A 42-year-old Canadian soccer coach pleaded guilty on Friday to 26 charges of sexual assault against teenage boys some as young as 12 years-old.

Thierry Massimo was arrested July 2009 after former students complained that between 2001 and 2009 he molested them while working as the coach at Celtix du Haut-Richelieu in saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

South Shore Soccer Association released the Montreal Casino chef from his coaching responsibilities following his arrest.

Authorities say Massimo took advantage of his position to obtain sexual favors from his victims, who were between the ages of 12 and 16.

The soccer Association released a statement saying a police background check that was performed on Massimo before he was hired came out clean.