Welcome to CPL50, a series where we’ll reveal the top 50 players from the 2021 Canadian Premier League regular season, as voted on by a panel of coaches from all eight teams and media from OneSoccer and CanPL.ca.
For more information on the voting process and method, click here.
Coming in at number 20 in the CPL50 countdown is York United utility man Max Ferrari. The 21-year-old from Newmarket, Ontario took part in 27 of 28 regular season matches for the Nine Stripes, starting 26 of them, and playing over 2,200 minutes.
Signed by the club ahead of the 2020 season in PEI, Ferrari has previously played for the Humber Hawks in the OCAA, as well as Aurora FC in League1 Ontario.
He played several positions in 2021, most often on the right wing. He also played on the left wing and at both fullback positions, and at times would play multiple positions in the same game as a result of substitutions and in-game tactical shifts from Jimmy Brennan.
Ferrari scored twice in league action, and added another four assists. He also led the team with 62 fouls won, and finished in third among York players in duels won (155).
GOAL ?
Another GOAL OF THE WEEK nominee ?@YorkUtdFC's Max Ferrari smacks the post with this audacious cross/shot to punish @ForgeFCHamilton at the hour mark#CanPL ?? | ? https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/T0ztvDFhAJ
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) September 11, 2021
He was nominated for the CPL’s U21 Canadian Player of the Year award, but ultimately lost to Pacific FC midfielder Alessandro Hojabrpour.
After a strong year in his first full professional season, Ferrari was rewarded with a contract extension through the end of the 2024 CPL season. He will be a big part of the club going forward into next year and beyond, bringing the tactical flexibility and strong all-around ability that every team wants.
The rest of the CPL50 countdown is available here. Five more players will be revealed per day until December 22.