Bruno Pilaš
Yugoslavian footballer (1950–2011)
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Bruno Pilaš (21 November 1950 – 11 June 2011) was a Yugoslavian professional footballer who played as a striker in the NASL between 1973 and 1977 for the Toronto Metros-Croatia.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 November 1950 | ||
| Place of birth | Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia | ||
| Date of death | 11 June 2011 (aged 60) | ||
| Place of death | Oakville, Canada | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1969–1970 | Dinamo Zagreb | 0 | (0) |
| 1971–1972 | Toronto Croatia | ||
| 1973–1977 | Toronto Metros-Croatia | 78 | (19) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1987 | Toronto Croatia | ||
| 1993 | Toronto Italia | ||
| 2001 | Toronto Croatia | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Before he arrived in North America, he began his career in 1969 with Dinamo Zagreb.[2][3] In 1971, he went abroad to play in the National Soccer League (NSL) with Toronto Croatia, where he won the NSL Championship.[4][5][6]
Coaching career
In 1977, due to chronic injuries, he retired from professional football and embarked upon a coaching career where he managed Toronto Croatia several times in the Canadian Professional Soccer League.[7] In 1987, he served as the head coach for Toronto Croatia in the National Soccer League.[8] In 1993, he managed NSL rivals Toronto Italia.[9]
After a year's absence, Pilaš returned as head coach for the Croats in 2001.[10] Once the season concluded, he was nominated for the league's coach of the year.[11]
