Atletico Ottawa's Carl Haworth reflects on his career ahead of retirement
Atlético Ottawa's captain Carl Haworth is ending his career as a professional soccer player after spending several seasons in the capital with both Fury FC and Atlético.
"I had to step away from the game but fully at peace with the decision," said the 34-year-old. "I had a pretty bad injury in 2021 and still haven't really recovered from it."
On Sunday, the team played their last regular season game at TD Place. Ahead of the match, the forward was honoured in front of thousands of fans, many chanting Haworth's name.
"Carl thank you. Thank you so much for playing with us, being with us," said one Atletico supporter.
"He's done a lot of good for this team," said added fellow supporter Bryce Crossman, who gifted Haworth with a onesie for his newborn child.
Haworth grew up playing soccer in Barrie, Ont. and began his professional journey with Ottawa Fury FC in 2013, staying with the franchise until it dissolved in 2019. He'd eventually return, as a member of Atlético Ottawa.
"You're always looking for dependability and that's what Carl brings," said team manager and former teammate Drew Beckie.
Haworth's contributions off the field has helped grow the game. That includes his work with the Ottawa Gloucester Hornets youth soccer club. One of those young players was Danilo Goncalves.
At the end of Sunday's match, the 11-year-old made a point to get an autograph from the soccer legend.
"I want to be a professional soccer player," he said. "(Learning from Haworth) makes me feel like I have some who knows how to play soccer and understands soccer to help me."
For Haworth, seeing the soccer landscape grow in the city is an exciting time.
"It's really come a long way and going into 2026 hosted in Canada it's only going to get bigger," he said.
It's not clear yet what Haworth will do next, but he plans to stay in the capital.
"I met my wife here, her family is here, my baby boy was born here, so yeah, Ottawa is home," he said.
For now, he has this message for soccer fans who have been there since day one.
"They are our twelfth man out there and we get a lot of motivation from them. Just thank you, it truly means a lot," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING Claims of toxic workplace at CSIS absolutely 'devastating': PM says
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says allegations of a toxic workplace culture, involving harassment and sexual assault at Canada's spy agency are 'devastating' and 'absolutely unacceptable.'
Alberta set for $5.5B budget surplus, despite big bucks for fires, floods and drought
Alberta’s budget surplus is growing but will be offset by more than $1 billion this year to pay for floods, forest fires and drought.
Here's when Canada Post says you should send out your holiday packages
Canada Post had released a holiday guide on when Canadians should mail out their packages.
TREND LINE Liberals and NDP tied in ballot support, Conservatives 19 points ahead: Nanos
The governing minority Liberals' decline in the polls has now placed them in a tie for support with their confidence-and-supply partners the NDP, while the Conservatives are now 19 points ahead, according Nanos' latest ballot tracking.
Chinstrap penguins nod off more than 10,000 times per day in seconds-long 'microsleeps,' study finds
A new study has documented the peculiar sleeping habits of this species of penguin. Instead of taking one long continuous period of sleep, chinstrap penguins prefer to sleep in seconds-long intervals, more than 10,000 times a day.
More Israeli hostages freed by Hamas as truce in Gaza lasts another day
Hamas began freeing Israeli hostages Thursday in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of a last-minute deal to extend their ceasefire in Gaza by another day. But any further renewal of the truce, now in its seventh day, could prove more daunting since Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining hostages.
What to know about the Sikh independence movement following U.S. accusation that activist was targeted
The U.S. has charged an Indian national in what prosecutors allege was a failed plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist at the behest of an unnamed Indian government official.
Alternative healer faces manslaughter charge over woman's death at a U.K. slapping therapy workshop
An alternative healer who advocates a technique known as 'slapping therapy' was charged Thursday over the death of a woman at one of his workshops in England seven years ago.
Sask. premier says province will stop collecting carbon levy on electric heat
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says the province intends to stop collecting the carbon levy on electric heat.