European soccer teams over the last few years have furthered their influence. Red Bull is giving soccer wings in Leipzig, Salzburg, New York, Brasil, and Ghana. Manchester City has invested in teams in New York, Melbourne, Yokohama, Girona, Mumbai, Lommel. They have also invested in women clubs, in addition to partnerships with other teams. This is not to mention they are planning further expansions on Mars (I assume).
Atlético hasn’t been as rapid in their expansion, but in 2014, Madrid won a bid for the Kolkata franchise and launched that same year. They won the league in their inaugural season, lead by former Atlético Madrid and Liverpool alumni, Luis García, a big signing for the league at the time.
They were champions again in 2016 with Canadian international, Iain Hume, as their leading scorer. After that season, they parted ways with Madrid, becoming ATK. Fun fact: they signed Robbie Keane that year. I wonder if he knew Madrid didn’t own the team anymore…
The other team that Atlético invested in was an outfit out of Mexico, Atlético San Luis. They have a similar story to Ottawa’s recent soccer history too. San Luis FC relocated to Tuxtla Gutiérrez and became Ciapas FC. A deal fell through in 2016-17, when Chiapas FC nearly moved back. The team instead dissolved, and the city was left without a first division club. This is when Atlético Madrid swooped in (sound familiar?) and bought 50% ownership of the club along with the state and other minority owners.
The club began play in Ascenso MX, the country’s second division and were promoted in 2019. The Liga MX, Mexico’s top division, is organized similar to the CPL, with the Apertura and Clausura campaigns. They finished 15th and 13th respectively, and currently sit 12th in the Apertura this season out of 18 teams.
So, what does this mean for Atlético Ottawa. Atlético de Kolkata’s success in the Indian Super League could be something that Ottawa could parallel in the CPL. The Indian Super League was similarly in their sophomore season when Madrid joined the fray, and competition is perhaps more similar than what it is in Liga MX. Some ranking systems have Liga MX as high as 10th best league in the world. The Indian Super League and the CPL are both unranked. Though, it should be noted that there are different salary structures in the Indian and Canadian leagues.
Already Atlético has provided these clubs with a strong club philosophy, infrastructure and resources, and legitimacy.
Club Philosophy
As I mentioned in the history of Atlético Madrid articles (Parts 1 and 2) so much of what Atlético Madrid’s philosophy is that they are not the glamorous team – they are not Real Madrid, not Barcelona. They suffer – and it’s brutal! But the supporters wear that as a badge of honour. Losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League Final? Add another stripe. How about losing to them in the final again but on penalties!? There is a belief that Atlético is on the verge of being in the best era of their rich history. Now, it’s that fight and passion coming to Ottawa, and this team and this city will be part of this next era for Atlético.
Now, I know we all support different teams in Europe, and maybe Atlético Madrid is not on the top of every soccer fan’s list in Canada. It’s certainly not the glamorous option. That’s ok. They embrace it and we don’t have to change allegiances. But I bet more of us have paid even more attention to them. For example, I like Liverpool, but when Atlético beat them in the Champions League before the COVID-19 lockdown, I would be lying if I wasn’t happier than I would have been if they didn’t own the team in Ottawa.
We will keep supporting the teams we support. I am sure Atlético is trying to expand their fanbase through their global expansion. But they will continue doing it their way, and not as some “Galácticos” hyperbole.
Infrastructure and Resources
Ottawa sports fans can be comforted by the legitimacy Atlético brings. For example:
- Ottawa players will have the infrastructure and resources to train at world class facilities in Madrid, as they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Partnerships with the club, including the Vancouver Whitecaps FC happened even before Atlético Ottawa was a reality.
- There hasn’t been word on having an Atlético specific youth team, but the possibility remains for young talent in the Ottawa area and Canada to develop and train in this system. Maybe with their partnership with the Ottawa South United Youth Club.
- Atlético Ottawa, on a similar note, can be part of a system that develops talent not only in Canada, but also Madrid can develop young reserves, much like they have done in San Luis and Kolkata.
Down the road, exhibition games could be feasible between Madrid and Ottawa. This has the potential to grow the game in ways the Fury never were able to do in Ottawa and Canada. Although not perfectly analogous, when the U-21 World Cup was held in Ottawa in 2007, seeing the future stars of Argentina, for example, at least had a big impact on me, and I am sure had some impact on the talents we’re beginning to realize today. This will help in growing the legitimacy (which will be discussed in the next point).
Overall, Ottawa will have similar opportunities to San Luis. Although Liga MX is a more competitive league at the moment and San Luis will likely get the better young talent or prospects, the more the CPL grows in talent and resources, the more this too can become a reality here. This growth was seen in the Indian Super League, when ATK was able to sign Robbie Keane, even after the team ended their relationship with Madrid.
Legitimacy
I mean, I’m surely excited! And more excited than I have been at any point for soccer in Ottawa or Canada since the U-21 World Cup was hosted here. Average fans reportedly are interested at all time highs, and clubs around the league have reacted in excitement. In my conversations with fans around the country, even among those that didn’t follow the CPL last year, there’s a degree of palpability with Atlético Madrid’s involvement. This is not only important for Ottawa, but crucial for the CPL.
This investment represents not only legitimacy, but also stability with this kind of backing from such a large club. Even though the COVID pandemic has devastated the economy, and surely has had its impacts on this still new league, support from a club of this magnitude provides hope for the long-term sustainability for the CPL and soccer in Canada. Perhaps, this is indication that someone is finally doing soccer right in this country. Or maybe, the appetite for the game is catching up.
What do you think are the most important components that Atlético Madrid brings to Ottawa? Let me know your thoughts!