Canadian soccer endures a year of change, disruption and disappointment

It was a year of change and mostly disappointment in Canadian soccer.

Captains Christine Sinclair and Atiba Hutchinson called time on their distinguished, talismanic international careers. John Herdman quit Canada to take over beleaguered Major League Soccer team Toronto FC.

The Olympic champion Canadian women disappointed at the FIFA World Cup in Australia, exiting after the group stage. But Bev Priestman's team rebounded in September to dispatch 40th-ranked Jamaica and qualify for next summer's Paris Olympics.

The Canadian men, meanwhile, collapsed in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against No. 55 Jamaica in November, losing the two-legged series on the away goals rule — a setback that necessitates a March playoff against No. 96 Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for Copa America and earn a date with World Cup champion Argentina next summer.

Both Canadian teams see brighter days ahead.

"It's going to be a hard year, obviously. It's a transition year," said FC Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, voted Canada Soccer's Men's Player of the Year. "Everybody knows that. It's a transition process but I think we're good. I think we have a solid team."

"I think for us there's a recognition that not every year is not going to be your best year as a team," added Chelsea midfielder Jessie Fleming, named Canada Soccer's Female Player of the Year. "Definitely a disappointing summer from us. But I think since the summer it's been really positive with the group and I think we have good momentum going into the new year."

But 2023 ends like 2022 did, with a labour black cloud hanging over Canada Soccer and its two marquee teams.

Hutchinson, 40, called it quits at the CONCACAF Nations League Finals in June in Las Vegas, coming off