OTTAWA — Former national team player Paul Stalteri will serve as head coach of the Canadian men’s under-17 team for the upcoming cycle of CONCACAF and FIFA competitions.
The 38-year-old Toronto native has been a coach with Canada Soccer’s national youth program since 2013. He also served as an assistant coach at last January’s CONCACAF men’s U-20 championship.
"I am pleased to announce that Paul Stalteri has been appointed our U-17 coach," Canada Soccer’s technical director Tony Fonseca said Thursday in a release. "Paul has served as one of our U-15 coaches over the past three years and has played an integral role in connecting with our Canadian MLS/NASL academy partners and local technical directors from provinces and territories."
Former U-17 coach Sean Fleming, who helped Canada reach the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2011 and 2013, will move into Canada Soccer’s coach education department.
Stalteri, who played at the club level in Canada, Germany and England, participated in three cycles of World Cup qualifiers and five editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also played for Canada at the U-17 World Cup in 1993 and the U-20 World Cup in 1997.
"Having represented Canada with great pride and passion at all levels of competition as a player, I am now truly honoured to continue my commitment to Canada Soccer and lead the U-17s as the new coach," Stalteri said. "It will take dedication, commitment, hard work, and attention to detail from every player and staff member to ultimately reach our goal of qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017."