Paul DeAbreu – Soccer Coach, Mentor & Youth

Paul DeAbreu is a Guyanese-born soccer coach with a remarkable record in both Canadian and international women’s soccer. He has spent over a decade building programs and mentoring players as an assistant coach at York University’s Lions women’s team and as a head coach at the youth and international levels. DeAbreu’s career highlights include leading Ontario club teams to provincial and national titles, and guiding Guyana’s Under-20 women’s national team (the Lady Jags) on the CONCACAF stage. Known for his commitment to player development and preparation, Coach DeAbreu emphasizes discipline, training, and teamwork in every squad he leads. His journey from local club fields in Ontario to international tournaments exemplifies the impact a dedicated coach can have on the sport.

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Coaching Career in Canada

DeAbreu began making his mark in Ontario’s soccer scene long before joining the international stage. In 2011, he joined the York University Lions women’s soccer program as an assistant coach under long-time head coach Carmine Isacco. At York (a U Sports program in Toronto), he helps train and develop student-athletes competing in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference. Under his guidance, the Lions have continued their tradition of success (York has won multiple OUA titles and national banners historically). In this collegiate role, DeAbreu focuses on technical skills, game tactics, and mentoring players both on and off the field.

Alongside his university duties, DeAbreu played a pivotal role in Ontario youth and club soccer. He served as head coach of the Pickering Power Girls (Ontario Youth Soccer League) for U15 and U17 teams. Most notably, his 2010 U16 girls team went undefeated, winning the OYSL league title, the Ontario Cup (provincial championship), and a national championship. This “treble” was a historic feat – one player’s college bio explicitly notes she was a “Member of the 2010 National Champion Pickering Power Green under head coach Paul Deabreu”. DeAbreu’s success at Pickering Power demonstrated his ability to develop young talent and build winning teams.

Other key roles in his Canadian coaching career include:

York University Lions (Women’s Soccer): Assistant Coach (2011–present) – Integral in training, recruiting, and tactical planning for the varsity team. York’s women’s program has a storied history in Ontario sports, and DeAbreu has been part of multiple playoff runs.
Pickering Power Girls: Head Coach (U15/U17) – Oversaw elite girls youth teams. In 2010 his U16 squad captured the OYSL Cup, Ontario Cup, and National Championship.
Vaughan Azzurri (OPDL & League1 Ontario): U17 Head Coach (Ontario Player Development League, OPDL) and technical staff. The OPDL is Ontario’s top youth performance league. In 2023–2024 Vaughan Azzurri announced him as U17 head coach and part of their League1 Ontario women’s staff, highlighting his expertise in youth development.
Durham/Toronto Lady Lynx (W-League): Assistant Coach – Contributed to the W-League (the former North American semi-pro women’s league) coaching staff, furthering his experience at the semi-professional level.
Unionville U18 Boys: Head Coach (2009–10) – Led the Unionville under-18 boys team to a silver medal at the Ontario Cup national championships.
Vaughan Azzurri U18 Boys: Assistant Coach (2008) – Assisted in coaching a top U18 boys program, showing his versatility across genders.

By working across university, youth club, and semi-pro teams, Paul DeAbreu built a broad coaching résumé in Canada. This foundation laid the groundwork for his entry into international coaching with Guyana.

International Coaching: The Guyana Lady Jags

Starting in 2018, DeAbreu expanded his impact to the international stage with his home country. He joined Dr. Ivan Joseph’s staff as Assistant Coach for the Guyana U20 Women’s National Team (Lady Jags) in 2018. In this CONCACAF U20 program, he helped prepare young Guyanese players for regional championships. His responsibilities included organizing training camps, analyzing opponents, and directly coaching in international matches.

In late 2021, York University announced that both DeAbreu and assistant coach Tina Cook had been added to the Guyana senior Women’s National Team coaching staff (Lady Jags). This was a significant achievement: it meant he was now contributing to Guyana’s top women’s soccer program. By early 2022, DeAbreu had been promoted to Head Coach of the Guyana U20 Women’s team. The soccer statistics site Soccerway confirms his position: “Team: Guyana U20 – From: February 2022”, marking the beginning of his tenure as the head coach of the Lady Jags U20.

Under DeAbreu’s leadership, the Guyana U20 squad competed in the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship tournaments. In 2020 (with DeAbreu as assistant), Guyana reached the quarter-finals – a historic best finish for the team. In 2022, DeAbreu led the team again, advancing to the Round of 16. In a narrow 2-1 loss to Haiti, Guyana’s performance earned praise for its fighting spirit. DeAbreu reflected positively afterward, noting that the team “came together in such a short period” and highlighting an upset win over Honduras. He viewed these experiences as learning opportunities – valuable exposure to high-level play in CONCACAF competition.

DeAbreu has also continued his role with the Guyana senior women’s team. In April 2022 Guyanese media listed him as an assistant coach on Ivan Joseph’s staff. As part of the Lady Jags coaching team, he helped prepare the senior national squad in World Cup qualifiers. Working with both the U20 and senior teams, DeAbreu is uniquely positioned to bridge Guyana’s women’s programs across age groups.

Achievements and Honors

Throughout his career, Paul DeAbreu has accumulated numerous titles and accolades, especially at the youth level. Some of his major achievements include:

2010 OYSL U16 Girls Champion (Pickering Power): An undefeated season culminating in winning the Ontario Youth Soccer League (OYSL) Cup.
2010 Ontario Cup Champion: Provincial championship winner with Pickering Power under DeAbreu’s guidance.
2010 National Championship (BMO Nationals, U16 Girls): Pickering Power Green captured the Canadian national title, a feat credited in part to DeAbreu’s coaching.
League Championship Titles: League1/Premier/Championship titles with various youth teams (e.g. Pickering Power U16, 2010; finalist in 2011).
Ontario Cup Silver Medal (Unionville U18 Boys, 2010): As head coach, led Unionville to the finals of the provincial club championships.
International Milestones (Guyana U20): Guided Guyana to its first-ever U20 Quarterfinals at the 2020 CONCACAF Championships, improving on prior results.
Professional Coaching Appointments: Selected as an assistant for Guyana’s senior national team and as head coach of the U20 women, evidencing recognition by the Guyana Football Federation of his expertise.

DeAbreu’s influence also shows in the players he has developed. For example, defender Rachel Hoekstra was part of his 2010 champion Pickering team and later played NCAA Division I soccer at Georgia Southern University. Many of his former players have gone on to compete in U Sports (Canadian university) and NCAA programs, a testament to his focus on both athletic and personal development.

Coaching Philosophy and Style

Paul DeAbreu’s coaching style is defined by preparation, fitness, and learning. In interviews, he often stresses that success comes from meticulous groundwork. As he told Guyanatimes after a CONCACAF U20 run, “Winning a sport starts from preparation. It starts from years, months, and up to the last few hours before competition.” He further emphasized that moving forward “we need to be better prepared, mentally, physically and emotionally”. In other words, DeAbreu focuses on long-term development: comprehensive training plans, conditioning, and mental readiness for players.

Playing against experienced international opponents has shaped his approach. He noted that facing top CONCACAF teams was an “eye-opener,” especially in terms of pace and physicality. “The take-away… was the caliber, the style of play, how technical they were and their aggressiveness,” he said of matches versus Central American sides. Speed of play and aggression were common feedback points, showing that DeAbreu uses high-level matches as learning experiences for his teams.

Some core tenets of Coach DeAbreu’s philosophy include:

Thorough Preparation: Emphasizing years of buildup to each competition, including fitness regimes, tactical planning, and practice intensity.
Continuous Learning: Treating every game as a chance to learn. He analyzes opponents’ styles (e.g. their aggressive play) to improve his players’ performance.
Mental and Physical Resilience: Building mental toughness alongside technical skill. DeAbreu trains players to handle pressure and “nervousness” by being truly game-ready.
Player Development: Focusing on youth education, he aims to advance players through the ranks. His career in OPDL and university soccer reflects a dedication to developing athletes on and off the field.

These principles have earned him praise as a mentor and educator. Players under his guidance often comment on his positivity and attention to detail. His ability to lead different age groups and both genders also shows adaptability. By blending local Canadian coaching methods with his Guyanese football perspective, DeAbreu brings a unique, well-rounded approach to the game.

FAQ

Who is Paul DeAbreu?

Paul DeAbreu is a soccer coach known for leading youth and university teams in Canada and coaching the Guyana women’s national teams. He serves as an assistant coach for York University’s women’s soccer program (York Lions) and as head coach of the Guyana U-20 women’s national team. He is recognized for his championship-winning teams and emphasis on player development.

What teams has Paul DeAbreu coached?

DeAbreu has coached at multiple levels: university (York Lions women’s soccer), youth clubs (Pickering Power Girls and Vaughan Azzurri OPDL teams), semi-pro (Toronto/Durham Lady Lynx in the W-League), and national teams (Guyana U20 and senior women’s teams). Notable roles include Pickering Power Girls head coach and Guyana Lady Jags assistant coach.

What are his notable achievements as a coach?

He led Pickering Power’s U16 girls to an undefeated 2010 season with OYSL, Ontario Cup, and national titles. He guided Unionville’s U18 boys to an Ontario Cup silver medal. Internationally, he helped Guyana’s U20 women reach the CONCACAF quarter-finals in 2020. He has also won league championships with various teams in Canada.

What is Paul DeAbreu’s role with the Guyana national teams?

He has served as an assistant coach for the Guyana U20 women’s team since 2018 and became head coach of that team in 2022. In 2021, he also joined the coaching staff of the Guyana senior women’s team (Lady Jags) under head coach Ivan Joseph. In these roles, he helps train and develop Guyanese women players for international competitions.

What is DeAbreu’s coaching philosophy?

DeAbreu emphasizes preparation and resilience. He often says, “Winning…starts from preparation…years, months, and up to the last few hours before competition”. His teams focus on being mentally and physically ready for the game, analyzing opponents, and learning from higher-level play. He aims to instill confidence, discipline, and continuous improvement in his players.

How has Paul DeAbreu impacted youth soccer development?

By coaching elite youth teams (e.g. Pickering Power, OPDL programs) and university athletes, DeAbreu has advanced many players’ careers. His clubs have won top youth leagues, and many former players have progressed to college scholarships. He has also helped shape Canadian youth development standards, aligning with Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) principles in Ontario. His work in OPDL and in university soccer exemplifies a holistic approach to nurturing young talent.

Conclusion

Paul DeAbreu Soccer Coach has built an impressive coaching resume through dedication to player growth and winning mindsets. From guiding youth clubs to championships, to mentoring student-athletes at York University, to leading Guyana’s national women’s teams, he consistently strives for excellence. DeAbreu’s philosophy — thorough preparation and continuous learning — has helped his teams compete fiercely at every level. As his career continues, he remains a role model for coaches and players alike.