How Tiago Coimbra is looking to translate his confidence with West Ham United into success for the Halifax Wanderers
There wasn't a particular moment or play at Rush Green, West Ham United's training facility in East London, that made Tiago Coimbra feel like he belonged. Rather, the experience as a whole was a confirmation of something the 21-year old striker had long suspected: he has what it takes to play at another level.
"I already always thought that to myself," Coimbra told The Wanderers Notebook during a pitch side interview at BMO Soccer Centre on Tuesday. "It helps my confidence. If I can perform (in Halifax) and get a move somewhere, like to Europe, I know I won't be out of place. I've already been there. I've experienced it."
Coimbra flew to England at the beginning of February to test himself amongst West Ham's U-21 squad. He also spent time training with the first team. And although the English Premier League (EPL) and Canadian Premier League (CPL) may seem like worlds apart, the Brazilian - Canadian felt at ease on the pitch with players who share football's biggest spotlight.
The biggest difference, he said, comes down to mentality.
"I'd say the mindset and pretty much everything off the field changes: the pitches, the ball, the money," he explained. "But I don't feel that the quality of players we have in the CPL are very far off from what they have. I wasn't blown away. I felt like I was training at the same level with the guys. I wasn't out of place."
This year, the Wanderers are betting Coimbra harnesses that confidence into results on the pitch. Their actions, since his arrival in 2023, indicate they've put their faith into a player who has the potential to be sold upwards. They've paid for him to train in England. They've signed him to a contract well into his 20s, giving him the runway to prove himself as one of the league's top strikers. And they've officially given him the No. 9 shirt, opting not to sign another striker and instead — both symbolically and actually — anointed him as their starting man.
Make no mistake: 2025 is Coimbra's opportunity to shine.
It is also, inevitably, a huge test for a young player who has the profile and pedigree to succeed but has yet to put all the pieces together on the pitch.
Asked about how he feels re-joining his teammates and the expectations placed upon him this season, Coimbra said it's all part of being a professional footballer.
“A lot of people could say it’s a lot of pressure but I wouldn’t say that’s pressure. I take it as a privilege to have the No. 9 (shirt), to be able to be given a bigger role than I’ve had before. I take that as privilege. I need to step up to the plate at the end of the day," he said.
One aspect that will make or break Coimbra's campaign is injuries; through his first two professional seasons, the striker has had several muscle injuries that have limited his minutes. Coimbra played 917 minutes through 20 matches in his rookie season but dealt with a thigh injury. However, his minutes actually fell in 2024, suiting up for 796 minutes in the same number of matches.
When healthy, the six-foot-two striker is a handful for defenders, strong on his feet and dangerous in the air. And as Coimbra shared, the Wanderers have made changes to try and keep him on the pitch scoring goals versus nursing knocks.
Enter Halifax's new head of performance, Nicholas Edwards. From Calgary, Alberta, Edwards earned a master's degree in strength and conditioning from Middlesex University in England. He then went on to assist with clubs ranging from Cavalry FC to the Vancouver Whitecaps to Nottingham Forest in the EPL.
Before Coimbra had even joined the Wanderers training camp, Edwards had already prepared a detailed, week by week training and recovery schedule that the club hopes will make the striker's injury problems a thing of the past.
“I think in my professional career, my biggest problem is staying healthy. Just staying healthy and not pulling my hamstring or hurting myself, which is something the club has changed this year. They brought in Nick from Nottingham Forest and I’ve come in and I’ve seen many changes from the club," explained Coimbra.
"He's already set up my plan for the next six months, for the next two weeks. I feel like for me to become an important player for this team or for me to take the next step in my career, I just need to stay healthy. I can say I feel perfectly fine but my body may act in a different way. Right now, I'm listening to Nick and doing what he's telling me to do."
The promise of keeping Coimbra healthy bodes well: he was third in the CPL last year in non-penalty goals per 90 minutes. Finding that level of finishing is rare. And with an increased role, and hopefully more minutes, it's safe to assume that the 21-year old can build on his career goal totals.
Of course, predicting a breakout season and actually delivering are two different things. But no one around the Wanderers would be surprised if Coimbra rewards their faith this year. They are, in many ways, betting on it.
"Hopefully I can make the most of it," he said.
Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers FC
