VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the appointment of Gordon Forrest as head coach of the club’s U-18 Residency team, and as manager of coaching development.
Gordon Forrest – Whitecaps FC U-18 head coach & manager of coaching development
- UEFA ‘A’ Licence, Scottish Football Association Youth Licence, Scottish Football Association Advanced Children’s Licence
- Football Development Manager (Northern Football Federation) for New Zealand Football’s ‘Whole of Football’ plan
- Camp director for New Zealand Football National Talent Centre
- Assistant coach of New Zealand women’s national team at 2012 Olympic Summer Games
- Nearly 10 years in soccer development with the Scottish Football Association and New Zealand Football
- Former men’s First Team coach at Scottish Football League Second Division club East Fife F.C.
- 10 year professional playing career in Scotland and Iceland
“We are very excited to have Gordon on board to help steer the future of our Residency program,” said Whitecaps FC director of soccer development Dan Lenarduzzi. “Gordon has a terrific background in player and coaching development, including working with Canada’s current women’s national team head coach John Herdman, who at the time was New Zealand’s director of football development. We look forward to the Residency program benefitting from his expertise.”
In his role, Forrest will be responsible for coaching Whitecaps FC’s U-18 Residency and U-23 PDL squads, as well as managing the development of coaching staff in conjunction with head of high performance Stuart Neely. On the player side Forrest will focus on bringing both the first team and development environments together, ensuring high potential players are properly prepared technically, tactically, and mentally for a first team environment. On the coaching side Forrest will support the development of coaches in Whitecaps FC programs, Academy centres and partner clubs on Whitecaps FC’s development philosophy.
“I’m really excited about coming to an outstanding club that have a real vision and passion for developing young players,” said Forrest. “The club are making big strides in this area and I’m looking forward to becoming part of the coaching team that will continue to drive this program forward.”
Most recently, the 35-year-old served as football development manager for the Northern Football Federation, which saw him manage a football development team that was tasked in delivering New Zealand Football’s ‘Whole of Football’ plan – a national development structure designed to benefit soccer participants at all levels throughout the country.
This past summer, Forrest served as assistant coach with the New Zealand women’s national team that made it to the quarterfinal stage of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games before losing to eventual gold medallists, the United States.
Forrest has been involved in soccer development for nearly 10 years working with the Scottish Football Association and New Zealand Football. During this time Forrest has been involved in the planning, organization, and implementation of a number of different programs and initiatives, including working with talented players on long term player development pathways. Additionally, he has also delivered a number of coach education courses and coach mentoring programs.
Before moving into soccer development, Forrest had a 10 year professional soccer career in which he played for Raith Rovers FC (Scotland), Livingston FC (Scotland), KS Leiftur (Iceland), East Fife FC (Scotland), and Berwick Rangers FC (Scotland).
Throughout his professional playing career, Forrest has held coaching positions at all of the clubs he has played for, ranging from youth team level to first team coaching – including the role of First Team coach of East Fife FC in the Scottish Second Division.
Forrest’s coaching credentials include a UEFA ‘A’ Licence, Scottish Football Association Youth Licence, and Scottish Football Association Advanced Children’s Licence.
