Nick Dasovic Back With Canada U20s

Canada announces U-20 coach and camp on road to Turkey 2013
The Canadian Soccer Association has named Nick Dasovic as coach of Canada’s Men’s U-20 team on the road to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013. Dasovic will start this month with a 10-day camp in Sunrise, FL, USA. The camp features 19 players born 1993 or later.

Coach Dasovic returns to the Canadian national youth program after having led Canada to a third-place finish at the 2008 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying tournament – just one win away from winning a spot at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Dasovic has since served as an assistant coach and head coach with Toronto FC, helping his side win a pair of Nutrilite Canadian Championships (2009 and 2010).

Late in 2010, he became Toronto FC’s fifth head coach.

“We are pleased to have Mr. Dasovic back in the fold of Canada’s national program,” said Tony Fonseca, the Canadian Soccer Association’s High Performance Director – Men’s. “We are confident that Nick’s knowledge and experience will help improve the players in their development towards the full national team.”

Dasovic is well versed in Canada’s national program, having made 63 appearances himself at the international “A” level from 1992 to 2004. He represented Canada in three cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and also represented Canada at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2001. He then represented Canada in a fourth cycle of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers as an assistant coach to the national team. He also served as an assistant coach with Canada’s U-20 team.

Canada’s U-20 camp this December features 19 players, 16 of whom have previous experience in a national youth camp. The players come from clubs in Canada, USA, France, Germany and Spain. Of note, a few players in Canada were not called in per their year-end programs with their clubs. Also of note, goalkeeper Ricky Gomes was unavailable because of injury.