![President of the St Lucia Football Association [SLFA], Lyndon Cooper introduced Stern John as the new Head Coach of the St Lucia National Senior Men’s Football team.](https://www.thevoiceslu.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Lyndon-Cooper-Stern-John.jpg)
President of the St Lucia Football Association [SLFA], Lyndon Cooper introduced John during the 35th annual FA Congress, held last Saturday, in Vieux Fort. The appointment of a head coach was among some pertinent issues discussed with the affiliate representatives.
The first order of business for the new coach will be to get the National Senior Men Team in contention to participate in the upcoming CONCACAF Nation’s League.
Highly rated for his goal-scoring prowess among the best in the world, John is a decorated former international player, who represented the “Soca Warriors” at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals.
John’s technical ability includes a stint as Head Coach for Anguilla Men’s Senior National Team and is a former Assistant Coach for the Trinidad and Tobago Senior Men’s Team. He was also the head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago U-17 Men’s Team in 2019.
John has won the Trinidad and Tobago Professional League title with Central FC at the club level in 2017. In 2018, he led the club to the winners’ row in Group B of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship Group stage, helping the team to advance to the Finals where they placed fourth. In 2016, as Assistant Coach, he helped to guide Central FC to the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship title.
As a player, John amassed 70 goals in 115 international appearances for his country and is currently 18th on the list of Leading Goal scorers in International football
John played in the English Premiership for Birmingham City, winning the club’s leading goal scorer award in 2003. He also played for other clubs, which included Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Coventry City, Southampton, and Bristol Rovers; and won an English Championship Division winners medal with Sunderland in 2007.
He won the American Major League Soccer (MLS) Top scorer award in 1998, with 26 goals for Columbus Crew in 1998, and also earned selection on the MLS All-Star team that year.
Commenting on the appointment, John expressed delight in his new role.
“I am delighted to have been appointed head coach of the St Lucia Men’s National Team. I’d like this opportunity to thank the President of the FA and his team for showing their confidence in me with the appointment,” John said.
“A new journey begins this month and I believe that with the right mindset and with a proper, calculated approach with the necessary support, we can put St Lucia back on the football map in our region,” John said.
He added: “History shows that this island has produced some quality players in the past who have played professional football in Europe in countries such as England and Portugal. This is evidence that there are talented and capable players in St Lucia’s football. It’s just to get that belief again among the players and people of St Lucia.”
John asserted, “The President and the FA have a clear vision of what they want to achieve and the direction they want to take the football. I will give it my all to try and bring some level of respect and stability to the National Team and hopefully some smiles to the people of St Lucia again. “
Team 758 is gearing up to take on Dominica, in an away game on June 9; and then a home game against Anguilla, on June, 12.