Maxime Crépeau Explained

Maxime Crépeau
Full Name:Maxime Crépeau[1]
Birth Date:11 May 1994
Birth Place:Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada
Height:1.81 m[2]
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Portland Timbers
Clubnumber:16
Youthyears1:2008–2009
Youthclubs1:Celtix du Haut-Richelieu
Youthyears2:2010–2013
Youthclubs2:Montreal Impact
Years1:2013–2018
Clubs1:Montreal Impact
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:FC Montreal (loan)
Caps2:30
Goals2:0
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Ottawa Fury (loan)
Caps3:31
Goals3:0
Years4:2019–2022
Clubs4:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Caps4:57
Goals4:0
Years5:2022–2024
Clubs5:Los Angeles FC
Caps5:40
Goals5:0
Years6:2023
Clubs6:Los Angeles FC 2 (loan)
Caps6:5
Goals6:0
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Portland Timbers
Caps7:13
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2011
Nationalteam1:Canada U17
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2013
Nationalteam2:Canada U20
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2015–2017
Nationalteam3:Canada U23
Nationalcaps3:9
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2016–
Nationalteam4:Canada
Nationalcaps4:22
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:June 1, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:July 9, 2024

Maxime Crépeau (born May 11, 1994) is a Canadian professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper[3] for Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers and the Canada national team.[4] [5]

Club career

Montreal Impact

Crépeau joined the Montreal Impact Academy of the Canadian Soccer League in 2010.[6] [7] After three seasons with the U21 squad he signed a senior contract with the Montreal Impact, becoming the team's fourth Homegrown Player[8] on a four-year contract.[9] On January 5, 2015, Crépeau joined German club Fortuna Düsseldorf for a ten-day training stint before the open of Montreal's pre-season camp for the 2015 MLS season.[10] After spending the beginning of the 2015 season with the Impact, Crépeau sat on the bench as the backup goalkeeper during the second leg of the 2015 CONCACAF Champions League Finals.[11] [12]

After the match, as originally planned,[9] Crépeau was loaned to FC Montreal, the Impact's USL affiliate team, making his professional debut against the Rochester Rhinos on May 2, 2015.[13] Crépeau would spend two seasons with FC Montreal before the club ceased operations after the 2016 season.

Prior to the 2017 season, the Impact promoted Crépeau to the #2 goalkeeper position, behind Evan Bush.[14] In May 2017, Crépeau made his first-team debut in the first leg of the 2017 Canadian Championship against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[15]

Loan to Ottawa Fury

Citing a desire for more playing time in 2018, Crépeau was loaned to the Ottawa Fury of the USL for the 2018 season.[16] After not conceding a goal in six straight games, Crépeau was named USL Player of the Month for May 2018.[17] While playing every game for the Fury, he would consider his time with the club as a renewal, allowing him to improve on aspects of his game.[18] By the close of the season Crépeau had set a new USL record for the most shutouts in a single season with 15, surpassing Brandon Miller who at the time was playing for the Rochester Rhinos.[19] Crépeau would be named to the USL's All-League First Team, and would also be named USL Goalkeeper of the year.[20] [21] After the 2018 season, the Fury would announce that Crépeau would not return to the Fury for the 2019 season.[22]

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

On December 9, 2018, Crépeau was traded to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and a third-round pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.[23] He made his debut in the Whitecaps' season opener on March 2, 2019, against Minnesota United.[24] Crepeau took over the starting goalkeeper role with the Whitecaps in 2019 and 2020, but missed a large portion of the 2020 season due to suffering a fractured thumb in the MLS is Back Tournament.[25] In 2019 and 2021, he was named Whitecaps' player of the year. By early 2022, he had been in 63 league and cup appearances, and 14 international appearances for Canada.[26]

Los Angeles FC

On January 20, 2022, Crépeau was traded to Los Angeles FC for $1 million in allocation money.[27] Concerning the reasons for the move, Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster did not give details but cited a "very special personal situation." Crepeau called the decision "personally the hardest decision I've had to make in my professional career," and noted it was not due to health of him or his family. He joined Tomas Romero and John McCarthy at LAFC as the team keepers.[28] He made his debut for Los Angeles on February 26 in their season-opener against the Colorado Rapids, keeping a clean-sheet in a 3–0 victory.[29] Crépeau started all but one game for LAFC in the 2022 season, but suffered a serious leg injury while drawing a red card in extra time of the 2022 MLS Cup in an attempt to defend a Philadelphia Union breakaway caused by an errant back pass, a game from which Los Angeles would emerge victorious on penalties.[30]

Crépeau made his return to the pitch on July 23, 2023 with MLS Next Pro side Los Angeles FC 2, starting and captaining the team to a 2-1 victory over the Tacoma Defiance.[31] [32]

Portland Timbers

Crépeau joined the Portland Timbers on January 17, 2024.[33] He made his debut for Portland on March 2 against D.C. United.[34]

International career

Youth teams

Crépeau represented Canada at the youth level, participating in the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and the subsequent FIFA U-17 World Cup later that same year. He then went on to represent Canada at the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. In August 2015 Crépeau was named to the 2015 Pan American Games roster. On September 18, 2015, he was announced as part of the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship team.[35]

In May 2016, Crepeau was called to Canada's U23 national team for a pair of friendlies against Guyana and Grenada.[36] He started the second match against Guyana, posting a 5–1 victory.[37]

Senior team

Crépeau received his first call up to the Canadian senior team in January 2014, as part of a training camp under coach Benito Floro.[38] He made his debut against the United States on February 2, 2016. In June 2017 Crépeau was called up to the senior team for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[39] He made one appearance at the tournament, replacing an injured Milan Borjan in Canada's tournament opener against French Guiana.[40] Crépeau was named to the squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup in May 2019,[41] and the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup in July 2021.[42] In the 2021 Gold Cup, regular Canada starter Borjan was not called up, leaving Crépau as the first choice keeper for the tournament. He played all of Canada's matches as the team advanced all the way to the semifinals before bowing out against Mexico. It was Canada's best performance at the Gold Cup since 2007.[43]

Crépeau was a regular call-up during the final round of qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and featured in the October 2021 window against Mexico, Jamaica and Panama.[44] [45] [46] In November 2022 he suffered a broken lower leg during the MLS Cup Final, ruling him out of the World Cup squad.[47]

In June 2024, Crépeau was named to Canada's squad for the 2024 Copa América.[48]

Career statistics

Club

[49]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Montreal Impact2015USL11000000000110
201619000000000190
Total30000000000300
Montreal Impact2017MLS300040000070
Ottawa Fury (loan)2018USL31000400000350
Vancouver Whitecaps FC2019MLS26000200000280
2020400000000040
202127010100000290
Total57010300000610
Los Angeles FC2022MLS33030200000380
20237050000010130
Total40080200010510
Los Angeles FC 2 (loan)2023MLS Next Pro500000000050
Portland Timbers2024MLS13000000030160
Career total17909013000402050

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Canada201610
201710
201800
201900
202030
202190
202210
202300
202470
Total220

Honours

Los Angeles

2022

2022

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: Canada . CONCACAF . 2 . May 20, 2019 . Bernews.
  2. Web site: Maxime Crépeau . August 20, 2022 . Los Angeles FC.
  3. News: Gangué-Ruzic. Alexandre. November 19, 2020. Maxime Crépeau reste patient. French. Maxime Crépeau remains patient. La Presse. Montreal. April 26, 2015.
  4. News: Dylan. Butler. November 15, 2021. MLS goalkeepers who most outperformed expected goals in 2021. English. MLS Soccer. New York. November 16, 2021.
  5. News: Pascal. Milano. October 3, 2014. Back for More: Whitecaps keeper Maxime Crepeau excited for 2021 return after 'up and down' 2020 campaign. English. BTSVancity. Vancouver. November 16, 2021.
  6. Web site: Maxime Crépeau. January 2, 2014.
  7. Web site: Canadian Soccer League. February 28, 2011. September 3, 2017. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20110228074855/http://canadiansoccerleague.com/teams/team.asp?ID=6. February 28, 2011.
  8. Web site: Impact signs Quebec goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau as homegrown player. March 5, 2013.
  9. News: Sylvain. LaMarre. March 25, 2015. "Il faut persévérer et croire en ses rêves" – Maxime Crépeau. "We must persevere and believe in your dreams" – Maxime Crépeau. French. Courrier Laval. April 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091746/http://www.courrierlaval.com/Sports/2015-03-25/article-4089496/%26laquo%3BIl-faut-perseverer-et-croire-en-ses-reves%26raquo%3B---Maxime-Crepeau/1. March 4, 2016. dead.
  10. Web site: Montreal Impact goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau to train with Fortuna Düsseldorf. Nick. Sabetti. Goal. December 22, 2014.
  11. Web site: Nick. Sabetti. Montreal Impact face potential goalkeeper emergency ahead of Champions League final return leg. Goal. April 25, 2015. April 26, 2015.
  12. Web site: Champions League. CONCACAF. April 29, 2015. May 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170728081232/http://www.concacaf.com/category/champions-league/game-detail/203223. July 28, 2017. dead.
  13. FC Montreal. FC Montreal. fcmontrealusl. 594585499148353536. May 2, 2015. XI partant du #FCMTL face aux @RochesterRhinos. Coup d'envoi à 16h00.. May 2, 2015. French.
  14. Web site: Young Impact goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau moves up to No. 2, aims higher. Neil Davidson. Montreal Gazette. February 21, 2017.
  15. Montreal Impact. CF Montreal. impactmontreal. 867195634343829504. May 23, 2017. If you didn't notice, @MaxCrepeau makes his first competitive start with #IMFC. Good luck Max! #CanChamp.
  16. Web site: Maxime Crépeau loaned to Ottawa Fury FC for the 2018 season. Montreal Impact. January 21, 2018.
  17. Web site: Goalkeeper Crépeau voted player of the month. Ottawa Fury. June 15, 2018.
  18. Web site: Five Guys One Couch - A profile of Fury FC's Maxime Crépeau. Ottawa Sports Network. Theo Gauthier. July 18, 2018.
  19. News: Maxime Crépeau sets a new USL record for the most shutouts in a single season. FC. Ottawa Fury. September 26, 2018. Ottawa Fury. October 1, 2018. en-us.
  20. Web site: Fury FC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau selected on USL All-League First Team. Ottawa Fury FC. November 15, 2018.
  21. Web site: Ottawa's Crepeau Claims Goalkeeper of the Year Honor. USL. November 12, 2018.
  22. Web site: Fury FC roster moves: five core players to return, 15 players released. Ottawa Fury FC. October 23, 2018.
  23. Web site: Whitecaps FC acquire Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau from Montreal Impact. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 9, 2018. December 9, 2018.
  24. Web site: 9 players make Whitecaps debut in MLS season opener. March 2, 2019. Mark. Dailey.
  25. Web site: Vancouver Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau suffers fractured thumb. Major League Soccer. July 21, 2020.
  26. https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4573998/source-lafc-set-to-sign-vancouver-whitecaps-keeper-maxime-crepeau
  27. Web site: Whitecaps FC acquire $1 million in GAM plus additional incentives from LAFC in exchange for goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau . Whitecaps FC. January 20, 2022.
  28. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/soccer/traded-to-lafc-former-caps-goalkeeper-maxime-crepeau-still-on-the-move-with-canada-576119642.html
  29. Web site: Carlos Vela Hat Trick Helps LAFC Earn 3-0 Win Over Colorado In 2022 MLS Season Opener. February 26, 2022.
  30. Web site: Canadian goalie Maxime Crépeau carted off with scary injury in MLS Cup. Yahoo Sports. November 5, 2022.
  31. Web site: MLS NEXT Pro Matchday 18: Recap Blitz. July 23, 2023. MLS Next Pro.
  32. Sportsnet. Sportsnet. 1683473759678734342. 260 days after suffering a broken leg in the 2022 MLS Cup Final, Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau made his return to the pitch with LAFC II.. July 24, 2023. July 24, 2023.
  33. Web site: Timbers sign goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau . Timbers.com . . 17 January 2024.
  34. Web site: RECAP - Portland Timbers draw 2-2 with D.C. United. March 3, 2023. Portland Timbers.
  35. Web site: Canada M23 picks players for CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers. September 18, 2015. September 18, 2015. September 21, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150921011351/http://canadasoccer.com/canada-m23-picks-players-for-concacaf-olympic-qualifiers-p158531. dead.
  36. Web site: Canada announces roster for Caribbean tour. Canada Soccer Association. May 19, 2016. June 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160616202030/http://canadasoccer.com/canada-announces-roster-for-caribbean-tour-p159488. dead.
  37. Web site: Canada m23 wins again on Caribbean tour. Canada Soccer Association. May 19, 2016. June 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160616195439/http://canadasoccer.com/canada-m23-wins-again-on-caribbean-tour-p159531. dead.
  38. Web site: Young MNT to set up camp in Florida. January 10, 2014. April 15, 2015. February 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140213235902/http://www.canadasoccer.com/young-mnt-to-set-up-camp-in-florida-p155752. dead.
  39. Web site: Canada selects dynamic squad for 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. June 27, 2017. June 17, 2019. August 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200803114704/https://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-selects-dynamic-squad-for-2017-concacaf-gold-cup-p160970. dead.
  40. Web site: French Guiana 2, Canada 4 - 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup Match Recap. July 7, 2017. Franco. Panizo. June 17, 2019. January 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210123041421/https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2017-07-07-french-guiana-vs-canada/recap. dead.
  41. Web site: Together We Rise: Canada Soccer announces squad for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. May 30, 2019. CanadaSoccer.com. June 17, 2019. June 3, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190603025211/https://www.canadasoccer.com/together-we-rise-canada-soccer-announces-squad-for-the-2019-concacaf-gold-cup-p162198. dead.
  42. Web site: Canada Soccer Announces 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup Roster. CanadaSoccer.com. July 1, 2021.
  43. Web site: TSN ca Staff . December 23, 2021 . 2021 in review: Canadian soccer stands tall - TSN.ca . June 14, 2022 . TSN . en.
  44. Web site: Crépeau, Canada earn huge point in Mexico. October 7, 2022. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  45. Web site: Crépeau, Cornelius help CANMNT earn important point in Jamaica. October 10, 2021. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  46. Web site: Canada defeats Panama 4:1 in front of 26,622 at BMO Field. October 14, 2021. The Suburban.
  47. Web site: MAXIME CRÉPEAU SUFFERS LOWER LEG INJURY THAT WILL KEEP HIM OUT OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP. November 11, 2022. Canada Soccer.
  48. Web site: CANMNT ANNOUNCE 2024 COPA AMÉRICA ROSTER. June 15, 2024. Canadian Soccer Association.
  49. Web site: Maxime Crepeau Profile . Soccerway. June 28, 2016.
  50. Web site: Fury FC's Maxime Crepeau named USL's Goalkeeper of the Year. Ottawasun.com . Tim Baines . November 12, 2018 . November 14, 2018 .
  51. Web site: Whitecaps FC announce 2021 BMO Player Awards.