After parting ways with Quest University in December, Adam Day, the former Kermodes men's soccer head coach, has landed a dream job with English soccer team Arsenal F.C.
Day will be the head coach of the Arsenal Elite Soccer Academy in Loutraki, Greece and he told The Chief he's thrilled with his new position.
"This was a great opportunity and it was impossible for me to turn it down," he said, noting that he's been a supporter of Arsenal from a young age. "Getting to work with such a massive club is too good not to say yes."
He said the academy, which opened in December, will work with and assess players aged 12 to 16 and prepare them to potentially join the big club in England in the future. The Greek school is one of 22 different schools that Arsenal runs worldwide to seek out and develop young talent. The full-time, year-round position takes place at a national training facility and Day said that his experience helping build the Quest soccer program should prove valuable in his new job to help run the new Arsenal academy.
"It's going to be essentially very similar to what I've done at Quest," he said. "University is all about combining soccer and school and I think my time with the Kermodes played a huge part in my hiring."
Day said he will relish returning to Europe and being re-immersed in football culture.
"I found that in North America there isn't really that true soccer mentality," he said. "In Europe they really live and breathe soccer. Just the determination and enthusiasm from the players I've met already is inspiring.
"They are totally driven and focused and want to be pro footballers. I might even try to get them to relax a bit. It doesn't totally matter where they are at 12 but more so at 16. But just their desire and passion really motivates you to become a better coach."
He said he did have a few other offers, including one from the Vancouver Whitecaps, but felt that the job in Greece was an offer he simply couldn't refuse. On top of the training-school duties, Day said he will also be used as a pro scout by the team in Greece. During down times at the school, he will attend professional Greek games and report on potential talent to be scooped up by Arsenal.
Day said that he's heard that the search for a new Kermodes men's soccer coach is down to two candidates, his assistant coach Chris Cerroni and women's team assistant coach Jonas Worth. It's expected that Quest officials will announce the new men's soccer head coach in the next few weeks.
Day will depart for England on Feb. 9 and then make his way to Greece on Feb. 12 to begin his new position.
