Antoine Coupland

Antoine Coupland
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-12-12) December 12, 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Chelsea, Quebec, Canada
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Whitecaps FC 2
Number 43
Youth career
CS des Collines
2014–2019 Ottawa St. Anthony
2022–2023 Rijeka
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Ottawa Fury FC 3 (0)
2020–2021 Atlético Ottawa 18 (2)
2022–2023 Rijeka 0 (0)
2023– Whitecaps FC 2 37 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 9, 2024

Antoine Coupland (born December 12, 2003) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS Next Pro.

Early life

Coupland grew up in Chelsea, Quebec and attended Collège Saint-Alexandre.[1][2] He began playing youth soccer at age four with CS des Collines.[3] He joined Ottawa St. Anthony SC's Futuro Soccer Academy program at age 11.[4][5] When he was 14, he was invited to join the Montreal Impact Academy, but declined, due to feeling too young to move.[6] In July 2019, he was set to go on trial with English club Sheffield United,[7] but turned down the opportunity to instead sign a professional contract with his hometown team, Ottawa Fury.[8]

Club career

In July 2019, Coupland signed his first professional contract with Ottawa Fury FC of the USL Championship at age 15.[9][10] At the age of 15 years old, Coupland became the youngest first-team player in the club's history and one of the youngest professional players in Canada.[11][12] Coupland made his debut for the Fury on July 20, 2019, coming off the bench in the 85th of the game in a 4–0 victory over the Swope Park Rangers.[13]

In March 2020, Coupland signed with new Canadian Premier League side Atlético Ottawa.[14][15] He became the team's second-ever signing and first local player.[16][17] However, his debut was ultimately delayed as the beginning of the season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] He made his debut on August 19 against Valour FC.[19] He played in three of the club's seven total matches during the season, which was drastically shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, playing a total of 98 minutes.[20] In January 2021, he re-signed with the club for the 2021 season.[21][22][23] On July 11, 2021, Coupland scored his first professional goal, netting the second against Cavalry FC in a 2–0 victory.[24][25][26][27] He scored his first home goal on October 24, 2021, against York United FC.[28][29][30] He departed the club, following the season.[31] Over his time with Atlético Ottawa, he scored two goals in eighteen appearances.[32]

In November 2021, Coupland announced he was going on trial with clubs in Europe,[33][34] upon turning 18, as it was his dream to play in Europe.[35] He first went on trial with clubs in Portugal and Germany.[36] He received an offer to join SC Braga's U23 team, following a three-week trial, but declined the offer, seeking a first team deal. Afterwards, he trialed with German clubs TSV 1860 Munich and VfB Stuttgart.[37]

In February 2022, Coupland signed with Croatian First Football League side HNK Rijeka.[38][39][40] He began playing with the U19 team, but quickly began training with the first team.[41][42] In March 2023, he terminated his contract by mutual consent.[43]

In 2023, he joined MLS Next Pro side Whitecaps FC 2.[44] Initially reported to be a loan with a purchase option,[45][46] after he terminated his contract with Rijeka, it was instead a permanent deal.[44] He scored on his debut on March 26 against Portland Timbers 2.[47] In December 2024, he re-signed with the team for the 2025 season.[48]

International career

In May 2022, Coupland was named to the 60-man provisional Canadian U-20 team for the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[49]

Career statistics

As of October 20, 2024[50]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ottawa Fury 2019 USL Championship 3 0 0 0 0 0 — 3 0
Atlético Ottawa 2020 CPL 3 0 — — — 3 0
2021 15 2 — 1 0 — 16 2
Total 18 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 19 2
HNK Rijeka 2022–23 Croatian Football League 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 0
Whitecaps FC 2 2023 MLS Next Pro 26 2 0 0 — — 26 2
2024 11 0 1 0 — — 12 0
Total 37 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 38 2
Career total 58 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 60 4

References

  1. ^ "Chelsea soccer player signs with Atletico Ottawa". CTV News. March 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Andriamihamisoa, Mirantsoa (June 5, 2020). "Le meilleur des deux mondes" [The best of both worlds]. La Plume Étudiante de l’Outaouais (in French). p. 4.
  3. ^ Antoine Coupland at the Canadian Soccer Association
  4. ^ Vallière, Kim (August 26, 2019). "Le soir où je suis devenu joueur de soccer professionnel… à 15 ans" [The night I became a professional soccer player… at 15]. Ici Radio-Canada Télé (in French).
  5. ^ Jobin, Jonathan (June 18, 2019). "Le rendez-vous raté d'Antoine Coupland avec le Fury et l'histoire du soccer canadien" [Antoine Coupland's missed date with the Fury and the history of Canadian soccer]. Ici Radio-Canada Télé (in French).
  6. ^ Rainbird, Daniel (October 29, 2020). "Atlético Ottawa's 16-year-old phenom Antoine Coupland". Ottawa Life Magazine.
  7. ^ "Young midfielder set for 2 week trial with Sheffield United". Sport Witness. June 19, 2019.
  8. ^ Miller-Davis, Stuart (August 27, 2019). "Fury 15-year-old wunderkind shouldering lofty expectations". Ottawa Sportspages.
  9. ^ Thompson, Marty (December 22, 2020). "Atlético Ottawa's Antoine Coupland is a top teenage prospect: The Next Gen". Canadian Premier League.
  10. ^ Mathew, Aaron (February 8, 2023). "Former Atlético Ottawa midfielder Antoine Coupland linked with loan move to Vancouver Whitecaps: report". Canadian Soccer Daily.
  11. ^ "Meet Antoine Coupland, Ottawa's teen soccer prodigy". CBC Sports. July 27, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  12. ^ "Atlético Ottawa's Antoine Coupland chats soccer with St. Anthony Futuro Academy Players". Canadian Premier League. May 20, 2020.
  13. ^ Vallière, Kim (July 23, 2019). "Antoine Coupland, le petit frère du Fury d'Ottawa et professionnel à 15 ans" [Antoine Coupland, the Ottawa Fury's little brother and professional at 15]. Ici Radio-Canada Télé (in French).
  14. ^ "Atlético Ottawa adds 16-year-old local phenom Antoine Coupland". Atlético Ottawa. March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  15. ^ Jacques, John (March 5, 2020). "Atletico Ottawa Signs 16-Year-Old Antoine Coupland". Northern Tribune.
  16. ^ Plante, Jean-François (March 5, 2020). "Antoine Coupland, premier joueur local de l'Atlético" [Antoine Coupland, Atlético's first local player]. Le Droit (in French).
  17. ^ Davidson, Neil (March 5, 2020). "Teenage midfielder Antoine Coupland is Atlético Ottawa's second signing". Global News.
  18. ^ Plante, Jean-François (March 12, 2020). "COVID-19 : Coupland heureux malgré tout en Espagne" [COVID-19: Coupland happy despite everything in Spain]. Le Droit (in French).
  19. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (August 19, 2020). "Second-half onslaught lifts Valour FC over 10-men Atlético Ottawa". Canadian Premier League.
  20. ^ Diamandas, Ethan (October 14, 2020). "Teenage midfielder Antoine Coupland reflects on his first season with Atlético Ottawa". Ottawa Sportspages.
  21. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (January 21, 2021). "Atlético Ottawa re-signs Canadian midfielder Antoine Coupland". Canadian Premier League.
  22. ^ Jacques, John (January 25, 2021). "Atletico Ottawa Re-Signs Teenager Antoine Coupland". Northern Tribune.
  23. ^ "Atletico Ottawa brings back local midfielder Antoine Coupland". Montreal Gazette. January 25, 2021.
  24. ^ Sy, Ismaël (July 12, 2021). "Un premier but chez les professionnels pour Antoine Coupland" [A first professional goal for Antoine Coupland]. Ici Radio-Canada Télé (in French).
  25. ^ Plante, Jean-François (July 12, 2022). "Coupland marque son premier but professionnel" [Coupland scores his first professional goal]. Le Droit (in French).
  26. ^ Benson, Stuart (July 30, 2022). "Coupland scores!". The Low Down.
  27. ^ "Coupland's First (of many)". Atlético Ottawa. July 12, 2021.
  28. ^ "Local Antoine Coupland scores first goal at home stadium as Atletico Ottawa plays to 1-1 draw". Ottawa Sun. October 24, 2021.
  29. ^ Plante, Jean-François (October 24, 2021). "Coupland marque à la Place TD" [Coupland scores at TD Place]. Le Droit (in French).
  30. ^ "Antoine Coupland strikes at home". Atlético Ottawa. November 4, 2021.
  31. ^ Plante, Jean-François (January 13, 2022). "Le noyau de l'Atlético de retour, mais pas Coupland" [The core of Atlético back, but not Coupland]. Le Droit (in French).
  32. ^ Jacques, John (February 6, 2022). "Antoine Coupland Joins HNK Rijeka". Northern Tribune.
  33. ^ St-Laurent, Sylvain (November 15, 2021). "Antoine Coupland s'envole vers l'Europe" [Antoine Coupland flies to Europe]. Le Droit (in French).
  34. ^ Jacques, John (November 15, 2021). "Coupland Set For Trial Period Abroad: 'I'm Betting On Myself'". Northern Tribune.
  35. ^ Plante, Jean-François (October 29, 2021). "Trop peu, trop tard pour Coupland?" [Too little, too late for Coupland?]. Le Droit (in French).
  36. ^ Lalande, Charles (February 6, 2022). "Un contrat en Croatie pour Antoine Coupland : " Mon rêve de jeunesse "" [A contract in Croatia for Antoine Coupland: “My childhood dream”]. Ici Radio-Canada Télé (in French).
  37. ^ Plante, Jean-François (February 6, 2022). "Coupland amorce une carrière européenne en Croatie" [Coupland begins European career in Croatia]. Le Droit (in French).
  38. ^ "Antoine Coupland novi igrač HNK Rijeka: "Rijeka je odlično mjesto za moj razvoj"" [Antoine Coupland new player of HNK Rijeka: "Rijeka is a great place for my development"] (in Croatian). HNK Rijeka. February 6, 2022.
  39. ^ "Rijeka dovela perspektivnog veznjaka iz Kanade: 'Krase ga odlična tehnika i sjajan pregled igre'" [Rijeka brought a promising midfielder from Canada : 'He has excellent technique and a great overview of the game']. Jutarnji list (in Croatian). February 6, 2022.
  40. ^ "Rijeka dovela 18-godišnjaka iz Kanade. "Ovo je moj prvi profesionalni ugovor"" [Rijeka brought an 18-year-old from Canada. "This is my first professional contract"]. Index HR (in Croatian). February 6, 2022.
  41. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (February 14, 2022). "Coupland's Croatia move further evidence of CPL development pathway: 'Opportunities are there to be taken'". Canadian Premier League.
  42. ^ "Coupland: I've been training full time with the first team, and playing with the U19s". TSN 1200. May 20, 2022.
  43. ^ "Zapisnik izvršenih registracija 10.03.2023" [Minutes of completed registrations 10.03.2023.] (PDF) (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  44. ^ a b "Whitecaps FC 2 sign BMO Academy product Mihail Gherasimencov, acquire Canadian midfielder Antoine Coupland". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. March 24, 2023.
  45. ^ Frančišković, Denis (February 7, 2023). "Riječki junior Coupland poslan na posudbu i kaljenje u Vancouver" [Junior Coupland from Rijeka sent on loan and training in Vancouver]. Novi list (in Croatian).
  46. ^ Jacques, John (February 8, 2023). "Rumour: Coupland Set For Loan Spell With Whitecaps". Northern Tribune.
  47. ^ Jacques, John (March 27, 2023). "Former CPL Talents Shine In MLS Next Pro Opening Weekend". Northern Tribune.
  48. ^ "Whitecaps FC announce 2025 WFC2 roster updates". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 11, 2024.
  49. ^ "Canada Soccer's Provisional List for the CONCACA Men's Under-20 Championship". Canadian Soccer Association. May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  50. ^ Antoine Coupland at Soccerway