Ah, December. A month made for overeating, and spending time with loved ones, and often not-so-loved ones. But December, being the last month on the calendar, can also be a good time to reflect on the year that was.
For the Montreal Impact, 2017 was a difficult year; a year with many ups and downs and missed opportunities, but most notably heartbreak, because we had to say goodbye to people we hold dear to our hearts.
As we turn towards 2018 in a few days, Impact Media looked back at 2017, and compiled a list of the 10 most memorable moments of the year.
Changing of the Garde
A few weeks after the season came to an end on October 22nd, the club made a change that it thought was necessary to the long-term success of the team, by hiring Rémi Garde as the new head coach and director of player of player personnel. Needless to say, Garde brings experience to the table that few MLS coaches have.
Garde was formed at Lyon, and spent over 25 years with the club as a player, captain, academy director and head coach. He also played for Arsenal under the tutelage of the great Arsène Wenger. For the first time in his career, he’s bringing his talents to North America, and we couldn’t be more excited.
O Captain! My Captain!
Is there a more influential name in Quebec soccer than Patrice Bernier?
The former captain made the end of the season much harder when he announced his retirement from the beautiful game. With the club since it first expanded in 2012, Patrice is the Impact’s record holder in MLS for games played and winning assists.
His last career game at Stade Saputo on October 22nd, against the New England Revolution, was a celebration of a career that was nothing short of spectacular. Our beloved number 8 would score his last career goal in front of his friends and family off a penalty shot on the stroke of halftime, making it a very memorable night at Stade Saputo.
Bernier will remain at the Montreal Impact Academy as an assistant coach for all three teams, to familiarize himself with the ropes of coaching and to share his very fresh professional experience.
Blerim is in
Last December, the Montreal Impact announced that Blerim Dzemaili would join the team in May, on loan from Serie A side Bologna FC 1909. The Swiss international was expected to make a difference in midfield. And boy, did he make an impact.
Forming a beautiful midfield tandem with Ignacio Piatti, Dzemaili showed that he isn’t just a midfielder that can retain possession, but that can score goals as well. Blerim would finish the year with seven goals and 10 assists in 22 games played.
Goodbye Hassoun
After Patrice Bernier announced he would retire, the Impact faithful learned that another pillar of the team would be hanging up his cleats. Often described as a gentleman on and off the pitch, he bled Bleu-blanc-noir since he first joined the Impact for an open try-out in January of 2011. The rest is history, as they say.
Hassoun Camara was forced to retire this year due to an accumulation of injuries, opting to put his health first and dive into other projects that will keep the Frenchman in Montreal.
Hassoun played seven seasons with the Impact, and led the team in MLS for most starts (125) and most minutes played (10,979). On the field, his leadership helped younger players integrate into the team; off the field, he was beloved, embraced by the fans as one of their own from the very beginning.
Today, Hassoun is proud to call Montreal home, although it did take him quite a while to try a signature Quebec dish: poutine. Check out the video.
Montreal loves its Nacho
Since Ignacio Piatti joined the Montreal Impact, he’s been the club’s best player on the pitch, and has cemented his place in the league’s elite. That’s why the Impact community was thrilled when it was announced that Piatti was here to stay.
In October, Nacho extended his contract with the Montreal Impact until 2019, with an option for 2020. The Argentinean and MVP candidate will therefore be with the Impact for at least two more seasons. Don’t worry Montreal, we’re not saying goodbye to our favorite Nacho any time soon.
Booked for Russia
Many of the Impact’s players are selected for international duty, but this year was a little different, as one of our players, Blerim Dzemaili, contributed to his country’s berth into the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
For Dzemaili and the Swiss side, qualifying took a turn for the complicated when they finished second in their group, setting up a two-legged play-off against Northern Ireland. Switzerland scored the only goal between the two sides, thus propelling them to the tournament. Blerim played almost the entire two-game play-off.
Conquest of the Queen City
Toronto FC had a season to remember, culminating in the first ever MLS Cup won by a Canadian team. It even looked like TFC was going to remain undefeated at home during the regular season, but the Montreal Impact had other ideas that day.
It was a memorable night for supporters of the Bleu-blanc-noir. The Impact scored the three quickest goals in its MLS history in the first half, with Piatti scoring twice and Donadel’s rocket finding the back of the net. Jackson-Hamel would add a brace in the second and Montreal would earn just their second win at BMO Field in style.
Samuel Piette signs with Montreal
Samuel Piette has become a fan-favorite since he was signed in August. The young Quebecker from Repentigny left his native province at 14 years old, and played football in France, Germany, and Spain before joining the Bleu-blanc-noir.
He wasted no time settling in, earning MLS Team of the Week credentials after his first performance in an Impact uniform. His dogged style and clean game make him the ideal centre defensive midfielder, a position that requires the utmost responsibility. Next year, Piette will enjoy his first full season with the Impact, while paying tribute to Hassoun Camara and sporting his #6 shirt.
Back-to-back All-Star
Ignacio Piatti had another tremendous season, and he was rewarded with his second straight invitation to the AT&T MLS All-Star Game, this time against Real Madrid C.F. at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Argentine had already netted eight goals and three assists in 13 starts.
After going down 1-0, the MLS All-Stars would tie it up late, before eventually falling to the Spanish titans in a penalty shootout.
Homegrown and scoring
Developing players through the academy has always been of vital importance for the Montreal Impact. This year, our homegrown players took it to another level, amassing 11 combined goals over the course of the season in MLS.
Nine of those goals came from striker Anthony Jackson-Hamel, who finished the season second in scoring behind the Argentinean maestro Ignacio Piatti. The two other goals were scored by Ballou Tabla, who also had a breakout year with the first team.
