Nick Dasovic Named Head Coach

Nick Dasovic

Nick Dasovic joined Toronto FC in May 2008, initially as Academy head coach and assistant to the first team. Now two and a half years later, he finds himself with the task of steering Toronto FC as the team’s interim head coach. The 41 year old has a long history in the game and can call on years of experience as a player and coach.

Dasovic has a long playing career for both club and country. He was 23 years old when he won his first cap with Canada's senior team in a 5-2 win over China in April 1992 in Victoria, BC. He played for Canada’s World Cup Qualifying team in 1992-93, 1996-97 and 2000. Dasovic also represented Canada at the FIFA Confederations Cup Japan 2001 and was part of the squad that finished third at the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Dasovic started his professional career with Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia and then moved back to his native Canada where he played for the North York Rockets. He was an original member of the Impact de Montréal F.C and then moved to the Vancouver 86ers. He spent a season in France with Stade Briochin (1995-96) and a year in Sweden with Trelleborgs.

From 1996-2002 Dasovic played in Scotland with St. Johnstone and made over 130 appearances. During his time there, Dasovic was part of the Saints team that won promotion to the Premier League and was also named Man of the Match in the Scottish League Cup final in 1998 when he scored a goal in a 2-1 defeat to Glasgow Rangers.

Dasovic returned to Canada to finish his playing career with the Vancouver Whitecaps where he was also part of the coaching staff.

After starting his coaching career with the Whitecaps, Dasovic spent five years with the Canadian  National Team Program. He served as Canada's assistant coach when the team finished first in Group B at the 2003 CONCACAF Under-20 Qualification Tournament in Charleston, SC and was also an assistant coach at the FIFA World Youth Championship UAE 2003 and when the team finished first in Group B at the 2005 CONCACAF Under-20 Qualification Tournament in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Dasovic made the step up to become as Canada's head coach at the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 and was assistant coach at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Canada two years later.

The Vancouver native led Canada to a third place finish at the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournament and was one of Canada's assistant coaches in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 2008.