Hutchinson passes the torch to Arfield
Canada’s veteran leader helps new captain adjust to his role with team
A changing of the guard is under way with the Canadian men’s soccer team with Scott Arfield taking over as permanent captain from Atiba Hutchinson.
Health permitting, Arfield will lead out the 79th-ranked Canadians against No. 177 Dominica in CONCACAF Nation League qualifying play Tuesday at BMO Field.
The Glasgow Rangers midfielder also wore the captain’s arm band for last month’s 8-0 win over the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Arfield, who left practice early Sunday as a precautionary move with a minor knock, has won 13 caps for Canada since making his debut in March 2016.
The 35-year-old Hutchinson, arguably Canada’s best soccer export, remains a key figure in the Canada camp. With 78 caps and both Champions and Europa League play under his belt with Turkey’s Besiktas, Hutchinson has seen it all.
But he is in the twilight of his career, saying he may call time on the international game after the 2019 Gold Cup. Coach John Herdman gave the 29-year-old Arfield the arm band but only after speaking to Hutchinson, whose last participation with the national team was in September 2017.
“Look, he has just a great presence,” Herdman said of Hutchinson. “The conversations we had pre-camp around leadership and captaincy, what he knows is that he can support someone like Scott who might have a longer future in the game. And he’s ready to hand that baton over and be a mentor, a sounding board for Scott.
“They balance each other off really well. Scott brings a superoutgoing positive energy and he’s vocal.
“Whereas Atiba is reflective, quiet, unassuming, but he’s dialed into everything. He’s dialed into the spirit of the group, he’s dialed into the psyche of the players. You can just sense he has a great feel for people and the environment. I think we’ve got a great balance.”
Veteran Los Angeles FC defender Dejan Jakovic served as captain for Herdman’s first game at the men’s helm, a 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand in March in Murcia, Spain.
Hutchinson was 19 when he made his senior debut for Canada in January 2003 under Holger Osieck.
Herdman represents his 10th national team coach, following Osieck, Colin Miller, Frank Yallop, Stephen Hart, Dale Mitchell, Tony Fonseca, Benito Floro, Michael Findlay and Octavio Zambrano.
“There’s been a few of them,” Hutchinson said. He says Herdman communicates a clear vision.
“He works on all the little details. I think that’s good for us — not only be working on certain things but we’re covering everything, every aspect. I think that’s something that we need here. Obviously that together with the talent we have now, with the young players, the combination looks very good. It looks very promising.”
Herdman has structured the team so every player has a voice, with veterans, youngsters and those in-between meeting separately as groups to talk about their goals and experiences.