Vancouver FC Parts Ways With Assistant Coaches Thompson And Ardalani
Excerpts of the following story by Felipe Vallejo are from the Northern Tribune https://northerntribune.ca/vancouver-fc-part-ways-with-assistant-coaches-thompson-and-ardalani/ from February 15, 2024.
This week Vancouver FC announced the departure of two assistant coaches in Niall Thompson and Arez Ardalani.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Niall and Arez for their dedication to VFC in our historic first season,” said Afshin Ghotbi, Vancouver FC’s head coach, in a press release.
“They will both forever be part of the VFC family.”
Thompson joined Ghotbi’s coaching staff in January of last year. The former Canadian men’s national team player was coaching at Surrey United Soccer Club before joining VFC. That was the team he played with after his retirement, when it was called the “Vancouver Firefighters”.
Thompson himself is also a firefighter, becoming the Burnaby Fire Hall #6 Captain after dedicating his last few years of playing career to become one. He admitted in a feature piece on him that he would work 16-hour shifts to keep up with both coaching and firefighting, so that may have been a factor in his leaving.
“I truly enjoyed my collaboration with Niall [Thompson] in our inaugural season and I want to personally thank him for his friendship, support and loyalty,” said Ghotbi on Thompson’s departure.
Ardalani, meanwhile, was previously a head coach and technical director of Texas United FC, a USL League Two Side. The Harlingen, Texas native was in that role for five years, helping both in the senior and youth sides. He got his start in coaching after taking over the Women’s recreation program at Texas A&M-Kingsville, his old alma mater.
For the rest of the story on the departure of two Vancouver FC assistant coaches in Niall Thompson and Arez Ardalani by Felipe Vallejo in the Northern Tribune: https://northerntribune.ca/vancouver-fc-part-ways-with-assistant-coaches-thompson-and-ardalani/ from February 15, 2024, please go to the story at the link above.
Sources: https://northerntribune.ca/vancouver-fc-part-ways-with-assistant-coaches-thompson-and-ardalani/
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