Atlético Ottawa captain, and Gatineau-native, Maxim Tissot has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season. Let’s take a look at some of his best moments in red and white.
Tissot joined Atlético Ottawa ahead of the 2022 season and was instrumental in the club’s first major success. As Ottawa went “worst to first”, Tissot’s performances on the pitch and leadership off the field were crucial. Here are his top five moments:
1. Winning the 2022 Regular Season Championship
When Tissot returned to his home region ahead of the 2022 season, along with a cohort of former Fury players like Drew Beckie and Carl Haworth, it felt destined that greatness would come.
The Canadian Premier League made the wise decision early in the season that the winner of the Regular Season would be crowned champion (and now also gains a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League) with Tissot playing a part in all but one match in a historic season.
2. Key goal contributions in the 2022 run-in
As a defender and leader in the team, Tissot’s contributions were both often unseen and unsung, but any player on that team will wax lyrical about the ‘boy from Gatineau’.
What can’t be denied were the crucial goal contributions, including a stunning free-kick in a victory of Halifax Wanderers in the penultimate match of the season (ultimately winning the league for Ottawa) and a goal against York United in the final match of the season at TD Place.
3. Clinching Atlético’s first-ever TELUS Canadian Championship victory
In an odd turn of logistical events, Atlético Ottawa travelled to York Lions Stadium for a Preliminary Round clash with Halifax Wanderers in the 2023 TELUS Canadian Championship.
Having never won in the competition, Ottawa came from behind to secure a historic result with Tissot clinching the victory with a fine goal scored on a wicked breakaway.
4. Back to his roots with the Powered By Atlético Program
Tissot began playing soccer as soon as he was old enough to have a ball at his feet. Self-described as ‘not the most talented, but the hardest working,’ parks in Aylmer laid the foundation for a career that has inspired many in the local region.
Humble about his beginnings, Tissot has taken time on multiple occasions to visit youth teams in the area, especially on the Gatineau side of the river. This includes CS Aylmer, part of the Powered by Atlético Program, who train on a field that holds many memories for the 32-year-old.
5. Captain of the club and leader of the group
Even as recently as this past weekend in Toronto
A role model for the local region, a vocal voice in the dressing room, leading by example on the pitch – in training as in matches.
Thank you, Maxim Tissot.