Ian Bridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ian Christopher Bridge (born 18 September 1959 in Victoria) is a former member of the Canada men's national soccer team and current head coach of the national women's Under-20 national team.
A defender, Bridge played 33 times in 'A' internationals for Canada from 1981 to 1991. He played all three of Canada's games at the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals, the country's only appearance at a World Cup finals. Bridge also played for Canada at the 1984 Olympics and at the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship. He scored a goal in the first two 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying games that he played in and netted five for his career 33 'A' appearances.
Bridge began his pro career in 1977 and played in the NASL with the Seattle Sounders from 1979 to 1983 and with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 1984, and MISL indoor soccer with the Tacoma Stars. Over 6 NASL seasons he played 124 games and scored 13 goals. Following the demise of the NASL Bridge played for Swiss club FC La Chaux-de-Fonds for two seasons when the club was in the Swiss league first division. Later in the Canadian Soccer League, he played for the Victoria Vistas (1990), Kitchener Kickers (1991), and North York Rockets (1991).
Bridge was head coach of the University of Victoria women's soccer team from 1990 to 2000. He became assistant coach of Canada women's national soccer team in 1997, a position he still has. He became U-19 national women's coach and chief national team assistant coach in March 2001. (The national youth women's team has since become U-20.)
Bridge was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.
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