Soccer, Builder, 2015 |
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Soccer in Canada has benefited greatly from the skills and dedication of Coquitlam’s Les Wilson.
Born in Manchester, England, Wilson arrived in Canada at the age of six and developed a talent and passion for the sport in the Lower Mainland. An accomplished pro player, it was as a coach and manager where Wilson helped put Canada on the soccer map.
As manager of the Canadian national team he played an integral role in major international accomplishments for the men’s side, including in 1984 with the Olympic team and 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, and the women at the 1999 World Cup.
He was on board when Canada shocked the soccer world with a victory at the 2000 CONCACAF championships. Wilson would also play instrumental roles, including as an owner, with the Vancouver 86ers, which won four Canadian Soccer League titles from 1986 to 1994, and the Vancouver Whitecaps, as both player and manager.
His involvement also saw him provide his energies at the grassroots level. Wilson has been inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame a total of six times, including originally in the builder’s category, and with various teams.