Hutchinson happy to be back in Canadian fold

Atiba Hutchinson’s reason for ending a one-year hiatus from the Canadian national team is simple.

“I kind of missed it,” he said. “It’s nice to be back.”

Hutchinson, who last played for Canada in its final World Cup qualifier last September, is due to earn cap No. 78 — tying Mark Watson for No. 5 on Canada’s most capped list — on Saturday when the Canadian men host Jamaica in a friendly at BMO Field.

The 34-year-old Hutchinson is arguably Canada’s finest soccer export. Since 2013, the midfielder has plied his trade in Turkey, winning back-to-back championships with Besiktas while rubbing shoulders with the sport’s elite in the Champions League.

The six-foot-one Hutchinson is a sight to behold on the field, even if his spindly pipe-cleaner legs deceive at first notice. He is like a soccer Hoover, vacuuming up balls then holding off opponents before finding a teammate.

Besiktas fans call him Octopus for his long legs and long reach.

When it comes to Canada, his longevity is remarkable. Hutchinson, who made his Canadian senior debut in 2003 in a 4-0 loss to the U.S. in Fort Lauderdale, has played for nine Canadian managers.

Octavio Zambrano is the latest to value Hutchinson. Benito Floro, Zambrano’s predecessor, was also a fan.

“Atiba is our best player,” Floro said in 2014. “He is the best player in Besiktas.”

Zambrano, named Canada coach in March when Hutchinson was still on hiatus, essentially told the player he was always welcome.

“I’m just very glad that he left the door open and he’s here now,” Zambrano said in an interview at his team’s training base north of Toronto. “We’ll see what happens in the future.”

How long Hutchinson plays for Canada remains to be seen. Games that matter are few and far between — the next round of World Cup qualifying is in the distance — and the 10-hour hour trip home from Istanbul is daunting.

“I thought now is a good time,” he said of his national team participation.