Developing an underachieving Canadian senior men's soccer program is a top responsibility of Rob Gale now that the Winnipegger is the new head coach of the U20 national team.

It's a tall task for one person to handle, which is why he will not take his new job for granted.

“It's a big challenge but an exciting one,” said Gale, born in Zambia to British parents. “If you want to be a coach, you aspire to coach the very highest level of players.”

No, it is not the senior team Gale is running, but the level below, a U20 squad that will be a feeder system for this country's next soccer phenoms. Athletes who may one day propel Canada from its meagre 110th world ranking to its first World Cup appearance since 1986.

Gale will lead the U20 team full-time while also overseeing the 15-20-year-old age groups.

“We want to affect them at a younger age so they're experienced by the time they get to me,” explains Gale. “Ultimate aim, obviously, is to help get them on the senior men's national stage.”

The senior team's struggles have not translated to the youth level, which Gale has devoted several years toward. As an assistant coach of U17 men's team, Gale helped guide Canada to its best ever international result—silver at the 2011 CONCACAF U17 championship. Two trips to the World Cup have ensued.

He also led Canada's men's U18 and U16 clubs.

A soccer phenom when he signed as a youth professional with England's Fulham FC, the 36-year-old recognizes the strides the beautiful game has already made in Canada but believes more can be done.

“In terms of sheer participation, it's very good,” he said.

“But we need more infrastructure, like the PDL team in Winnipeg, more tiered outlets, so the players have the opportunity to continue their development, if their ability allows. That's where we fall short as a soccer nation for sure.”

Larger provinces have already revolutionized Canadian soccer development in some way. In Ontario, nobody keeps score for children under 12. The mantra is skill development.

But, when those kids become teenagers, high performance leagues that pay certified coaches exist for the devoted.

Gale spent the last eight years growing the grassroots game as Manitoba Soccer Association's technical director, a position he relinquished to coach the U20 team.

“We need to get more standards, go away from just the volunteer mom and dad coaches. You don't send your kid to school to be taught by someone who won the local pub quiz,” he said, laughing.

Manitoba may not have the volume of players to create a similar high development program, but believes this province has improved in spades.

After eight years, Gale has seen 36 players and staff represent Canada. In the 20 years before, Manitoba had maybe two or three.

“You see young players coming in now with a genuine belief that they're going to go on and make a national team or be a professional player,” he said. “When I started here, that mentality wasn't there.”

From the grassroots to the national stage, Gale is impressed with how far this province has come. He expects at least two Manitobans on his U20 team, Dylan Carreiro and Kianz Gonzalez-Froese, and is excited for the anticipated Canada vs. USA women's soccer friendly at Investors Group Field on May 8.

“We need more of these events for people to see how far soccer has come in this province,” said Gale, who will continue living in Winnipeg with his wife and two kids.