Chris Mannella

Chris Mannella

Mannella with Toronto FC in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Christopher Mannella
Date of birth	(1994-06-07) June 7, 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder, Centre-back
Youth career
2003–2008	Spartacus SC
2009–2014	Toronto FC
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012	Toronto Varsity Blues	13	(1)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014	Toronto FC III	11	(2)
2014–2016	Toronto FC	0	(0)
2015–2016	→ Toronto FC II (loan)	38	(1)
2017	Vaughan Azzurri	15	(2)
2018–2019	Ottawa Fury	59	(0)
2020	York9	2	(0)
2021–2022	Atlético Ottawa	25	(0)
2023	Vaughan Azzurri	1	(0)
International career^‡
2015–2016	Canada U23	9	(0)
2015	Canada	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 12, 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:42, May 20, 2016 (UTC)

Christopher Mannella (born June 7, 1994) is a Canadian former professional soccer player. He currently serves as the Academy Scouting Coordinator for the Philadelphia Union.

Club career

Toronto FC

Mannella joined the youth academy of Toronto FC in 2009 to play in the Canadian Soccer League.[1][2] In 2014, he was a part of the inaugural season of League1 Ontario with Toronto's senior Academy team.[3] He was named the team's captain and made 11 appearances for the side as they captured the regular season championship.[4]

On September 14, 2014, Mannella signed a homegrown player contract with Toronto FC, making him the 10th homegrown signing in club history.[5]

Mannella was loaned to Toronto FC II on March 20, 2015 ahead of their inaugural season in the USL.[6] He was named captain of the team upon his arrival. Mannella made his debut against the Charleston Battery on March 21.[7] After two years with Toronto FC II, the club announced they would not pick up Mannella's contract option for the 2017 season.[8]

Vaughan Azzurri

In 2017, Mannella played for League1 Ontario side Vaughan Azzurri, scoring two goals in fifteen appearances.[9] He was subsequently named to the league Second All-Star team at the end of the season.[10]

Ottawa Fury

On March 16, 2018, Mannella signed with the Ottawa Fury after trialing in pre-season.[11] That year, he made 29 league appearances and another four in the Canadian Championship.[12] In November 2018, The Fury announced Mannella would return for a second season in 2019.[13]

In the 2019 season, Mannella made 30 league appearances and four in the Canadian Championship.[12] He also started in Ottawa's playoff loss on penalties to Charleston Battery.[14] The club ceased operations ahead of the 2020 season, making Mannella a free agent.[15]

York United

On December 17, 2019, Mannella signed with Canadian Premier League side York9, which later was renamed York United beginning the 2021 season.[16]

Atlético Ottawa

On April 6, 2021, Mannella signed with Canadian Premier League side Atlético Ottawa on a two-year deal.[17] In late 2023, he announced his retirement from professional soccer.[18]

International career

On January 9, 2015, Mannella received his first call-up to the Canadian men's national team for friendlies against Iceland on January 16 and 19.[19] He made his international debut a week later.[20]

In May 2016, Mannella was called to Canada's U23 national team for a pair of friendlies against Guyana and Grenada.[21] He saw action in both matches.[22]

Post-playing career

On July 30, 2024, he joined the Philadelphia Union as their Academy Scouting Coordinator.[23]

Career statistics

Club

As of April 18, 2023[12]

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		National Cup[a]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Toronto FC III	2014	League1 Ontario	11	2	0	0	—		11	2
Toronto FC II	2015	United Soccer League	16	1	—		—		16	1
	2016	United Soccer League	22	0	—		—		22	0
	Total		38	1	0	0	0	0	38	1
Vaughan Azzurri	2017	League1 Ontario	15	2	—		—		15	2
Ottawa Fury	2018	United Soccer League	29	0	—		4	0	33	0
	2019	USL Championship	30	0	1	0	4	0	35	0
	Total		59	0	1	0	8	0	68	0
York9	2020	Canadian Premier League	2	0	—		—		2	0
Atlético Ottawa	2021	Canadian Premier League	19	0	—		0	0	19	0
	2022		6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	Total		25	0	0	0	0	0	25	0
Vaughan Azzurri	2023[24]	League1 Ontario	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	0
Career total			152	5	8	0	2	0	161	5

1. Includes appearances in the Canadian Championship.

International

As of March 3, 2020[25]

Canada national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2015	3	0
Total	3	0

Honours

Individual

• League1 Ontario Second Team All Star: 2017

Team

Atlético Ottawa

• Canadian Premier League
  • Regular Season: 2022[26]

References

1. "TFC signs Chris Mannella". September 15, 2014. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
2. "Senior Squad". August 27, 2012. Archived from the original on August 27, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
3. Rowaan, Dave (April 4, 2014). "League1 Ontario announces teams for inaugural season". Archived from the original on April 12, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
4. "TFC Academy Triumphs". October 4, 2014. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
5. "Toronto FC announce signing of Christopher Mannella as club's 10th Homegrown player". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. September 14, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
6. "Toronto FC loan seven players to Toronto FC II". March 20, 2015. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
7. Hylton, Kamal (March 21, 2015). "Match Recap: TFC II vs. Charleston". Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
8. Toronto FC staff (December 12, 2016). "Toronto FC Exercise Contract Options on 13 Players". Toronto FC.
9. "Christopher Mannella". League1 Ontario. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
10. "League1 Ontario Announces 2017 Men's First, Second and Third Team All-Stars". League1 Ontario. November 10, 2017.
11. "Fury FC adds trialists Mannella, Mohsen to roster ahead of season opener". Ottawa Fury FC. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
12. Chris Mannella at Soccerway
13. "Haworth, Gagnon-Laparé, Mannella return to Fury for 2019". Ottawa Fury. November 15, 2018.^[permanent dead link‍]
14. "Ottawa Fury vs Charleston Battery - 23 October 2019". Soccerway. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
15. "Fury owners blame 'politics' for decision to suspend operations". CBC Ottawa. November 8, 2019.
16. "York9 FC Signs Midfielder Chris Mannella". York9 FC. December 17, 2019. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
17. "Atlético Ottawa Signs Canadian Midfielder Chris Mannella". Atlético Ottawa. April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
18. Jacques, John (December 13, 2023). "Former Ottawa, York United Midfielder Chris Mannella Announces Retirement". Northern Tribune. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
19. Squizzato, Daniel (January 9, 2015). "Benito Floro eyes future with prospect-filled roster for Canada's upcoming friendlies vs. Iceland". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on July 10, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
20. "Canada Vs. Iceland". Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
21. Canada Soccer Association. "Canada announces roster for Caribbean tour". Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
22. Canada Soccer Association. "Canada m23 wins again on Caribbean tour". Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
23. @phlunionacademy (July 30, 2024). "Chris Mannella has been named the Academy Scouting Coordinator" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
24. "Christopher Mannella 2023 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
25. "Chris Mannella". Canada Soccer. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
26. "Atlético Ottawa win 2022 CPL regular season title". CanPL.ca. Retrieved October 9, 2022.

External links

• Chris Mannella at the Canadian Soccer Association
• Chris Mannella at Major League Soccer
• Chris Mannella at Soccerway