A fiery competitor

Nick De Santis has always been a fiery competitor from the days that he kicked a ball around in the back lanes of Saint-Michel to his current position as head coach of the Montreal Impact.

"If things don't work out one year, you have to work hard to make it better the next season," said recently the 39-year-old over a coffee at Dupond & Dupont. That's only a few minutes away from his current residence in TMR where he has lived for the past three years with his wife Anna and lately with one-year-old daughter Sofia.

Born into an Italian family, it was natural to take up soccer and join a league at age 8, which would be considered late nowadays. Growing up in Canada, however, he also started to play organized hockey at the same age and continued with the winter sport for eight more years.

With the two sports complementing each other in many ways, hockey helped De Santis in his soccer development. Playing the crucial position of centre-midfielder, he possessed stamina, vision and excellent play-making abilities.

From there, he was invited to play for provincial teams and then the Canadian national junior team where he learned to become a more complete player and travelled extensively to South America, the Caribbean and Europe. De Santis had to temporarily stop his schooling due to the travelling, but he still got another type of education.

"I learned quite a lot about different peoples. It just expanded my vision and my horizons."

In 1988, he joined the Montreal Supra where he was a leading player for four years and then the Impact the next year. For the 2002 and 2003 seasons, he became player-assistant coach, helping the Impact to become the top Canadian team in the United Soccer League. That achievement impressed management so much that he was asked to take the team as head coach.

With injuries becoming draining each off-season, it didn't take much for a long-time soccer friend to convince De Santis to grab the opportunity. He hasn't regretted the decision at all.

"The club is more than just a job. Nothing is more important than its success."

In his first year, 2004, as head coach, he led the Impact to the league championship and to regular-season titles the past two years. In the meanwhile, De Santis helped to set various team and league records for fewest season losses and undefeated streaks.

Off the field, he's involved in making trade decisions, scouting new talent and doing a lot of community outreach such as conducting team practices publicly, running the Première touche soccer clinic and touring the regions around Montreal. "Our club is very accessible. That's what people love about our club and why we're successful in the stands."

Residing in TMR enables De Santis and his family to continue living in the city, being close to parents and relatives and enjoying a high quality of life. "The area is great. It's very green with a lot of trees."

During walkabouts in the spring and summer, he loves to watch amateur soccer and the encouraging development of the sport locally. "In smaller areas like TMR and Outremont, soccer is developing at such a fast rate that it's unbelievable." That passion is even rubbing off on many soccer parents who are taking up the sport themselves and creating adult leagues.

As for his own future, De Santis wants to continue coaching and helping the Impact for a long time. "Hopefully, I'll be around with the club as coach or as a manager to help keep it grow and keep winning."