It was a little more than a decade ago. A ragtag group of journeymen players were on an impossible run at the Gold Cup. Although you’d be hard pressed to say that what they were doing was impressive – it was a little ugly, actually – you could not deny the effort.
There were a lot of stand-outs on the team – a League Two striker on the form of his life, a Premiership back-up keeper that was likely giving up a chance at starting, a rock of a fullback a few years away from perhaps the greatest club accomplishment by a Canadian in history, to name but a few.
However, there was one player that stood out above all else. Although he was skilled enough – with some different breaks he probably could have been a solid guy on a lower-Prem side -- what he brought to the team was something on the intangible side of the game.
He was a leader, pure and simple. Those that played with him say he was smart, outspoken and determined. He was someone that was to not there make friends. Rather, he wanted to inspire those around him to be better.
He wore the armband; no one that has worn it since has done so with as much distinction.
As the team’s miracle run was nearing its end, the player had one more surprise for fans. A corner kick in the final seconds of the first half lead to an opportunity for the big man to get forward. Leaping from about a foot behind the defender he rose up with a will that would not be stopped.
Ball met head; ball met back of net.
From there it was really just a matter of seeing the second half out. Led by their captain this team was not going to lose the game.
About an hour after he scored that goal, Jason de Vos lifted the Gold Cup for Canada. It was arguably the greatest moment in the sport’s history here in Canada.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Today, Canadian Soccer News names de Vos its 2011 Person of the Year.
Although his playing career continues to inspire, it is the work he’s done since retiring that makes him so influential. Many athletes are content to sit back after hanging up the boots. Maybe they might appear at the odd clinic, sign a few autographs then go home to rest up for the next day’s golf game.
That lifestyle wasn’t enough for de Vos. Instead, he’s gone back to the grassroots of the game, determined to make a difference.
Now the technical director at the biggest youth club in Canada and the United States, de Vos is determined to change how the next generation of Canadian kids are trained in the game. More importantly, he’s also trying to change how Canadians think about the game.
Development in Canada has always been more than a bit random – play a bunch of games, have oranges at halftime and see what sticks. Through the Wellness to the World Cup plan and changes in Long Term Player Development, the CSA is looking to change that. In that goal they have found an ally in de Vos that has opposed CSA policy in the past.
CSA General Secretary Peter Montopoli says that de Vos has been invaluable to the organization in spreading the word -- both through his role at the Oakville Soccer Club and in his media platform with the CBC.
“He’s helped people understand that the Wellness to the World Cup was an important and world class plan and that it was important to implement it,” Montopoli said. “He has several platforms to communicate on and he uses them all well.
“I applaud your choice – it’s well deserved. Jason has been very, very influential in a number of ways in a short period of time.”
Montopoli added that de Vos does a good job of explaining the game’s tactics and strategies in a way that is understandable to the casual fan.
That might be the key to de Vos. He’s an expert that doesn’t sound condescending or bored when talking to parents and fans, he’s a policy wonk that doesn’t make your eyes glaze over when talking policy and he’s an insider that hasn’t lost his outsider’s critical eye.
He’s a guy with something important to say and who is not afraid to say it. That’s vital during this time of change in Canadian soccer and it’s the No 1 reason why we felt that there could be no better choice for Person of the Year in 2011.