A special sleeve patch being worn by players for Coquitlam Metro Ford Soccer Club (CMFSC) will take on extra meaning.
The patch reads commemorates William "Willy" Azzi, who helped found the organization, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this season.
It reads "Azzi di Tradizione."
Azzi died on Oct. 14, 2024, at the age of 86.
In a statement on its Instagram page, CMFSC said Azzi’s “contributions were instrumental in shaping the soccer community in Coquitlam,” adding its cofounder “dedicated himself to nurturing individual players and building championship teams, helping establish what is now a thriving youth and adult soccer club.”
According to Azzi’s biography at the BC Soccer Hall of Fame, where he was inducted as a builder in 2023, he was born near Modena, Italy, in 1937 and came to Canada with his family in 1950, settling near Commercial Drive.
Azzi was an avid youth soccer player and he also boxed to help him get the measure of bullies. Following high school, he attended UBC and Western Washington State College, then launched a career as a teacher at Charles Tupper Secondary in Vancouver.
Azzi then headed east of Boundary Road, teaching math, economics and business, as well as coaching soccer, at Centennial Secondary, Port Coquitlam High and Port Moody Secondary schools until he retired in 1995.
Azzi envisioned CMFSC as a collection of Select teams of top players competing in the Westminster youth district that extended from New Westminster to Maple Ridge. It quickly blossomed into one the largest and most successful youth and adult programs in Canada, with players of all abilities.
Azzi not only managed the club’s affairs but also coached several teams, leading many to provincial championships.
In 1991, Azzi led a group of 12 local investors that applied to the former Canadian Soccer League (CSL) to establish a pro team at Coquitlam’s new 2,000-seat Town Centre Stadium. He said it would be a destination for the area’s wealth of talented young players to launch professional careers.
“I don’t think our problem is going to be player talent,” Azzi said.
But the league’s board of governors wasn’t quite as enthusiastic and rejected the bid without even taking a vote.
“The timing was not favourable,” said CSL president Mario Di Bartolomeo.
Undaunted, Azzi took the reins of the Vancouver Metro Soccer League, the region’s top men’s circuit, in 1993 and helped save it from financial ruin after an embezzlement scandal by his predecessor. He remained its president until 2017.
In 2020, the league named the trophy awarded to its premier division champion, “The William Azzi Cup.”
Members of the local soccer community eulogized Azzi’s contributions fondly.
“A true legend,” said one on Instagram. “His passion for the sport and player development were unmatched.”
“One of the truly great builders of our local soccer community,” said another.
In a post on its website, the Vancouver Whitecaps called Azzi “an influential builder and legend… Whitecaps FC offer our condolences to the Azzi family and friends as we remember his incredible legacy to build the sport in our community.”
The club mourns the passing of William Azzi, an influential builder and legend in the local soccer community.
— X - Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) October 20, 2024
We offer our heartfelt condolences to the Azzi family and friends. ❤️#VWFC https://t.co/bwsnPFdBbJ
In addition to his place in the BC Soccer Hall of Fame, Azzi was also inducted into the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and he was presented the President’s Award from Sport BC twice. He was also honoured by BC Soccer with a lifetime membership, the Award of Merit and the A.C. Sandford Award.
A funeral mass for Azzi will be held Friday, Oct. 25, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Burnaby (6610 Balmoral St.), followed by a reception to celebrate his life at the Coquitlam branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (1025 Ridgeway Ave.) beginning at 12 noon.
A scholarship fund to support young soccer players has also been established in Azzi’s name.
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