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Posted by
Steve Bottjer,
March 20, 2013 |
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Email Steve Bottjer
Twitter @BottjerRNO |
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The most capped player in the history of the Canadian Men’s National Team announced his retirement today. Former national team captain Paul Stalteri spoke with members of the national media via conference call today to make the announcement.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to officially announce my retirement from professional football. I’d like to first thank the CSA for coordinating this announcement. Being able to play for and captain Canada was an honour and the highlight of my career. I’d like to thank the CSA for all of their continued support over the years. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the fans and to show my appreciation and gratitude for all of the years of support they have given me,” Stalteri said.
Related: The First 90: Paul Stalteri
“My coaches and teammates throughout my developmental years all the way to the professional level have all played an important role in my success. I was fortunate throughout my career to have played with some world class players and I was able to obtain a wealth of knowledge from them every day. The friendships I have gained through soccer have given me memories that will last a lifetime. Finally, I would like to thank all of my family and friends for their unbelievable support and dedication throughout my entire career.”
After a stellar career at both the club and International levels, the 35 year old defender/midfielder leaves behind a legacy that few Canadian players can match.
At the International level, Stalteri made his national team debut on August 17th, 1997 in a friendly against Iran and over 14 years as a key part of the national team he went on to represent his country a record 84 times. His final appearance for the national team occurred in October 2010 in a match against the Ukraine.
The Etobicoke, Ontario native had the privilege of captaining Canada on 30 occasions from 2007 to 2011 and was named Canadian Player of the Year in both 2001 and 2004. Stalteri was also part of the national team squad that won the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
When asked about the current state of the Canadian National Team, Stalteri spoke with both optimism and realism.
“I think the program itself and the association has never been in a stronger situation off the pitch. To be honest, I think it is being very well run and Peter Montopoli and the President Victor Montagliani are doing a fantastic job. They have the Women’s World Cup coming up. I’m very disappointed that the boys are only playing a friendly this weekend and not a World Cup qualifier. We were in a fantastic situation going into that game (against Honduras) and who knows, one ball bounces one way or another before that game started and we could have found ourselves in one of those qualifying games right now. I think we have keep things in perspective in terms of where we are as a country and also in terms of where we are headed.”
See also: RedNation Interview Series - Paul Stalteri
At the club level, Stalteri began his playing career in Canada with the Toronto Lynx in the former A-League before moving to Europe where he broke through at the highest levels of the game and played for German clubs Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Tottenham and Fulham in the English Premiership.
Stalteri was an integral part of the Werder Bremen side that recorded a memorable ‘double’ in 2003/2004 – winning both the Bundesliga Championship and Germany’s DFB-Pokal Cup. He remains the only Canadian player to have earned a Bundesgliga winner’s medal.
“Definitely the high point (of my club career) was the success with Werder Bremen, winning the Championship and the Cup in the same year. Being the first team in the club’s history to win the double and being part of a fantastic team at that moment,“ Stalteri said.
In terms of the next stage of his life, Stalteri spoke of a desire to continue to be part of Canadian soccer and to contribute to the growth of the game via the knowledge and experience he gained via a very successful career as a player.
“I’ve already begun that process in terms of some coaching that I am doing at the youth level right now. I have been on a coaching course run by CONCACAF, which the CSA sent me on in the fall of 2012. I had a great time there and I learned a lot of things as well. I will continue to work to obtain my coaching licenses. With the wealth of experience that I have obtained over the years, I will certainly bring something back to Canada in some aspect. What that is will remain to be seen. If that’s coaching or managing at some point, it is something that will be decided in the future,” Stalteri said.
“In the meantime, before I left Germany I was introduced to a fantastic soccer ball specially designed for children, which the Germans and Dutch have been using for over ten years now in their youth systems. I was so intrigued by the ball that I’ve actually been able to bring them to Canada. The company is called DERBYSTAR. I think the ball fits perfectly into Canada’s plans for long term player development. The Germans and Dutch have had it for years in their systems and it is starting to show what a fantastic tool it can be for kids. I’m just pleased that they will be available in Canada from now on.”
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