The Montreal Roses took immediate action following their elimination from the W Canadian Championship by announcing the dismissal of their first head coach, Robert Rositoiu. Marinette Pichon, the club’s sporting director, made the announcement in a press release on Thursday morning, expressing gratitude to Rositoiu for establishing the foundation of the professional women’s soccer team during its early stages.
Acknowledging the difficult decision, Pichon emphasized the need for a fresh approach to propel the club forward for the remainder of the season and future growth. Despite Rositoiu’s departure, the club currently holds the second position in the Northern Super League (NSL) with 27 points and has 10 matches remaining in the regular season.
Appointed as head coach in September 2024 in preparation for the Roses’ inaugural NSL season in 2025, Rositoiu leaves a vacancy that will be temporarily filled by Maryse Bard-Martel. Bard-Martel, who previously served as the team’s first assistant coach and head of goalkeeping, will assume the role of interim head coach as the club deliberates on finding a permanent successor to Rositoiu. Bard-Martel is set to lead the team in their upcoming game against AFC Toronto on Sunday.
