A 2023 season that started with a glimmer of hope for Valour FC quickly went downhill, all the way to the bottom of the CPL table for the first time since the spring season of 2019.

After losing just two of their first ten matches, albeit six of those were draws, the Winnipeg side faded over the summer months, losing 12 of their remaining 18 contests. They finished with the fewest goals scored in the league, just 25 in 28 contests, and ultimately missed the playoffs by 12 points after finishing fifth the previous two seasons.

Finding the back of the net more in 2024 will be a big priority for Valour, who underperformed their expected goals by 7.6 this past season. So will picking up more wins at home, as they had just three in 2023 — the fewest in the league.

READ MORE: 6 questions ahead of Valour FC’s 2024 season

STORY OF 2023

• 2023 CPL regular season record (W-D-L): 6-8-14 (26 pts, 8th place)
• Goals scored: 25
• Goals against: 38
• Goal difference: -13
• Top scorer: Diego Gutiérrez, Walter Ponce, Kian Williams (4 goals)
• Canadian Championship: Lost in the preliminary round vs. TSS Rovers

Valour enter this season with renewed optimism and a large chip on their shoulder, however, after a busy off-season that thus far has resulted in 11 new signings and 16 departures.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

There will be a whole new cast of characters for Valour this season after a significant off-season reshuffle. Gone are club mainstays like 2023 Golden Glove nominee Rayane Yesli, 2023 Best Canadian U-21 Player Matteo de Brienne, captain Diego Gutiérrez, and Andrew Jean-Baptiste.

In their place is a talented incoming group of players, many of whom have a wealth of experience in this league. Valour added dependable central defender Tass Mourdoukoutas, formerly of York United, to its backline, veteran Noah Verhoeven on loan from Atlético Ottawa to the midfield, and joint-Vancouver FC 2023 leading goalscorer Shaan Hundal up top.

Another exciting add is 22-year-old fullback Themi Antonoglou, who made 13 appearances with Toronto FC over the past two campaigns and was a key player for their MLS Next Pro side.

COACH’S PROFILE

Having initially joined the club in September of 2021, Phillip Dos Santos begins the season as head coach of Valour FC for the third straight year.

This is his first head coaching job, but Dos Santos has significant experience as an assistant coach, including with the Ottawa Fury, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, San Francisco Deltas, Indy Eleven, and under his brother Marc with the Vancouver Whitecaps. He won the NASL Championship with San Francisco in 2017, a club that featured future CPLers Max Tissot, Karl Ouimette and Kyle Bekker.

PROJECTED STARTING XI

(4-3-3): Jonathan Viscosi; Roberto Alarcón, Tass Mourdoukoutas, Haris Chantzopoulos, Themi Antonoglou; Marcello Polisi, Dante Campbell, Noah Verhoeven; Jordan Faria, Kian Williams, Shaan Hundal 

With so many new players added to the mix, it will be intriguing to see how Phil Dos Santos decides to line up his side this coming season.

There are a few players who are probably locks based on their demonstrated quality in the league, like Mourdoukoutas at the back, Dante Campbell in midfield and Kian Williams with Shaan Hundal up front. But beyond that, there are a number of players who are tactically flexible and could move into a few different roles over the course of the season.

ROSTER NOTES

MORE READING

• Atlético Ottawa acquire goalkeeper Rayane Yesli, Noah Verhoeven joins Valour on loan
• ‘Winning at home is a must’: CPL clubs looking to improve home form during 2024 season
• ‘We owe something to our fans’: Valour FC’s Phil Dos Santos on the club’s rebuild ahead of 2024 season
• ‘A commanding presence in the backline’: Mourdoukoutas set to help steady Valour defence
• ‘I hope I inspired a lot of people today’: CBU’s Owen Sheppard selected first overall by Valour FC in 2024 CPL-U SPORTS Draft