valentine.
Background: Lenarduzzi was GM-coach of 86ers from 1987 to '92.
Objective: put franchise on break-even financial ground.
Quote: "We need to be a part of the soccer growth that's taking place in the United States." -- Lenarduzzi.
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