Phil Ionadi

Phil Ionadi is a Canadian businessman, soccer executive, former soccer player, head coach, and the general manager for the Canadian Arena Soccer Association.

Phil Ionadi
Ionadi in 2005
Personal information
Full name Philip Ionadi
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1998 Belhaven Blazers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1993 North York Rockets
1996 Toronto Italia
1997 Toronto Supra 6 (0)
1998 Toronto Lynx 5 (0)
1998 Glen Shields Sun Devils 11 (2)
1999 Montreal Impact (indoor) 30 (5)
2000 Montreal Impact 5 (0)
2000–2001 Toronto ThunderHawks (indoor) 32 (3)
2002–2004 Brampton Hitmen 72 (22)
2005 Oakville Blue Devils 17 (4)
National team
2005 Canada Beach 3 (1)
Teams managed
2006 Oakville Blue Devils
2018–2019 Mississauga MetroStars
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of December 23, 2014

He initially began playing college soccer abroad with Belhaven University, and experienced professional soccer in the original Canadian Soccer League with North York Rockets. After a series of different stints in the Canadian National Soccer League he eventually played in the USL A-League in 1998 with the Toronto Lynx. Shortly after he played in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, and played indoor soccer in 1999 in the National Professional Soccer League with the Montreal Impact. His indoor season with Montreal marked his return to the A-League as he played with the club in the 2000 outdoor season. After his release from Montreal he played with several clubs in the National Professional Soccer League, and in 2002 returned to the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) with the Brampton Hitmen.

Ionadi would conclude his playing career in the CPSL, where he won two CPSL Championships, was named CPSL MVP, and a four time CPSL All-Star. He also represented Canada at the international level in beach soccer, where he played in the 2005 CONCACAF and CONMEBOL Beach Soccer Championship. After retiring he transitioned into coaching, and was appointed head coach for the Oakville Blue Devils in 2006. In 2018, he returned to coaching as the head coach for the Mississauga MetroStars, but was relived from his duties in 2019.[1][2]

He also contributed in the administrative field of soccer initially beginning in the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) in 2008 as a director of business operations for the Brampton Lions. He eventually sat on the CSL Board of Directors as the Director for Youth, and was instrumental in forming the Canadian Academy of Futbol (CAF) in 2012. In 2017, the Canadian Arena Soccer Association appointed Ionadi as the general manager for the Canada national arena soccer team. In 2012, he purchased LIKA Sports Inc, and currently serves as the company's Chief executive officer.[3]

Playing career

Ionadi began playing at the college level in 1995 with Belhaven University, where he earned NAIA GCAC All-Conference Men's Soccer honors.[4][5] During the college off season he played in the USISL Premier League with the Jackson Chargers.[6] Before pursuing college soccer he received the opportunity to experience professional soccer in the Canadian Soccer League with the North York Rockets.[7] In 1996, he played with Toronto Italia in the Canadian National Soccer League, where he assisted in securing a treble for the club.[8] The following season he played with league rivals Toronto Supra.[9]

In 1998, after the United Soccer League granted Toronto a franchise he featured for the Toronto Lynx in the USL A-League.[10] After appearing in five matches he played the remainder of the season he played with Glen Shields Sun Devils in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, and was selected for the CPSL All-Stars match.[11][12] In 1999, he signed with the Montreal Impact, and played an indoor season in the National Professional Soccer League. Throughout his time in the National Professional Soccer League he played with Montreal Impact, and Toronto ThunderHawks.[13] He also participated in the 2000 outdoor season in the A-League, but subsequently was released later on.[14][15]

In 2001, Ionadi returned to the Canadian Professional Soccer League, and signed with expansion franchise the Brampton Hitmen, where throughout his tenure with the club he served as the team captain.[16] His most notable achievement with the organization was in the 2003 season where he finished as the club's top goalscorer with 13 goals, and secured the teams first CPSL Championship.[17] As a result of his efforts he was recognized with the CSL MVP award.[18][19] On May 19, 2005 he signed a contract with expansion franchise Oakville Blue Devils, and was named team captain.[20] In his debut and final season with Oakville he assisted in claiming his second championship title, and establishing a league milestone as Oakville became the first expansion franchise to win the championship title in their debut season.[21][22]

International career

Ionadi played with the Canada national beach soccer team, and made his debut on March 3, 2005 against Mexico in the 2005 CONCACAF and CONMEBOL Beach Soccer Championship.[23]

Managerial career

In 2006, Ionadi made the transition to coaching after being appointed head coach for the Oakville Blue Devils in the Canadian Soccer League.[24][25] In his debut season he won the National Division title, and produced the best offensive and defensive records in the division.[26] In the postseason Oakville was defeated in the opening round to the Windsor Border Stars.[26] During his tenure with Oakville Soccer Club he served as a youth coach in 2006.[27]

In 2018, he was named head coach and general manager for the Mississauga Metrostars in the Major Arena Soccer League.[28][29] After a series of poor performances Ionadi was relieved from his position on March 1, 2019.[30]

Administrative career

In 2006, along with coaching Ionadi was hired as the academy director for Oakville Soccer Club, where he served from 2007 till 2010.[27] On April 10, 2008, he was selected as the Director of Business Operations for the Brampton Lions in the Canadian Soccer League (CSL).[31] In 2013, he served on the CSL Board of Directors as the Director for Youth, and was awarded the Harry Paul Gauss Memorial Award.[32][33] In 2012, he was one of founders and served as the president of the Canadian Academy of Futbol (CAF) a soccer development program which consists of different soccer clubs and academies organizing soccer competitions, seasons, tournaments, camps, and showcases.[34] In 2017, he was named the general manager for the Canadian Arena Soccer Association.[35][36]

Managerial stats
Team Nat From To Record
GWLDWin %
Oakville Blue Devils 28 May 2006 30 October 2006 22106645.45

Honours

Player
Brampton Hitmen
2003
Oakville Blue Devils
2005

Individual

Managerial
Oakville Blue Devils
  • Canadian Soccer League National Division: 1
2006

References
  1. Davidson, Neil. "Mississauga MetroStars say time is right for indoor soccer | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  2. Rhodes, Benedict (2019-03-03). "Mississauga MetroStars vs Baltimore Blast: Preview and Game Thread". Waking The Red. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  3. soccerhalloffame (2015-08-27), Phil Ionadi Hall of Fame Interview, retrieved 2019-03-03
  4. "CSL TO SHOWCASE U-19s – Canadian Soccer League". Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  5. "Men's Soccer Conference Honors". blazers.belhaven.edu. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  6. "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". web.archive.org. 2005-01-01. Archived from the original on January 1, 2005. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  7. Glover, Robin. "May 2, 2013 CSL Press Conference (by Rocket Robin)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  8. Glover, Robin. "Sunday June 23rd, 1996". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  9. Jeanneret, Mark (June 12, 1997). "Perri shows he's ready for switch". St. Catharines Standard. p. C3.
  10. "Phil Ionadi | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  11. "Canadian Professional Soccer League". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  12. "Ontario SoccerNet - CPSL Ontario Update". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  13. "Phil Ionadi Statistics on JustSportsStats.com". Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  14. "L'Impact entame sa saison". TVA Nouvelles. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  15. "L'Impact congédie sept joueurs". RDS.ca (in French). Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  16. "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-04-23. Archived from the original on 2003-04-23. Retrieved 2017-10-28.
  17. Glover, Robin. "October 5th, 2003 CPSL Rogers Cup Playoffs Final Vaughan Sun Devils vs Brampton Hitmen". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  18. "October 5, 2003 CPSL Awards Dinner from CPSL site". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  19. Glover, Robin. "October 5, 2003 CPSL Awards Banquet". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  20. Glover, Robin. "May 19, 2005 CPSL Press Conference (by Rocket Robin)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  21. Glover, Robin. "October 10, 2005 CPSL Vaughan Shooters vs Oakville Blue Devils (by Rocket Robin)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  22. "Blue Devils' Gamble pays off in CPSL final". InsideHalton.com. 2005-10-12. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  23. "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  24. "May 25, 2006 CSL news and previews (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  25. "Different cast of Blue Devils seeks repeat". InsideHalton.com. 2006-05-26. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  26. "Blue Devils in control of division". InsideHalton.com. 2006-09-20. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  27. "Oakville Soccer Club recognizes its best". InsideHalton.com. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  28. Grossi, James. "The Mississauga MetroStars introduce themselves, their sport & their aspirations - Mississauga MetroStars". www.mississaugametrostars.ca. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  29. "MISSISSAUGA METROSTARS JOIN MASL AS FIRST CANADIAN FRANCHISE - Major Arena Soccer League". www.maslsoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  30. Davidson, Neil (2019-03-01). "Mississauga MetroStars fire head coach/GM after lengthy losing run | National Post". Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  31. "Brampton Lions Powered by Goalline Sports Administration Software". 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved 2016-07-02.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  32. "VUCEMILOVIC GRGIC CSL's MVP | SIRC". sirc.ca. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  33. "A TIME TO CONGRATULATE – Canadian Soccer League". Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  34. admin1. "The Canadian Academy of Futbol (CAF): An Excellent Option for Young Aspiring Soccer Players". Soccer Fitness. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  35. "CASA Soccer » National Team". Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  36. Colpitts, Iain (2017-06-27). "City of Mississauga goes all in on arena soccer". Mississauga.com. Mississauga News. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
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