Soccer fever is reaching historic highs here in Canada with the World Cup taking place on home soil, and one of the hardest-working soccer professionals in Waterloo Region is happy to see the growth.
Barry MacLean has won over 300 times with the Laurier women’s soccer program.
“This World Cup hopefully has a legacy of bringing the game to the prominent level it should be at,” said MacLean. “It feels sometimes like it’s viewed as a secondary or tertiary sport in this country,”
Before his time in Waterloo Region, MacLean spent time working with many of the faces in today’s national team, including Paul Stalteri, Canada’s assistant coach, players like Jonathan Osorio and Dayne St. Clair, and broadcasters like Atiba Hutchinson
MacLean says this tournament offers a chance for soccer to step into the mainstream in Canada.
“I think there’s going to be a lot more people who understand the culture of the sport when you see the passion of the different groups of fans, especially the Canadian fans at the game on Friday night,” said MacLean.
MacLean was an agent for Osorio, who played limited minutes on his home field for Canada on Friday, but could make an impact in their Thursday game against Qatar in Vancouver.
“He’s a guy that’s put his heart and soul out there, and he’s probably extracted every ounce of ability out of his body like a true winner,” said MacLean.