Ahead of its inaugural 2019 Canadian Premier League season, Vancouver Island’s Pacific FC has named former Denmark international Michael Silberbauer as head coach.
Taking the helm of the new island team, Silberbauer brings a long list of coaching and playing experience.
Formerly Swiss side FC Luzern’s and FC Biel-Bienne’s assistant coach Silberbauer also has a long resume as a player, which management said made him a first choice candidate.
“Michael has Danish national team experience playing in the European Championship, Champions League experiences playing, and now coaching four years in one of the top leagues in Europe,” said Rob Friend, CEO Pacific FC.
“That sort of experience, to us, was exactly what we were looking for to bring to Canada, to bring a different flavour, and also for young coaches to develop under.”
For Silberbauer, the Canadian Premier League is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“To have the opportunity to work alongside club owner, Dean Shillington, Josh Simpson and Rob Friend in building a football club from the ground up is unique,” said Silberbauer.
“It’s something you take very seriously. We want to get it right and move in the right direction all the time at the right tempo. We want to make sure we get it right.”
Silberbauer will also be joined by assistant coach James Merriman, who has lots of experience with the Vancouver Whitecaps U-15 team, and the SFU men’s soccer NCAA Division II program.
“He understands the Canadian mentality, the Canadian game, and he’s got a great network, so it really balances out, ”said Simpson.
The Pacific FC will be playing out of Langford in the redesigned 6,500-seat Westhills Stadium, and the club’s first-ever roster will be built over the next few weeks ahead of the league’s kick off in April of 2019.
CHEK News
