Metro Gerela

Dmetro (Metro) Gerela
Date of birth April 22, 1941
Place of birth Sarrail, Alberta, Canada
Career information
Position(s) Kicker
College none
Career history
As player
1968 Montreal Alouettes

Metro Gerela is a Canadian soccer coach and former professional Soccer player in Vancouver and British Columbia.

In 1953, during the first Vancouver Sun Tournament of Champions (Youth Provincial Cup Competition Finals) played in Callister Park, Gerela (Powell River) was chosen to be the first "Sun Soccer Boy".[1]

On October 17, 1964, Gerela led the New Westminster Royals to a 5 – 1 victory over the UBC Thunderbirds with two goals.

Gerela was head coach of the Capilano College Blues women's soccer team from 1992 to 1994.[2] He held the position of technical director at the Wesburn youth soccer club in 2004.[3] He was the coach of the Croatia Sports Club soccer team in the Vancouver Metro Soccer League's Premier division.[4]

He is married to Silvana Burtini, a police officer and formerly with the WUSA's Carolina Courage and a past member of Canada women's national soccer team.[3]

He was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame as a member of the 2011 Team of Distinction. This was the 1979 Vancouver Whitecaps. Gerela was the head scout.[5]

Gerela played two games (as a punter) for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in 1968.[6]

His two brothers were also football placekickers: Ted Gerela played with the British Columbia Lions and Roy Gerela with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL.

References

  1. ↑ Fryatt, Dave (2002). "THE PCSL - When did soccer have its beginnings in British Columbia?". pcsl.org. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  2. ↑ "Metro Gerela". capilanou.ca. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  3. 1 2 Mackin, Bob (17 September 2003). "Girls Got Game". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  4. ↑ Berridge, Tom (31 March 2007). "Croatia can clinch berth Saturday". burnabynow.com. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  5. ↑ Honouring the 1979 NASL champion Vancouver Whitecaps
  6. ↑ "Montreal Allouettes all-time roster (alphabetical)" (PDF). Montreal Alouettes. Retrieved 19 April 2011.


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