The Canadian Soccer Association announced on Wednesday that it will not bring back Benito Floro as head coach of the country’s men’s national team.
The announcement comes eight days after Canada fell one point short of reaching the Hexagonal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Canada Soccer did not announce a timeline for hiring a replacement for Floro.
Floro took over as Canada manager in July 2013, posting a 9-10-11 record in 30 matches at the helm. In addition to managing the senior team, the 64-year-old Spaniard also served as Canada’s head coach at the CONCACAF men’s Olympic qualifying tournament last October, leading the country to a fourth-place finish.
“We would like to thank Benito Floro for his professionalism and integrity during his tenure as head coach,” Canada Soccer president Victor Montagliani said in a statement released by the federation. “Moving forward, we will build on our momentum and continue to focus the organization’s resources on maximizing the team’s performance.”
Canada finished third in Group A of the semifinal round of CONCACAF qualifying behind group winners Mexico and runners-up Honduras. They finished the round with a 2-3-1 record, one point behind Honduras for the group’s second spot in the Hexagonal.
Although Floro built a solid defensive unit with Canada, his team struggled mightily in the attack, scoring just five goals in six matches in the semifinal round.
Canada have not qualified for the Hexagonal since the 1998 World Cup cycle. They haven’t qualified for the World Cup since the 1986 tournament.
“I would like to thank Canada Soccer for the opportunity to lead the men’s national team program for the past three years,” Floro said in the statement. “The organization’s support for the program has been formidable and will lead to strong results in the years to come. We have a talented group of dedicated players that have a bright future and I wish Canada Soccer all the best for success.”
