FROM COAST TO COAST

Sebastian Zucchet

2021-22 was one of the most successful seasons for the Canadian men's soccer team, with one of the main reasons being Canadian players emerging at the club level, especially in Europe. As seasons across various global football hubs come to an end, let's take a brief look at each Canadian player's season at the club level.

Maxime Crepeau

Crepaeu has enjoyed a brilliant start to the MLS campaign for LAFC. He’s started all 10 matches thus far and has kept 3 clean sheets as LAFC sit atop the MLS Western Conference. Crepaeu and his group remain heavy favorites for the MLS title this season.

Milan Borjan

The rock between the pipes for Canada has had a great season in Serbia’s top flight for Red Star Belgrade. Red Star sit 2 points atop the table with a pair of games to go hoping to win a fifth consecutive league title. Borjan has kept 22 clean sheets this season and enjoyed a good Europa League campaign which saw them top the group but eventually lose out to the finalists Rangers in the round of 16.

Kamal Miller

Kamal Miller has played in every match so far for CF Montreal, even scoring a goal and having 2 assists whilst being a rock in the backline for the club. Montreal currently sit third in the Eastern Conference of the MLS in the early stages of the season.

Steven Vitoria

Vitoria has had a rough season with his club Moreirense in the Portuguese top flight. The club sit in 17th with one game to go. A win will keep them safe from any sort of relegation pending other results. Anything less and they are relegated. Vitoria has made 17 appearances this season scoring 2 goals as club captain.

Sam Adekugbe

Adekugbe has had a great season with Turkish club Hatayspor with 33 appearances, absolutely flying up and down the wings and creating loads of chances while doing so. The club had a good start to the season but ended up in 11th place, which isn’t bad for a team in their second season in the top division. There is a possibility of him moving to a bigger club in Turkey next season, possibly joining some of his teammates.

Alistair Johnston

Johnston signed for CF Montreal this offseason from Nashville and has been an incredible addition to the side, playing every match and recording 3 assists. He is a bomb up and down the wings, whipping crosses in and is an incredible defender. He will be pivotal for the rest of Montreal’s campaign.

Richie Lareya

Lareya made an exciting move to Nottingham Forest in England during the January transfer window, and it has been a very slow start for him. He made his debut in a game vs West Brom on April 18 and since then has made five appearances. Forest finished in fourth place and are in promotion playoffs, so we could possibly see a Canadian footballer in the Premier League.

Alphonso Davies

The Canadian savior Alphonso Davies has had an up and down season for German giants Bayern Munich. Davies had a great start in the Bundesliga and Champions League but suffered from myocarditis in January, and took a while to recover. He has recently been back in top form and just recently lifted his fourth German championship. Hopefully next season he’s at his best.

Stephen Eustaquio

Canadian midfielding genius Stephen Eustaquio had a good first half of the season with Pacos de Ferreira in the top flight in Portugal, even scoring a goal against Larne in the Conference League qualification. His success with Canada caught the attention of European giants FC Porto who signed him on loan in January.

He hasn’t had quite the start he wanted as it is tough to get into the team, but Porto won the league last night against their main rivals Benfica, so we may see Eustaquio shine in the final few games. He also made a few appearances in their Europa League run, but if he signs permanently we can get used to watching him in the Champions League.

Mark Anthony Kaye

Kaye has 3 goals in 10 appearances for Colorado Rapids in the MLS this season. Colorado are falling behind the eight-ball a little bit, sitting in ninth place. Kaye will no doubt be a crucial player in the squad this season.

Jonathan Osorio

Osorio recently made his 300th appearance for Toronto FC while scoring 2 goals and 3 assists in a poor start to the season for TFC. If TFC are to make the playoffs they will have to rely on Osorio’s midfield creativity.

Atiba Hutchinson

Hutchinson captained massive Turkish club Besiktas this season in the Champions League. Although they finished last in the group it was great to see Atiba play against players like Haaland. Atiba has 1 goal in the league this season, which was disappointing for the club as they have a very low chance at qualifying for Europe since they sit in seventh place.

Cyle Larin

Larin enjoyed a mediocre season with Hutchinson at Besiktas, scoring 6 goals in 27 games in the league while being partnered up with Michy Batshuayi at striker. Larin also scored in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund.

Junior Hoilett

Hoilett recorded 3 goals and 2 assists in 27 appearances in the EFL Championship for Reading. Hoilett helped Reading narrowly survive relegation, and has most likely played his last game for the club as his contract expires in June.

Ike Ugbo

Ugbo joined newly promoted team ESTAC Troyes in France’s top division on loan from Genk in January and has really impressed. For Genk he scored 6 goals including one in the Europa League against Dinamo Zagreb. For Troyes he has 5 goals in 12 games, including one yesterday against champions PSG. He helped Troyes avoid relegation this season.

Jonathan David

David and his club Lille had a terrible season while trying to defend their championship in France, sitting in 10th place as a result. David still has 13 goals in the league this season, and 3 in the Champions League where they reached the round of 16. David is still a clinical goal scorer and is heavily linked with a big move across Europe this summer.

Tajon Buchanan

Buchanan moved from the New England Revolution to the Belgian team Club Brugge. He recently scored his first goal and has been a bright spot in the team as they close in on another Belgian championship this season. He is definitely one to watch if Club Brugge qualify for the Champions League again.