THE CANADIAN PRESS
The stability that had settled on the Canadian women’s soccer team was rocked Friday with the news popular head coach Carolina Morace plans to leave her job after this summer’s World Cup.
The news came as a surprise since Morace is respected by her players, and the team has thrived in the two years since the Italian was hired as coach.
No reason was given for her decision.
Kara Lang, a former national team player, said losing Morace will be devastating for the women’s program.
"I don’t think anybody has ever had the kind of impact that Carolina has had on this program," said Lang, who was forced to retire in January because of a knee injury. "To lose her would just be a huge blow.
"She’s the best thing that’s happened to women’s soccer in this country for years. She’s turned the team and the program around completely. It’s extremely unfortunate."
A spokesman for the Canadian Soccer Association confirmed Morace sent a letter to the organization informing officials of her pending departure. The CSA did not immediately make a person available for comment.
The news of Morace’s decision came in an email sent to media outlets.
"The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) has a strategy to achieve their goals that differs from my strategy," Morace said in the email. "I am proud of what my players have accomplished over this past year.
"I am staying to execute my plan over the next few months because my players have worked hard and deserve to be prepared in the best way possible for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany."
Morace wasn’t specific on why she was leaving.
"In respect of my contract with the CSA, I cannot answer any questions regarding this decision until the World Cup is over," she said.
Players were saddened by the news.
"Sad news for women’s soccer in Canada," veteran defender Candace Chapman said on Twitter. "So much progress under such little time …image the possibilities if Morace stayed."
Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe said the team still supports Morace.
"Very unfortunate for so much potential on the line but we support our coaches decision 100 per cent," Labbe tweeted.
In a brief statement, the CSA says it will "continue to support the women’s national team program to ensure its best possible opportunity for success at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 and beyond."
Ian Bridge, a former national team assistant coach, said the women’s program has always struggled for support from the CSA.
"You just feel like you are operating within a vacuum," said Bridge, who now coaches the Victoria Highlanders of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League.
"It’s a difficult environment to work in, especially when you are striving for excellence and competing against the best (teams) in the world that have more things going for them."
Lang said Morace had been battling with the CSA for a long time. One point of contention was the women receive no money from the association and live on $1,500 a month athlete’s funding from the federal government.
"This has been a problem with the Canadian Soccer Association for years," Lang said. "The fact nothing has changed is actually quite embarrassing."
Morace (pronounced mohr-AH-chee) was hired as coach in February of 2009. She replaced Even Pellerud, who stepped down after leading Canada to the quarter-finals of the Beijing Olympics.
A former player, who also is a qualified player in Italy, Morace took over a team ranked 11th in the world. Canada is currently ranked ninth.
She quickly changed the style the Canadian women played. Under Pellerud the team would send long balls to the forwards, setting up 50-50 battles with the opponent’s defenders.
Morace stressed possession — a continual flow of on-the-ground passing and moving.
For the players, it was like switching from drinking cheap wine to pricey champagne.
"She’s been tremendous for me," star striker Christine Sinclair said in September. "I’ve never been more confident. She’s brought in a style of play that I want to play, that I love to play, that I feel I’m comfortable playing and suits my game best.
"She’s just given a ton of confidence to the players, myself included."
Canada had an 11-game unbeaten streak snapped Jan. 23 when they lost to the United States at the Four Nations Cup in China.
Canada outscored the opposition 17-0 at the North and Central America and Caribbean championship in November to win the tournament with a 5-0 record and qualify for the World Cup.
"She just brings such an energy," goaltender Karina LeBlanc said of Morace last fall. "It’s contagious and you just want to be around it. Every day we come to the field and we love what we’re doing."
Lang doubts Morace’s pending departure will distract the women as they prepare for the World Cup. The team went through the same syndrome when Pellerud announced several months before the Olympics he would leave after the Games.
"In some respects it could bring the team together," said Lang. "I know the team supports Carolina 100 per cent.
"They trust what ever brought her to this decision, she is doing what she needs to do."
Morace, who turns 47 on Saturday, has a wealth of experience as a player and a coach. She scored 105 goals in 153 games with the Italian team and later served as captain and eventually head coach.
Canada opens the World Cup against two-time defending champion Germany on June 26 in Berlin. The tournament runs through July 17.