25 Facts About Atiba Hutchinson

Atiba Hutchinson was born on 8 February 1983 and is a former Canadian professional soccer player.

Atiba Hutchinson had a fairly uneventful spell with PSV Eindhoven between 2010 and 2013 and then spent the next 10 years at Besiktas in Turkey, retiring with cult hero status.

Atiba Hutchinson served as a leader and pioneer for Canada's golden generation at the latter stages of his career.

Atiba Hutchinson began playing youth soccer at age four for Brampton Youth SC and later played youth soccer for North Scarborough SC and Woodbridge Strikers.

Atiba Hutchinson scored six times for Oster during the 2003 season.

Atiba Hutchinson moved to Danish club FC Copenhagen, where, for the first half of the year, he played alongside Swedish international Tobias Linderoth in central midfield, latterly being used around the midfield and as a striker.

Manager Stale Solbakken said in an interview with the football paper TIPS-bladet, that he saw Atiba Hutchinson's attacking talents as being too impressive for a central midfielder, saying that he would be used more often as winger.

Atiba Hutchinson was linked with Premier League clubs several times.

On 22 April 2010, Atiba Hutchinson signed a three-year contract with PSV Eindhoven joining them on a free transfer.

Atiba Hutchinson started the 2010 season playing a defensive role as a right back, however with the mid-season transfer of Ibrahim Afellay to Barcelona allowed Atiba Hutchinson to move into his more natural position of the central midfield.

Weeks later Atiba Hutchinson sustained yet another knee injury during a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification against Saint Lucia forcing him to have his third knee operation in 18 months.

On 6 July 2021, Atiba Hutchinson signed another one-year extension with Besiktas.

In May 2023, Besiktas confirmed Atiba Hutchinson would depart the club at the conclusion of the season.

Atiba Hutchinson made his senior debut for Canada in a January 2003 friendly match against the United States.

On 17 December 2010, Atiba Hutchinson was awarded the Canadian Men's Player of the Year by the CSA for the first time in his career.

Atiba Hutchinson was heavily favoured for this award in 2010 for his play with the national team, joining a well-known European club and becoming the first Canadian to win the Danish Superliga Player of the Year.

Atiba Hutchinson was forced to miss the rest of the tournament.

Atiba Hutchinson was awarded the 2015 Canadian Men's Player of the Year by the CFA, marking his fourth straight award and fifth in the last six years.

Atiba Hutchinson went on to win the title again in 2016 and 2017.

Herdman believed Atiba Hutchinson would add a valuable veteran presence to a team of up-and-coming talents like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.

Atiba Hutchinson was named to the squad for that tournament on 30 May 2019.

Atiba Hutchinson however remained active for Canada, and in March 2021 he accepted a call-up for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.

In June 2023 Atiba Hutchinson was named to the 23-man squad contesting the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.

Atiba Hutchinson indicated in an interview with The Athletic that this tournament would likely be his last with Canada.

Atiba Hutchinson is married to a French-Iranian woman named Sarah, whom he met while playing in Denmark.