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Atlético Ottawa come into the 2023 campaign off the back of the best season in club history. The regular season title winners and North Star Shield runners-up, they had a year to remember, and one that they will hope they can continue to build on in 2023. 

With a lot on the line this season, including multiple berths in an expanded Concacaf Champions League, this could be another transformative season for one of the league’s most ambitious clubs – who will also look to continue their impressive growth off the pitch and in the stands as well.

CPL 5 x 5: Key stats, storylines & quotes for Atlético Ottawa’s 2023 season

STORY OF 2022

• 2022 CPL regular season record (W-D-L): 13-10-5 (49 pts, 1st place)
• Goals scored: 36
• Goals against: 29
• Goal difference: +7
• Top scorer: Ollie Bassett (8)
• Canadian Championship: Lost (on penalties) in preliminary round vs. York United FC

2022 was the year that a switch flipped for Atlético Ottawa. After finishing last place in 2021 – their first full season since joining the Canadian Premier League as its expansion club – Ottawa jumped all the way up into first place in the regular season standings. That included going unbeaten in their final nine games of the regular season. They followed up an incredible regular season title by beating the reigning champions Pacific FC in the semifinals, but fell just short of winning the North Star Shield – losing 2-0 in front of 15,000 fans at TD Place to Forge FC. 

Head coach Carlos Gonzalez and midfielder Ollie Bassett were honoured for their stellar seasons at the end of the year, with Gonzalez winning the Coach of the Year and Bassett taking home both the Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

A few of Atlético Ottawa’s key players from a year ago have departed the club – with the likes of Ballou Tabla, Brian Wright, and Abdoul Sissoko moving onto new clubs, Sergio Camus returning to Atlético Madrid B and Drew Beckie retiring, among others.

They have made some big additions as well, however, with Canadian international defender Karl Ouimette returning to Canada with the club, as well as several signings from other CPL clubs – including Noah Verhoeven from York United, Sam Salter from the Halifax Wanderers and Gianni Dos Santos from Pacific FC.

One of the biggest additions, or returnees technically, has been extending Diego Espejo’s loan at the club for another season from Atlético Madrid B. They also have a few players on loan from Major League Soccer clubs, with defender Luke Singh from Toronto FC and winger Jean-Aniel Assi from CF Montreal signing on for the year.

COACH’S PROFILE

Carlos Gonzalez was something of an unknown when he was announced as the second head coach in Atlético Ottawa history not long before the 2022 CPL season, but he has since established himself as one of the top coaching minds in the league, and the country.

Gonzalez, who didn’t even build a lot of his roster or have an entire preseason to work with the team, was able to take Atleti from eighth place all the way up to first in the regular season standings. Going from the poorest defensive team in 2021 to one of the best in the league in 2022, Gonzalez led Ottawa to their first CPL final, where although they would come up just short of a first North Star Shield, they proved that they were one of the best teams all season long.

Gonzalez was awarded the league’s Coach of the Year award for his efforts, and will be looking to build on the strong foundation in place for another run at the title in 2023.

PROJECTED STARTING XI

(3-4-3): Nathan Ingham; Miguel Acosta, Diego Espejo, Karl Ouimette; Carl Haworth, Ollie Bassett, Noah Verhoeven, Maxim Tissot; Jean-Aniel Assi, Malcolm Shaw, Gianni Dos Santos.

Expect a fairly similar formation and style of play to how Ottawa ended the 2022 season. The spine of the team is pretty much locked in – Nathan Ingham will be the starter in goal, Diego Espejo will anchor the backline, and Ollie Bassett will be the main man in midfield. Around them, however, there are some versatile options. 

If Ottawa are looking to play the hybrid between a back three and back four again, then it makes sense for them to go back to what worked very well last season – playing Maxim Tissot on the left side of midfield and Miguel Acosta, who is usually a right back, on the right side of the three centre-backs. When defending, Tissot can drop deep to play as a left back, but in attack he can push forward, or Acosta can do the same on the other side if Tissot drops back. They will likely be joined in the backline by new signing Karl Ouimette, a centre-back with national team experience. 

Another new signing, former York United and Pacific FC midfielder Noah Verhoeven, is expected to join Ollie Bassett in central midfield a lot of the time, but Zakaria Bahous could also slot in there after an impressive end to his 2022 season.

In attack, striker Malcolm Shaw and right winger Carl Haworth are the only two returning players, but Ottawa have also made two big additions thus far – signing Sam Salter from the Halifax Wanderers in the first in what was the Canadian Premier League’s first inter-league transfer for a fee, as well as 2021 CPL champion Gianni Dos Santos from Pacific FC. All of them can play up the middle or out wide, with the exception of Haworth who only tends to play on the right and will likely play more as a wide midfielder than a winger. 

Jean-Aniel Assi and Zach Verhoven will also be impact players, and can both play on either wing, with Verhoven also having the ability to play as a fullback/wingback. This squad has a lot of versatility, and the quality needed to challenge for the regular season and postseason titles.

ROSTER NOTES

MORE READING

• ‘Hopefully we can go one better’: CPL Player of the Year Bassett looking to build on special first season with Atlético Ottawa
• ‘I’m not going anywhere’: Atlético Ottawa captain Drew Beckie announces retirement
• ‘I’m even more motivated’: Bassett, Ingham reflect on training stint with Atlético de San Luis