Michael Silberbauer, capped 25 times for Denmark including at Euro 2012, sees sa国际传媒 as a land of untapped potential for soccer.
He will begin tapping it as the first head coach of Pacific FC, the Island-based charter franchise in the new pro Canadian Premier League.
鈥淭his is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,鈥� said the 37-year-old Dane.
He was referring to the chance to start a new franchise in a new league in the only developed country without a national professional soccer league.
鈥淚 see a nation with so much unfulfilled football talent and so much potential,鈥� said Silberbauer, who was announced Monday at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
鈥淚鈥檓 beyond excited. This is unique. I want to become the coach to fulfill the dreams of those young Canadian players.鈥�
The CPL鈥檚 stated aim is to develop pro Canadian soccer talent.
鈥淚n terms of raw numbers, there are three times the number of Canadian players as Danish players. We believe we can develop that talent to where sa国际传媒 not only qualifies for the World Cup but can compete in the World Cup,鈥� Silberbauer said.
Silberbauer lived out his pro ambitions as a central midfielder in the top leagues of Denmark, Netherlands and Switzerland with FC Copenhagen, FC Utrecht and BSC Young Boys and has played Champions League and UEFA Cup matches. His highest market value was $3.3 million Cdn. with FC Utrecht in 2010.
The native of Stovring made his senior international debut for Denmark in 2002 against Scotland. He was a controversial omission from the 2010 Danish World Cup team but was named to the team for the 2012 Euros.
Pacific FC president and Victoria-raised Josh Simpson, capped 43 times for sa国际传媒, met Silberbauer when the two played together in Switzerland on BSC Young Boys.
鈥淢ichael Silberbauer鈥檚 knowledge is just going to pour out,鈥� said Simpson.
鈥淗e is getting his UEFA pro license, which is like the PhD of coaching.鈥�
Simpson said he didn鈥檛 think he could land Silberbauer: 鈥淲e鈥檝e had literally hundreds of resumes come in, nationally and internationally, but I didn鈥檛 think Michael was attainable. So I just put the offer out there to him.鈥�
Silberbauer is currently top assistant coach at FC Lucerne in the top Swiss league and is contracted there through the calendar year. The Dane takes over the Pacific FC helm on Jan. 1 and will be moving to the Island with his girlfriend Anne Sofie and their two-year-old daughter Molly. Terms of the two-year contracted were not disclosed.
鈥淚 am not here for a holiday. I am here to work,鈥� said Silberbauer, who is fluent in Danish, English, Dutch and German.
He said he doesn鈥檛 pattern his coaching after any particular famous coach or any of the mentors he had as a player.
鈥淛ust be yourself,鈥� Silberbauer said.
鈥淗onesty and authenticity are key factors in coaching. You are always learning in sports. That鈥檚 a lifetime thing.鈥�
Silberbauer said Pacific FC will play 鈥渄ynamic and fast鈥� soccer but did not spend a lot of time discussing tactics during his whirlwind weekend in Victoria.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about building relationships with the players and about getting those personal values right,鈥� he said.
Silberbauer is the first non-Canadian CPL head coach announced so far among a group that includes former national team head coach Stephan Hart of HFX Wanderers of Halifax, former Canadian U-20 coach Rob Gale of Winnipeg鈥檚 Valour FC, Tommy Wheeldon Jr. of Calgary鈥檚 Cavalry FC and Canadian Soccer Hall of Famer Jimmy Brennan of York 9 from the Greater Toronto Area.
鈥淸Silverbauer] brings a different flavour and checks all the boxes anybody would want as we look to develop Canadian talent,鈥� said Pacific FC executive-director Rob Friend, who had 32 caps for sa国际传媒, and a pro career in Germany in the Bundesliga.
Pacific FC also announced Monday that James Merriman of Nanaimo will serve as Silberbauer鈥檚 assistant coach. Merriman oversaw the MLS Vancouver Whitecaps鈥� U-15 residency team and has a good handle on upcoming sa国际传媒 talent. As a player, Merriman played NCAA Div. 1 soccer for the University of Denver and later for the reserves of the MLS Colorado Rapids and in the Premier Development League for the Victoria Highlanders.
鈥渟a国际传媒 and the Island has tons of potential that we are looking to develop,鈥� said Merriman.
The inaugural CPL season will begin next spring.
