Ian Bridge
Collected from open sources (2) · facts link to sources
Career & Clubs
Bridge was born in Victoria, British Columbia. He began his pro career in 1977 and played in the NASL with the Seattle Sounders from 1979 to 1983 and with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 1984, and MISL indoor soccer with the Tacoma Stars. Over six NASL seasons, he played 124 games and scored 13 goals. Following the demise of the NASL Bridge played for Swiss club FC La Chaux-de-Fonds for two seasons when the club was in the Swiss league first division. Later in the Canadian Soccer League, he played for the Victoria Vistas (1990), Kitchener Kickers (1991), and North York Rockets (1991). Ian played his youth soccer with the Lakehill Soccer Association in Victoria BC, and has an annually awarded Youth Player "Inspirational" trophy named in his honour.
A defender, Bridge made his debut for Canada in an October 1981 friendly match against Trinidad & Tobago and earned 34 caps, scoring 5 goals. He has represented Canada in 12 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played all three of Canada's games at the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals, the country's first appearance at a World Cup finals. Bridge also played for Canada at the 1984 Olympics and at the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship. He scored a goal in the first two 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying games that he played in. His final international was a June 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup Finals match against Mexico. Bridge was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.
Bridge was head coach of the University of Victoria women's soccer team from 1990 to 2000. He became assistant coach of Canada women's national soccer team in 1997, a position he still has. He became U-19 national women's coach and chief national team assistant coach in March 2001. (The national youth women's team has since become U-20.) Bridge is also team chef of the Canada men's national youth soccer teams. On 10 January 2010, Bridge resigned as head coach of the U-17 Canadian women national team and is now coaching the Victoria Highlanders of the USL (United Soccer league) Premier Development League.
Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bridge goal.
- Club
- FC La Chaux-de-Fonds (1985–1990)
- Club
- Vancouver Whitecaps (1984–1984)
- Club
- Tacoma Stars (1985–1986)
- Club
- Victoria Vistas (1990–1990)
- Club
- North York Rockets (1991–1991)
- Club
- Seattle Sounders (1979–1983)
- Club
- Kitchener Spirit (1991–1991)
- Club
- Canada men's national under-17 association football team (1979–1979)
- Club
- Canadian men's national soccer team (1981–1991)
- Club
- Seattle Sounders (1980–)
- Club
- Seattle Sounders (1979–1983)
- Club
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1984–1984)
- League
- North American Soccer League
- National team
- Canada
Clubs
- Seattle Sounders1980current
- Canada men's national under-17 association football team1979–1979
- Seattle Sounders1979–1983
- Seattle Sounders1979–1983
- Canadian men's national soccer team1981–1991
- Vancouver Whitecaps1984–1984
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC1984–1984
- FC La Chaux-de-Fonds1985–1990
- Tacoma Stars1985–1986
- Victoria Vistas1990–1990
- Kitchener Spirit1991–1991
- North York Rockets1991–1991
Played together with
- Adolf StelzerFC La Chaux-de-Fonds · 1939–1942
Adrian CannVancouver Whitecaps FC · 2006–2008
Alessandro SchöpfVancouver Whitecaps FC · 2022–2024
Alexandre AlphonseFC La Chaux-de-Fonds · 2004–2005
Alhassane BangouraVancouver Whitecaps FC · 2019
Ali AhmedVancouver Whitecaps FC · 2022–2026
Ali GhazalVancouver Whitecaps FC · 2017–2018
Alphonso DaviesVancouver Whitecaps FC · 2016–2018
André AbegglenFC La Chaux-de-Fonds · 1942–1944
André NeuryFC La Chaux-de-Fonds · 1944–1946
Andy O'BrienVancouver Whitecaps FC · 2012–2014
Anton AllemannFC La Chaux-de-Fonds · 1968–1969
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Ian Christopher Bridge is a soccer coach and former professional who played as a defender. A former player for the Canada national team, he has coached the Canada women's national team among other teams.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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