Vancouver Whitecaps FC are mourning the passing of long-time trainer Luigi "Lou" Moro this week. He was 91.
Born in Savona, Italy, on April 26, 1918, Moro immigrated with his family to Trail, BC, as an 11-year-old in 1929. His first sporting experience was playing in goal for a junior lacrosse team in the late 1930's before cutting his teeth as a trainer with the Canadian Navy's hockey and lacrosse teams during World War II.
For nearly half a century, Moro became one of the most respected trainers in the sports of lacrosse and soccer in British Columbia and Canada. He was the Whitecaps trainer for three seasons in the North American Soccer League and continued to work with the club through the Canadian Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League years until the mid-1990's.
Before joining the Whitecaps, Moro accompanied the Canadian national team on their tour of England, Scotland, and Russia in 1960. He was also the trainer for Canada's national side during their qualifying campaigns for both the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Yet, Moro's long career as a trainer was not restricted to just the top levels of sport, as he always made time to volunteer his expertise for countless youth lacrosse and soccer teams.
Moro's efforts earned him the Aubrey Sanford BC Soccer Achievement Award in 1973, and induction into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1975, the Italian-Canadian Cultural Hall of Fame in 1984, the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1995, and the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum in 2000.
