TORONTO (AP) — Former Real Madrid coach Benito Floro has been hired as Canada’s national soccer coach.
He succeeds Stephen Hart, who left in October following the team’s humiliating exit from World Cup qualifying. The Canadian men’s team is ranked 88th by FIFA.
Floro coached the Spanish giant Real Madrid from 1992 to 1994. He most recently coached a club in Morocco and has also managed club teams in Mexico and Japan.
The Canadian Soccer Association said it is “thrilled” to have “such an accomplished soccer mind” running the team. The 61-year-old Floro will be assisted by son Antonio Floro Esteve.
The team, under interim coach Colin Miller, is currently at the Gold Cup, the championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean.
