Jim McDonald (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Jim McDonald is a former Canadian soccer defender
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
. He played four times for the Canadian national soccer team
and was a member of the
in 1973 and 1974. He played in four straight internationals for Canada in their back four - in 1973, on October 7 in a 2-0 away win over Luxemburg
; November 10 in a 1-5 away lose to and November 12 in a 1-0 away win over Haiti
both played in Port-au-Prince
; and on April 14, 1974 in a 0-0 away draw to Bermuda
in Hamilton
. He also played for the Canadian Pan American Games soccer team in Mexico and McDonald also earned 3 caps with the Canada U-20 men's national soccer team
at the 1973 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship
in Mexico.
, 1973 with the Toronto Metros. He also played three games for the Cleveland Force during the 1979-1980 Major Indoor Soccer League season. McDonald played for Toronto Hungaria, Toronto Macedonia and London City FC of the Canadian National Soccer League
.
In 2003 as a guest of Sir Alex Ferguson, McDonald was brought in to observe and discuss the Manchester United training sessions for the First Team, Reserve and Youth squads at the Carrington Training Center. In that same year, McDonald was also a guest of John Greig of the Glasgow Rangers to observe and discuss the training of their First Team, Reserve and Youth squads. The following year he also was a guest of the Glasgow Celtic for three weeks participating with the First Team, Reserve and Youth squads. He also observed Hibernian and Motherwell of the Scottish Premier League and Southampton of the English Premier League the following year. He was also hired by Terry Butcher from Motherwell as the North American scout.
In 2008 McDonald became the current director of coaching at a youth club in Bellair/Seminole, Florida
called Gulf Coast United Soccer Club.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He played four times for the Canadian national soccer team
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
and was a member of the
National team
McDonald earned four caps for the Canada men's national soccer teamCanada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in 1973 and 1974. He played in four straight internationals for Canada in their back four - in 1973, on October 7 in a 2-0 away win over Luxemburg
Luxembourg national football team
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team play most of their home matches at the Stade Josy Barthel, in Luxembourg.- History :...
; November 10 in a 1-5 away lose to and November 12 in a 1-0 away win over Haiti
Haiti national football team
The Haiti national football team represents Haiti in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football, the governing body for football in Haiti. Haiti's home ground is Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince and their head coach is Edson Tavares...
both played in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
; and on April 14, 1974 in a 0-0 away draw to Bermuda
Bermuda national football team
The Bermuda national football team is the national team of Bermuda and is controlled by the Bermuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is not among its strongest teams....
in Hamilton
Hamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.-Geography:...
. He also played for the Canadian Pan American Games soccer team in Mexico and McDonald also earned 3 caps with the Canada U-20 men's national soccer team
Canada U-20 men's national soccer team
Canada U-20 men's national soccer team, also known as Canada Under-20s or Canada U-20s, is the youth club for national soccer in Canada. It plays a large role in the development of Canadian soccer, and is considered to be the feeder team for the Canada men's national soccer team...
at the 1973 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship
CONCACAF Under-20 Championship
The CONCACAF Under-20 Championship is the second longest running international association football event in the North America, Central America and the Caribbean region, CONCACAF, and is the qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The format of the tournament has undergone changes...
in Mexico.
Professional
McDonald played one season in the North American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, 1973 with the Toronto Metros. He also played three games for the Cleveland Force during the 1979-1980 Major Indoor Soccer League season. McDonald played for Toronto Hungaria, Toronto Macedonia and London City FC of the Canadian National Soccer League
Canadian National Soccer League
The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...
.
Coach
After retiring as a player, McDonald entered into coaching. He became the Director of Coaching for the Maple Leaf Soccer Club in Scarborough, Ontario from 1985 to 1988. He then moved to the United States to become the Senior State Coach for Indiana from 1988 to 1991. In 1992 McDonald became the first Director of Coaching for the Center Grove Soccer Club in Greenwood, Indiana and held that position until 2008. He also served as the Region 2 Senior Head Coach of twelve states in the Midwest from 1992 to 1994. In 1993 he was the Assistant Coach at the US Olympic Sports Festival. That year, he also successfully coached the Indianapolis Inferno to the 1992 U.S. Open Cup Semifinal. He was the Director of Coaching for the Inferno from 1989 to 1994. In 1994 McDonald was appointed the Head Coach for the US Olympic Sports Festival but club commitments kept him from the post.In 2003 as a guest of Sir Alex Ferguson, McDonald was brought in to observe and discuss the Manchester United training sessions for the First Team, Reserve and Youth squads at the Carrington Training Center. In that same year, McDonald was also a guest of John Greig of the Glasgow Rangers to observe and discuss the training of their First Team, Reserve and Youth squads. The following year he also was a guest of the Glasgow Celtic for three weeks participating with the First Team, Reserve and Youth squads. He also observed Hibernian and Motherwell of the Scottish Premier League and Southampton of the English Premier League the following year. He was also hired by Terry Butcher from Motherwell as the North American scout.
In 2008 McDonald became the current director of coaching at a youth club in Bellair/Seminole, Florida
Seminole, Florida
Seminole is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,890 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 19,195. St. Petersburg College has a campus in the city.-Geography:...
called Gulf Coast United Soccer Club.