WATCH: 1-on-1 with new HFX Wanderers FC head coach Patrice Gheisar

CanPL

The Halifax Wanderers named Canadian Patrice Gheisar as the club’s new head coach on Wednesday.

“I was ecstatic when I got the news; words can’t express it. I am just looking forward to getting started,” Gheisar said. “Halifax fits all the things I wanted, I loved the city when I came here, and it has the best fans in the league; it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Gheisar joins the Wanderers after a storied career at Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario. In 2022 he was named the league’s coach of the year after leading his team to an undefeated season and league championship.

As a full-time head coach in League1 Ontario, Gheisar holds a record of 41 wins, two losses and five draws between the regular season and playoffs. Over that time, Vaughan scored 173 goals and conceded just 59 times for a +114 goal differential.

“My focus from day one has been to find a winner, a builder and a communicator, and throughout this extensive process, Patrice proved to be the best option for all three,” Wanderers Founder & President Derek Martin said. “Our ambition is to be perennial winners on and off the pitch, and I believe Patrice has the drive, passion, experience and relationships to get us there.”

n Gheisar, the Wanderers get a coach with a reputation for both winning and developing high-level footballers. Players who have played under Gheisar include current Canada World Cup Team players Alistair Johnston, Kamal Miller, Jonathan Osorio and Dayne St. Clair – along with over two dozen either current or former Canadian Premier League Players.

A former player for York University and York Region Shooters, Gheisar went on to become a well-respected coach in Ontario. Along with 15 years with Vaughan Soccer Club, he has also worked as a coach for Hearts Azzurri, Toronto Metropolitan University, York University, SC Toronto and most recently at Seneca College. With Seneca, Gheisar was named OCAA coach of the year in 2019.

“I work hard, and I’m proud of that. For me, it’s the higher the wall, the more I get out of myself,” Gheisar said. “Right now, the sky is the limit for the Wanderers, and it’s not about just doing better than last year; we’re going to try and go and be the best we’ve ever been and represent our city and fans at its best.”