Vladimir Edouard

Vladimir Edouard (born 18 June 1978) is a Canadian-born Haitian former footballer who played as a forward. He also played at the international level with the Haiti national team.

Playing career

Youth career Edouard spent a portion of his youth in Haiti where he played at the youth level. In 1994, he returned to Quebec where he played in the local regional circuit the Ligue de soccer élite du Québec with Outaouais Football Club. After training in Poland with ŁKS Łódź academy he was offered a contract in 1997. He was also offered an athletic scholarship with Mercer University but declined the offer to pursue opportunities in Europe. In the Canada Summer Games, he featured in the tournament's final against Team British Columbia and contributed a goal to secure the gold medal for Quebec.

Montreal Impact He entered the professional ranks in 1998 by signing a contract with Montreal Impact in the A-League. In his debut season with Montreal, he assisted the club in securing the Can-Am Cup where he recorded a goal against Rochester Raging Rhinos. He helped Montreal secure a postseason berth by finishing second in their division. He would appear in 10 matches and record one goal in his debut season.

The following season Montreal was inactive due to financial restructuring and returned for the 2000 outdoor season. He re-signed with Montreal for the 2000 season. In his second season with the Impact, he featured in a friendly soccer tournament named La Coupe de Montreal that included the Guatemala and Haiti national teams. He played in the opening match against Haiti where Montreal won the game. He also recorded a goal in the tournament against RS Settat.

In 2001, he was released from his contract with Montreal.

Later career In 2001, he signed with the expansion franchise Ottawa Wizards of the Canadian Professional Soccer League. In his debut season with Ottawa, he assisted the club in securing a double (regular-season title & league cup) and also clinched a playoff berth. Ottawa would be eliminated in the preliminary round of the playoffs by St. Catharines Roma Wolves.

After a brief stint in Ottawa, he signed with league rivals Montreal Dynamites the following season. In the 2003 season, the club moved to the suburb of Laval, Quebec, resulting in a slight name change and Edouard re-signed with the team. After two seasons with the Dynamites, he played abroad in the USL Premier Development League with Vermont Voltage of the USL Premier Development League. In his debut season in Vermont, he appeared in five matches and scored one goal.

International career In 1999, he was called to the Canada men's national soccer team camp by head coach Holger Osieck.

Edouard would ultimately play for the Haiti national football team in 2000 and made his debut on March 11, 2000, against Dominica in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification match. He recorded his first international goal on April 1, 2000, against the Bahamas. He would add another pair of goals by scoring two against the Bahamas in another World Cup qualifier match. Before the commencement of the second round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifier matches, he played against Miami Fusion in a friendly match. He played against Trinidad and Tobago in the final round of the Caribbean Zone World Cup qualification.