Zapater began his professional career with his hometown club, Real Zaragoza, where he became known as El Toro (the Bull), for his strong tackling. He left Spain for several seasons, playing in Italy for Genoa, in Portugal for Sporting CP, and in Russia with Lokomotiv Moscow, before returning to Zaragoza in 2016.

Having joined Atlético Ottawa in June 2023, he was named one of the club’s captains this past season, and returns on a one-year contract.

de Brienne, who began playing soccer with Ottawa South United as a child, was signed by Atlético Ottawa in July 2020, though he did not make any appearances during the short season. He spent the 2021 season with Carleton University before signing with Valour FC the following January. After two seasons in Winnipeg, winning the CPL Best Canadian U-21 Player of the Year award in the second, he returned to Ottawa and Atlético for this past season.

Atlético also revealed last week that the club had exercised options to retain defender Amer Didić and forward Sam Salter for the 2025 season, while they announced a three-year contract extension for 20-year-old Gabriel Antinoro on Christmas Eve.

Didić, who was named Player of the Year by the Capital City Supporters Group following the 2024 season, has twice featured with the Canadian Men’s National Team and been a top defender throughout the CPL’s six seasons. After three seasons with FC Edmonton and two with Pacific FC, he joined Ottawa in April last year.

Having joined Ottawa from the Halifax Wanderers in 2023, the 24-year-old Salter has been one of the team’s top scorers, with 12 goals in 55 league games. Though his total playing time decreased last season, he made promising strides on the left-wing, showing increased versatility.

A former CF Montréal academy prospect, Antinoro signed with Ottawa in 2023, making his professional debut that season, later scoring the second-fastest goal in league history, 22 seconds into the match. Still qualifying for the CPL’s domestic under-21 requirements this season, he will likely be expected to play a bigger role going forward.

The post The return of “El Toro”, transfer of local de Brienne among five Atlético Ottawa player announcements appeared first on CompassNews.

Atlético Ottawa was eliminated from the Canadian Premier League playoffs on Saturday afternoon, Malik Owolabi-Belewu’s second half goal enough to put Forge FC through to the final.

The first half was fairly uneventful overall, both sides reluctant to give up the first goal, and the teams combined for just five total shots. Forge had the best chance in the 40th minute, only for Barrhaven’s Matteo de Brienne to launch himself in the way of a Noah Jensen shot.

The post Season ends in disappointment as Atlético Ottawa shutout in semi-final appeared first on CompassNews.

The shootout, which was the first in the Canadian Premier League’s short history, was needed after a dramatic game where the teams exchanged goals in both the second half and extra time.

After a tense first 45 minutes went by without a goal, Ollie Bassett gave the home side the lead early in the second half with an “Olimpico”, his corner squeaking in the near post side, York United’s Thomas Vincensini unable to keep it out.

York United tied it up in the 4th minute of injury time, as 16-year-old Shola Jimoh pounced on a loose ball following a scramble in the box, driving it into the top corner.

Ottawa’s Sam Salter won a penalty under 10 seconds into extra time, which was successfully converted by Ruben Del Campo, but Babouli got his head on a Jimoh cross two minutes later.

The capital side will travel to Hamilton for the semi-final against Forge FC, which will take place Saturday, November 2nd, 4pm ET, with the winner heading to Calgary for the CPL final on November 9th.

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