The Breakdown:
Although the Montreal Impact are coming off a difficult 1-0 loss to Chivas USA last Saturday, there was a notable face in the starting lineup who has established himself with the professional team, Karl Ouimette. Ouimette has the distinction of being the first player from the youth academy to sign a pro-contract with the Montreal Impact. Upon joining the MLS in 2012, the youth academy has been at the heart of the Impact’s player development strategy. Since that time the academy program has grown to include U-23, U-18, U-16, U-14, and U-13 teams.
Unlike the traditional North American framework for choosing youth players through a college or minor league draft system, soccer clubs around the world develop their own players from within the club at a young age. Montreal Impact, Club President, Joey Saputo has attempted to mimic this setup putting more emphasis on the Academy than the MLS SuperDraft during the course of the past three seasons.
The Impact U-23 are currently competing in the USL Premier Development League, after playing a series of 30 friendly matches last summer. Having the team play in a competitive league will help the development of future players. This past Monday evening, the U-18 team qualified for the final four of the USSDA after defeating Seattle 3-0. This victory proves that the investment in player development is starting to pay off, and could pay dividends for the senior team in the not so distant future.
Impact Youth Academy Graduates:
Since 2012, the Impact have signed six players from the Academy to professional contracts. Last week, the Impact signed midfielder Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé. Gagnon-Laparé has featured in one match this season for the senior team, during the Canadian Cup game against FC Edmonton. The other five players that have received professional contracts include:
- Karl Ouimette
- Maxim Tissot
- Wandrille Lefèvre
- Maxime Crépeau
- Zakaria Messoudi
Ouimette, who was the first signing in 2012, has played a total of 18 games over the course of the last three seasons, starting 14 of them. The defender from Terrebonne, QC also received his first international cap for Canada in November 2013. Tissot has played in a total of 14 games, starting 7 of them. Both Ouimette and Tissot have 1 goal each during their professional careers.
Lefèvre has featured in 12 games starting 9. Crépeau has been designated the third keeper and has yet to see any significant playing time. Messoudi has been loaned to the Ottawa Fury in the NASL for the season.
There are still challenges for the current crop of players as well as the future of the Academy. Out of the six players that have been signed by the Impact, there has not been one forward. The Impact have chosen to build their forward line through designated players, trades, or outside signings.
Of interest is the fact that a number of players have had to switch positions since moving to the professional team. Ouimette started as a central back for the Impact, however has since moved to the left side of defence, where he has looked like a more confident player. Tissot has also shifted positions since starting with the pro-team. When Maxim Tissot began with Montreal he was used as a defender however he has since moved to play as a midfielder.
The development of MLS teams relies heavily on both academy programs, such as the one the Impact have established, as well as the MLS Superdraft. Although MLS Designated Players will come and go, the homegrown players will form the base for the league over the course of the upcoming decade. The players coming up from the Impact Academy have seen that the jump from the youth team to the professional team is a difficult one, however players like Karl Ouimette are starting to find their place in the regular lineup.
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