PICTURE: Mirko Medic (right), an outstanding defender in Europe before joining Serbian White Eagles to be part of the memorable Dragoslav Sekularac team of 2006, is the new head coach announced by Scarborough SC GM Kiril Dimitrov.
When Scarborough SC lost its third championship final in four years following a 2-1 defeat at Racco Park in Vaughan just north of Toronto on October 17 at the end of last season, a loss that came after the Toronto east side team were on top of opposition Vorkuta and led 1-0 into the second half, it became clear that changes would come to continue the club’s incremental improvements strategy that started shortly after professional soccer returned to Scarborough as an expansion team in the Canadian Soccer League in 2015.
GM Kiril Dimitrov, given complete control to develop a championship-winning side by owner Angel Belchev during those early days, had a strong professional career in Europe and knew the CSL well following a period with Serbian White Eagles and SC Waterloo. The year-by-year strengthening of the Scarborough franchise has since paid big dividends with a First Division championship in 2020, a CSL Championship title in 2019 and CSL Championship finalists in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
Dimitrov has now announced one of the club’s more significant additions with the signing of the impressive Mirko Medic of Serbian White Eagles as Scarborough’s head coach.
Medic is a seasoned professional following several years as a player in the former Yugoslavia with Buducnost Valjevo and FK Zeleznicar before signing in 2001 with First Division side FK Miadost Lucani of Serbia. A standout defender, Medic arrived in Canada in 2006 to sign for a CSL expansion Serbian White Eagles team to be coached by one of Europe’s earlier greats Dragoslav Sekularic. Medic was an immediate success and was selected during that year to the CSL All Star team for a match against visiting Clyde FC of the Scottish First Division. Medic was a member of a successful Serbian White Eagles side that won the International Division of the CSL and the championship winning Serbian White Eagles team of 2008. In 2009 he was named the Canadian Soccer League’s Defender of the Year and the following year was in the Toronto FC side at the BMO Field against visiting Bolton Wanderers of England.
Medic was transferred to the CSL’s Brampton City, returned to Serbian White Eagles the following year and was assigned coaching and managerial positions.
“We are very pleased Mirko Medic has chosen to join our club where he will be in complete charge of the team.“ said Scarborough owner and GM Kiril Dimitrov. “Mirko has a first class reputation as a winner and Scarborough SC and the players will benefit. We also expect Mirko will identify players available in Europe and we will continue to provide opportunities for local players as well,” he added.
The CSL expects to play a five-month full season in 2021, setting the kickoff date mid-May through to the end of October.
