CPL Awards 2022: Bassett, González Honoured at End of Year Awards

October 28, 2022 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Atletico Ottawa News Release

Atlético Ottawa’s Ollie Bassett and Head Coach Carlos Gonzalez honoured at CPL Awards 2022
(Atletico Ottawa)

The Canadian Premier League unveiled this year’s top performers for the 2022 regular season at an in-person end-of-year awards ceremony at TD Place Friday evening, a ceremony that saw Atlético Ottawa honoured with three of the six league awards. Ollie Bassett was named Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year, the only winner to walk away with a pair of awards on the night, while Head Coach Carlos Gonzalez earned the title of Coach of the Year for leading the club to a regular season title in his first season at the helm.

Bassett, 24, had a breakout season with Atlético Ottawa after making the move from Pacific FC in the off-season. He was a driving force in Ottawa’s midfield as the team went from the bottom of the table in 2021 to regular-season champion in 2022. Bassett led Ottawa with eight goals and was named to the CPL’s Gatorade Team of the Week a league-high 11 times. He earned a Player of the Month nod in May. An early fan-favourite, Bassett was also selected 2022 Player of the Year by the club’s Capital City Supporters Group and Bytown Boys.

“It means a lot, every time you get an individual award, especially to get voted by the players you compete against day in and day out,” said Bassett of the award. “While this is an individual award, I wouldn’t be able to do it without all the support, and the backing of my teammates, coaches, and fans that have supported me and the team throughout the year. It wouldn’t have been possible without all of them.”

González, 36, led Atlético Ottawa to a regular-season title in his first year as the club’s head coach. González, who was familiar to Ottawa CEO Fernando López from his time coaching with Atlético’s sister club Atlético de Madrid, took the club from the bottom of the table in 2021 to the top in 2022 by instilling his team with defensive organization and the ability to convert on the counterattack. Atlético lost just five regular season matches in 2022 under González.

“It’s a very special award. It means a lot to me, my staff, for the team, because I think this is a team award,” said González after the ceremony. “It is special because it is important to see other coaches in the league recognize the job we’ve done these past eight months. I’m very happy, honoured, and proud.”

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