January 6, 2011 MLS--Meet Paul Mariner (from TorontoFC.ca)

Meet Paul Mariner
MLS veteran takes up role as Toronto FC director of player development.
TorontoFC.ca
January 6, 2011

Paul Mariner
Position: Toronto FC Director of Player Development
Age: 57
Born: Farnworth, Lancashire

Paul Mariner was born on May 22, 1953 in Farnsworth, England and brings international experience to Toronto FC along with knowledge of Major League Soccer. He returns to North America where he previously worked as Assistant Coach at Harvard University, and then Assistant Coach with New England Revolution in MLS. Mariner was hired by the Revs in 2004 to work alongside Head Coach Steve Nicol, and he gained experience in scouting, recruiting, and signing MLS players. He was credited with developing 2005 MLS M.V.P. Taylor Twellman.

During his five seasons with New England, the Revolution made three consecutive appearances in the MLS Cup (2005, 2006, 2007). They also won the 2007 U.S. Open Cup and 2008 SuperLiga title. In 2009, Mariner returned to England to join the coaching staff at Plymouth Argyle where he worked until signing with Toronto FC.

Mariner’s playing career began with Plymouth Argyle in 1973 and he went on to play over 130 games for, scoring 56 goals. Sir Bobby Robson signed Mariner for Ipswich Town ahead of the 1976-1977 season and he stayed there through until 1984, scoring 96 goals in 260 games. He was named Man of the Match in the 1978 FA Cup Final as Ipswich beat Arsenal 1-0 and played a key role in Ipswich Town’s UEFA Cup winning squad in the 1980-1981 season.

In 1984 Mariner moved to Arsenal where he spent two seasons before finishing his time in England with two years at Portsmouth. He moved to North America to join the Albany Capitals of the American Soccer League where he also served as the team’s assistant coach. In the spring of 1992 he was offered the head coaching role of the team but left to join the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks. Following his playing time in the United States, Mariner moved to Maltese side the Naxaar Lions and retired in 1993.

Mariner earned his first cap for the England national team in 1977. He was named to the England squad for the 1980 European Championship and the qualifying campaign for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Mariner scored the lone goal in a win against Hungary to secure England’s spot at the World Cup in Spain where he played in all of the country’s games.

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