Canadian soccer fans have often lamented the fact that so few Canadian coaches have been given opportunities at the helm of Canada’s professional clubs. With that in mind, the professional team that is considered to be the most quintessentially Canadian in the country made a positive step today to rectify that perceived injustice by hiring one of the most qualified and experienced coaches in the country.

FC Edmonton announced the hiring of former Vancouver Whitecaps assistant coach Colin Miller as the club’s latest head coach today at the Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre.

Miller replaces Harry Sinkgraven as the bench boss after a disappointing season which saw the club finish in last place in the North American Soccer League standings. The hiring of the Miller, a member of the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, certainly looks like a positive sign for those in the Canadian soccer community who would like to see the Canadian professional clubs taking a lead in the development of Canadian players and in fostering a Canadian identity for the sport at the highest professional levels.

“I’m looking forward to introducing a new type of soccer into the City of Edmonton,” said Miller after his formal introduction at the press conference on Wednesday. “Something that’s exciting to watch, something that will bring the team good results and something that supporters can be proud of.”

Born in Scotland in 1964, Miller became the youngest player to play in the then-NASL when he was drafted by the Toronto Blizzard as a 17-year-old.

By the time he was 20, Miller was making his debut for the Canadian Men’s National Team while signing for Glasgow Rangers back in Scotland.

Miller played professionally for 18 years before moving on to the full time coaching ranks. His coaching career is highlighted by positions with both the Men’s and Women’s Canadian National Teams, first team coach at Derby County Football Club in the English Premier League and most recently, assistant coach for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

“We pride ourselves on developing Canadian talent, and giving Canadian players the chance to become professional. It’s time we help develop our Canadian coaches. We are happy to have Colin be a part of our team,” says FC Edmonton owner Tom Fath.

As a manager who is well connected in the Canadian soccer community and who has considerable connections to power brokers in Major League Soccer and with the Canadian National Team program, the hiring of Colin Miller looks like a very positive step for both the evolution of FC Edmonton as a club and for Canadian soccer as a whole.