Paul James
Encyclopedia
Paul John James is a soccer analyst, former head coach and Canadian national team
player.
In 2003 James was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University
, James has added to his academic credentials by completing the prestigious Football Industries MBA (FIMBA)
at the University of Liverpool
in England.
, earning him a move to Mexican side Monterrey
in 1985. He played in the North American and Canadian Soccer Leagues, where he earned first team all-star honours on four consecutive occasions. He also had a short stint with English league outfit Doncaster Rovers.
in Los Angeles
. He made his senior debut for Canada
in a December 1983 friendly match against Mexico
. He went on to earn 47 “A” caps, scoring 2 goals.
He scored a critical goal for Canada against Costa Rica
in Toronto in 1985 that helped Canada qualify for the 1986 FIFA World Cup
finals in Mexico
. A member of the country's 1986 World Cup team, he played in all three games in the finals. He represented Canada in 7 World Cup qualifiers.
He played his final international aged 29, a March 1993 friendly match against South Korea.
, leading them to within one game of an NCAA berth and an NCAA Division II national ranking as high as 12th, Niagara University
and Canada U-20 men's national soccer team
. As head coach of the Under-20 team, he led them to the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
in Argentina 2001. James thus became the first Canadian to represent Canada at a FIFA World Championships both as a player and coach.
James is now Director of Soccer at York University
in Toronto. James is an “A” licensed coach (Canadian and American "A" licensed) who brings a strong and varied background to York, having successfully coached at the collegiate, professional and national team levels. Through his coaching career, Paul has garnerd six coach of the year awards at varying levels including; CSL, NCAA, and OUA. In 2007 James received the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) national coach of the year award. James has a reputation for developing successful soccer programs. In 2008 James coached York to the CIS Canadian Championship game where they won the title. On January 16, 2010 James announced his departure from York University after serving with the Lions for six years.
on The Score television network, along with James Sharman
and the late Brian Budd
. He also provided soccer analysis for GolTV in Canada. Paul has appeared on the CBC and Sportsnet on numerous occasions and currently writes for the The Globe and Mail
.
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...
player.
In 2003 James was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
The Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in Vaughan, Ontario, was founded in 1997. It was incorporated by the Ontario Soccer Association. The Hall aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of top Canadian Footballers and Builders who have played and developed the game in Canada...
. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
, James has added to his academic credentials by completing the prestigious Football Industries MBA (FIMBA)
Football Industries MBA (FIMBA)
Football Industries MBA The MBA program at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, was the first, and is currently the only MBA focusing on the business and management of Football...
at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
in England.
Club career
James developed into a top class midfield player while with the Toronto BlizzardToronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
, earning him a move to Mexican side Monterrey
Club de Fútbol Monterrey
The Club de Fútbol Monterrey is a Mexican football club from Monterrey, Nuevo León, and the current champion of the CONCACAF Champions League. Founded on June 28, 1945, it is the oldest active team in the professional division from the northern part of Mexico....
in 1985. He played in the North American and Canadian Soccer Leagues, where he earned first team all-star honours on four consecutive occasions. He also had a short stint with English league outfit Doncaster Rovers.
International career
Welsh-born James became a Canadian citizen in 1983 and burst on the international scene when he made full appearances for Canada at the 1984 Olympics1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. He made his senior debut for Canada
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...
in a December 1983 friendly match against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
. He went on to earn 47 “A” caps, scoring 2 goals.
He scored a critical goal for Canada against Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
in Toronto in 1985 that helped Canada qualify for the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
finals in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. A member of the country's 1986 World Cup team, he played in all three games in the finals. He represented Canada in 7 World Cup qualifiers.
He played his final international aged 29, a March 1993 friendly match against South Korea.
International goals
- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 24 October 1984 Swangard Stadium Swangard StadiumSwangard Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Central Park in Burnaby, British Columbia. Primarily used for soccer, football, and athletics, the stadium is home to the Simon Fraser Clan football team. The stadium was home to the Vancouver Whitecaps of the NASL...
, RabatRabatRabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
, MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
4-2 2-3 Friendly match 2 17 August 1985 Estadio Azteca Estadio AztecaEstadio Azteca is a stadium in Santa Ursula, Mexico City, Mexico. It is the official home stadium of the Mexico national football team and the Mexican team Club América.The stadium was the venue for football soccer in the 1968 Summer Olympics....
, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
1-0 1-1 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification 1986 FIFA World Cup qualificationA total of 121 teams entered the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 24 spots in the final tournament. Mexico, as the hosts, and Italy, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 22 spots open for competition...
Coaching career
After serving as player/coach at Ottawa and London, James also coached at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, leading them to within one game of an NCAA berth and an NCAA Division II national ranking as high as 12th, Niagara University
Niagara Purple Eagles men's soccer
The Niagara Purple Eagles men's soccer team is the men's college soccer team that represent Niagara University and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Purple Eagles play their home games at Niagara Field on the campus of Niagara University...
and 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...
. As head coach of the Under-20 team, he led them to the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Argentina between June 17 and July 8, 2001. The 2001 championship was the 13th contested. The tournament took part in six cities, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario, Salta, and Mar del Plata...
in Argentina 2001. James thus became the first Canadian to represent Canada at a FIFA World Championships both as a player and coach.
James is now Director of Soccer at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in Toronto. James is an “A” licensed coach (Canadian and American "A" licensed) who brings a strong and varied background to York, having successfully coached at the collegiate, professional and national team levels. Through his coaching career, Paul has garnerd six coach of the year awards at varying levels including; CSL, NCAA, and OUA. In 2007 James received the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) national coach of the year award. James has a reputation for developing successful soccer programs. In 2008 James coached York to the CIS Canadian Championship game where they won the title. On January 16, 2010 James announced his departure from York University after serving with the Lions for six years.
Soccer analyst
From 2004 to 2008 he was an analyst for The Footy ShowThe Footy Show
The Footy Show can refer to one of the following television shows:*The Footy Show , a sports entertainment programme centred around Australian rules football first screened in 1994...
on The Score television network, along with James Sharman
James Sharman
James Sharman is a producer and sportscaster on The Score Television Network in Canada, focusing mainly on soccer.Born in Sevenoaks, England, he started working for The Score in 1997 and has been with them ever since...
and the late Brian Budd
Brian Budd
Brian Budd was a Canadian professional soccer player best known for winning the World Superstars competition three years in a row from 1978 to 1980. He was also a soccer sportscaster.-Early years:...
. He also provided soccer analysis for GolTV in Canada. Paul has appeared on the CBC and Sportsnet on numerous occasions and currently writes for the The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
.
External links
- Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame inductee page
- Player profile - Canada Soccer
- Career stats - National Football Teams