Just over four years after his retirement, Quebecer Patrice Bernier has become an immortal in Canadian soccer.
Updated yesterday at 5:49 p.m.
Canada Soccer announced the names of three new inductees to its Hall of Fame on Tuesday morning. Quebecer Rhian Wilkinson and Martina Franko are also part of the 2022 vintage.
“I couldn’t believe it, even when I was told it. It took a long time for me to realize it, ”suggested Bernier at a press conference.
Winner of the Canadian Championship twice rather than once with the Montreal Impact, the Quebecer made 56 appearances with the national team, of which he was captain three times. When asked what was his finest moment in the Canadian uniform, Bernier instead named two.
Starting with his very first international selection. A match against the Czech Republic, then fourth in the world.
“Colin Miller, the coach, included me,” he said. I had already been called up before, but I had never played. To play against the Czech Republic a few months before Pavel Nedved became Ballon d’Or… I will always remember playing against them, one of the best teams at that time, and against a future Ballon d’Or. It was a great way to enter the international scene. »
Bernier has played in four editions of the Gold Cup. That of 2007, when the team lost in the semi-final against the United States, is engraved in his memory.
“Even though we didn’t reach the final, I felt we really did well in Concacaf,” he said.
“We spoke, we were more offensive, we kept possession and the opposing teams in the backfield,” he continued. […] People had respect for us at that time. We opened our eyes. »
Patrice Bernier’s career was not limited to Canada. Over the years, the Brossardois has played in Norway, Germany and Denmark, where he was also a double winner of the Danish Cup.
world Cup
While the current Canadian team is in an excellent position to secure its ticket to the World Cup next November, it should be remembered that Bernier has represented the country in three qualifying rounds. If he has only one disappointment, it is that of never having taken part in the World Cup, one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.
“To represent your country on the international stage, there is nothing greater than that. All I missed was going to the World Cup. Fortunately, I will be able to see it. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to experience it as a player. »
In all of this, Bernier said he was especially proud to be able to say that he comes from Canada. A country of hockey.
“I left hockey to focus on soccer 100%, he recalled. There, having done my journey, my career and now saying that I can be part of the Hall of Fame, I think I still made a good choice. I followed my passion and persevered. »
“I spent 24 years traveling with the national team and seeing the world,” he added. That, I will never regret. »
The now 42-year-old will also always remain the first Canadian to have played more than 10,000 minutes in MLS with a Canadian team. CF Montreal also congratulated him on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon. “We are proud of you! “, he wrote.
Rhian Wilkinson also inducted
As for Rhian Wilkinson, she has won a Concacaf championship and two bronze medals in three appearances at the Olympic Games. The Montrealer, who has played 181 games for Canada, has taken part in four FIFA Women’s World Cups.
The 39-year-old, currently head coach of the Portland Thorns, has also played in the United States and Norway.
“These three Canadian heroes deserve this great honor in recognition of their careers as professional players,” said Canada Soccer President D.r Nick Bontis.
With the induction of Wilkinson and Franko, the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame will have an equal number of men and women in the Modern Canadian Players category, 29.