OTTAWA - Former Canadian international Jason deVos has been named Canada Soccer's director of development.

In the newly created role, deVos will be responsible for the overall management, direction and development of coaching and grassroots development programs across Canada.

Canada Soccer president Victor Montagliani called deVos the "ideal candidate" for the job based on his "extensive experience in and knowledge of soccer development in the formative years."

"We could not have chosen a more passionate soccer advocate to lead Canadian soccer's change management," Montagliani said Tuesday in a release.

Earlier this year, Montagliani said Canada Soccer's primary focus between this year and 2018 will be investment in technical leadership.

DeVos, 42, is a product of Canada's development system and a decorated Canadian international and professional player.

With nearly 20 years of experience as a player, including stints as captain of the Canadian national team, Dundee United, Wigan Athletic and Ipswich Town FC, the defender also spent time with the MLS Montreal Impact.

"I look forward to developing a strong working relationship with our provincial and territorial association member associations as we evolve and enhance both our player and coach development systems in Canada," he said.

DeVos, who retired in 2008 after 49 appearances for Canada, has been involved in grassroots development with Oakville Soccer and the Ontario Soccer Association. He is also a TSN analyst.

He will begin his new role Sept. 5.

Canada had 823,450 registered soccer players in 2015. Almost 40 per cent of those were in Ontario (328,480).

While Canada's women's program has flourished under coach John Herdman, the men's side has struggled.

Canada is in the midst of attempting to advance to the next round of World Cup qualifying with a pivotal game set for later this week in Honduras. The men have not made the World Cup since 1987, their only appearance in the premiere event.

Canada's men failed to qualify for the U-17 and U-20 World Cups in 2015 and the Olympics in 2016. In May, Montagliani called those results "a disappointment."

He said both the U-17 and U-20 teams had underperformed while the Olympic team was hampered by clubs failing to release players.