Pacific FC Brings on Goalkeeper Coach Daniel Ortiz

February 16, 2023 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Pacific FC News Release

Langford, BC – Pacific FC today announced that it has hired Daniel Ortiz from as the club’s goalkeeper coach ahead of the 2023 season.

Ortiz joins Pacific after six years with a giant of world football, FC Barcelona.

“Daniel’s pedigree coming from FC Barcelona, working directly in La Masia is an incredible opportunity for not only our goalkeepers but our entire organization,” said James Merriman, Head Coach, Pacific FC. “We are still growing and developing as club, and he will bring his expertise and drive the overall standards for both our first team and youth programming.

During his time with La Masia, Barcelona’s famed youth academy, Ortiz spent time as the goalkeeper coach for the under eight to under 12 teams, before moving on to the under 13 and under 14 teams.

Ortiz was also the Head of the Seven-a-Side Goalkeeper Department at the club for multiple seasons. Before joining Barcelona, Ortiz spent a few seasons as the first team goalkeeper coach and head of the goalkeeping department at UE Castelldefels, a lower-division side in the Spanish football pyramid.

Ortiz holds a UEFA Goalkeeper B License, UEFA A License, and completed the Spanish national professional course as a specialist of goalkeeping.

Pacific FC is currently in conversations with several potential goalkeepers to work alongside Emil Gazdov.

In addition to Ortiz, Armando Sá will return to the club as the Tridents’ Assistant Coach.

Sá joined Pacific prior to last season after a professional playing career in Europe, where he spent time learning under world-class head coaches such as Manuel Pellegrini and Ernesto Valverde, and founding his own soccer academy as a coach. From 2019 until coming to the Island in 2022, Sá was the owner and technical director at PRO11 Soccer Academy in Ontario.

In his first season with Pacific, Sá helped head coach James Merriman lead the team back to the CPL playoffs, and on its first-ever adventure in the Scotiabank Concacaf League, which included a 6-0 victory at home in the preliminary round and a last-minute goal away from home to force penalties in the Round of 16.

“Armando has the experience of playing at the highest levels, and for football clubs all around the world,” said Merriman. “That is so important for our players and their aspirations. We are constantly trying to drive the standards of our organization to the highest level we can, and Armando knows the expectations set…