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Dale William Mitchell (born April 21, 1958) is a Canadian former professional soccer striker who played for several North American teams in the 1980s and 1990s.
He made 55 appearances for the Canadian national team and scored a then national record 19 goals. He coached the Canadian national team from May 2007 until March 27, 2009. In 2012 as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial celebration, he was named to the all-time Canada XI men's team. He was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2002. In March 2014 it was announced that he would also be a 2014 inductee into the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame.
Club career
Mitchell played in the former North American Soccer League. He began his professional career with the Vancouver Whitecaps (1977, 1978), then played for the Portland Timbers (1979 to 1982) and for the Montreal Manic (1983). He was an original player with the Vancouver 86ers of the Canadian Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League for whom he scored 37 goals during seasons from 1988 to 1990 and 1992 to 1994. He was with the Toronto Blizzard for the 1991 season.
Mitchell also played nine indoor soccer seasons in the old Major Indoor Soccer League with the Tacoma Stars, Kansas City Comets, and the Baltimore Blast. Mitchell finished as the league's third all-time goal scorer and fourth in total points with 406 goals and 280 assists for 686 points.
International career
Mitchell played every minute of Canada's matches at the 1984 Summer Olympics, scoring three goals including the equalizer when Canada took Brazil into extra time and eventually penalty kicks in the quarterfinals.
He made his senior debut for Canada in a September 1980 friendly match against New Zealand and played his final international in August 1993 against Australia. He represented Canada in 22 World Cup qualifiers and also played in the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals in Canada's third group stage match against the Soviet Union.
International goals
- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 September 1980 | Empire Stadium, Vancouver, Canada |  New Zealand | 2–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 15 September 1980 | Empire Stadium, Vancouver, Canada | New Zealand | 3–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 11 November 1980 | Guatemala City, Guatemala |  Guatemala | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 12 October 1981 | Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago |  Trinidad and Tobago | 4–2 | Friendly | |
| 5 | 12 October 1981 | Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | Trinidad and Tobago | 4–2 | Friendly | |
| 6 | 20 April 1985 | Victoria, Canada | Guatemala | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 20 April 1985 | Victoria, Canada | Guatemala | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 5 May 1985 | Guatemala City, Guatemala | Guatemala | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 8 May 1985 | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |  Haiti | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 2 June 1985 | Seoul, South Korea |  Ghana | 2–1 | Presidents Cup | |
| 11 | 2 October 1988 | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | Trinidad and Tobago | 2–1 | Friendly | |
| 12 | 15 October 1988 | Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada | Guatemala | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 15 October 1988 | Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada | Guatemala | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 14 | 28 June 1991 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, U.S. |  Honduras | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 15 | 28 June 1991 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, U.S. | Honduras | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 16 | 3 July 1991 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, U.S. |  Jamaica | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 17 | 18 October 1992 | National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica | Jamaica | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18 | 1 November 1992 | Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada | Jamaica | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 19 | 8 November 1992 | Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada |  El Salvador | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Managerial career
Following his retirement as a player, Mitchell coached the 86ers reserves squad and was first-team assistant coach from 1995 to 1999. He succeeded Carl Valentine as the club's head coach in 1999 when the club was renamed the Vancouver Whitecaps. From 2001 to 2007, Mitchell was Canada's Under-20 national team head coach. In 2004, he served as an assistant coach to Frank Yallop with the senior national team during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. In May 2007, he was appointed head coach of the Canadian men's senior team. In 2008, Canada did not progress beyond CONCACAF Stage III of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, finishing in the so-called CONCACAF Group of Death behind the higher-ranked Mexican and Honduran teams. Mitchell was relieved of his duties on 27 March 2009.