John Yacou has announced he is leaving Scrosoppi Football Club following his third season leading SFC senior teams in League1 Ontario.

After joining as head coach in 2023, he oversaw the men’s side for three seasons and accomplished plenty throughout his tenure, including a Premier Division title in 2024, an L1 Cup trophy in 2025, and two divisional runners-up finishes during that time. 

In 2024, he coached Scrosoppi’s inaugural League1 Ontario women’s team as they took to the field for the first time, and just a year later he helped them achieve a first-place finish to secure promotion from the Women’s Championship to the Premier.

In regular-season games with the senior men’s team John won an impressive 45 out of 62, taking SFC from 12th in the Men’s Premier standings in 2022 to being consistent title challengers across the next three years. He coached and developed plenty of quality, often getting the best out of experienced names and up-and-coming talent. 

The record of Scrosoppi’s women in their first two seasons has been just as remarkable under John’s guidance, with 19 victories in 34 league games. While they came second in the 2024 standings, they claimed promotion on the final day of the 2025 season with a late 2-1 victory at Pickering. 

Following the Men’s Premier 2024 title, John received the division’s Coach of the Year accolade – an award for which he was a finalist in 2023 after reaching the division’s playoff final. He then claimed his second successive Coach of the Year honour in 2025, this time in the Women’s Championship after he guided the squad to silverware and promotion.

Outside of League1 Ontario competition, John also led Scrosoppi’s men’s side in the 2025 TELUS Canadian Championship and set up his team to provide a stern test for professional outfit Atlético Ottawa, who went on to win the Canadian Premier League later in the year.

In a statement on Instagram, John said: “Three years with some of the greatest people I’ve ever worked with. The life of a coach is filled with so many highs and lows; we only realize how precious the highs are when we experience the lows. 

“As this chapter comes to an end, I owe everything to everyone who supported this journey. To my staff – thank you for always having my back, for your endless hard work and sacrifice. I can truly look at every single one of you and say I have a friend for life.

“To the organization – thank you for trusting me to lead your top teams. Your commitment and dedication to excellence inspired me to give my all for the badge. Together we shared wonderful moments that will last a lifetime.

“And finally to my players – wow, what a blessing! Maybe the compliments were a few but the love for you was unconditional always, from the 6am sessions to leaving the field at midnight we built something that we can all forever be proud of. You made me not only a better coach but a better person and for that I’ll always be grateful to share the pitch with you.

“Each and every single one of you became a brother or a sister to me in these past few seasons; as a family we won, we lost, we laughed, we cried, and lifted trophies together. I love you all and thank you for allowing me to share this part of my life with you.” 

Scrosoppi’s General Manager, Sara Raulino, added that the club’s gratitude runs deep.

“Thank you to John for pouring his heart into leading our L1 men’s and women’s teams,” she said. “His passion, commitment, and relentless hard work have shaped the success of both squads and lifted Scrosoppi FC to the top of the table.

“He has left a lasting mark on our club and on everyone who had the privilege of working with him. We wish him nothing but the very best in his next chapter, and we know he will continue to inspire and achieve great things in football.”

The club's Executive Director, Shayne Griffin, also added: “Thank you so much to John for his time and dedication to Scrosoppi.

“He elevated the standards of what is expected and what can be achieved at the League1 level. His passion for the game, his players and those around him is unmatched and will be missed. I wish him all the best in his next steps.”

Heading into 2026 with another trophy for Scrosoppi’s men to defend, and a new division for the women's team to face, the club wholeheartedly thanks John Yacou for all of his hard work and the success he brought, and we wish him the best for his future endeavors.