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Tony WaitersEnglish footballer and football coach
Date of Birth: 01.02.1937
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Blackpool and England National Team
- Coaching Career in England
- Return to Playing and Coaching in the NASL
- Canada National Team
- Later Career and Legacy
Early Life and Career
Born in Bishop Auckland, England, Tony Waiters began his football journey with local club Bishop Auckland in the Northern Regional League. In 1958, he joined Macclesfield Town, where he quickly caught the attention of scouts from higher-tier clubs.
Blackpool and England National Team
In 1959, Waiters signed for Blackpool, then a top-flight club. He played over 250 games for the "Seasiders," becoming a key member of their team. During this time, he also earned five caps for the England national team, competing with Gordon Banks for a spot in the 1966 World Cup squad.
Coaching Career in England
Following his retirement from Blackpool in 1967, Waiters embarked on a coaching career. He worked with the English Football Association and Liverpool's youth development program before becoming Burnley's goalkeeper coach.
Return to Playing and Coaching in the NASL
In 1970, Waiters briefly returned to playing with Burnley due to an injury to their starting goalkeeper. After two seasons, he retired permanently and focused on coaching. He led the youth team of England to victory in the 1973 UEFA European Championship and later became manager of Plymouth Argyle, where he won promotion to the Second Division in 1975.
In 1977, Waiters moved to North America to coach the Vancouver Whitecaps in the North American Soccer League (NASL). He led the team to victory in the 1979 NASL Championship and a win over the legendary New York Cosmos in the Soccer Bowl.
Canada National Team
Waiters was appointed head coach of the Canadian national team in 1979. He led Canada to the quarterfinals of the 1984 Olympics and their first-ever World Cup appearance in 1986. After a disappointing performance in the 1986 World Cup, Waiters stepped down but returned as coach in 1990.
Later Career and Legacy
In addition to his coaching career, Waiters authored books on football skills and training. He was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001. He also founded World of Soccer, a company that provides coaching and equipment. Waiters' legacy extends beyond his on-field accomplishments. He was instrumental in the development of Byte Size Coaching, an online platform for youth soccer coaches. He also served as the first director of the NSCAA Goalkeeping Institute.
