By Théo Lemarchandel
For the first time in Atlético Ottawa and Canadian Premier League history, a Brazilian has been appointed head coach.
Gustavo Leal takes over the team following Diego Mejía’s departure in May to become coach of Ottawa’s sister club in Mexico, Atlético de San Luis — a well-earned promotion after Mejía led Ottawa to the CPL’s championship last year.
Atlético was helmed by interim head coaches Diego Campos and Drew Beckie prior to Leal’s arrival.
Leal’s contract runs through the end of the 2027 season, with an option to renew in 2028.
Earlier this week, the 40-year-old Leal led his first official press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against Pacific FC on Sunday, July 26 at TD Place. Ottawa won the match 3-2, moving into third place in the eight-team league. The top four clubs in the regular season qualify for the CPL playoffs.
“Football is growing year by year in Canada. I think it’s a really good opportunity to join Atlético Ottawa at this time because the league will also grow,” he said.
Leal’s coaching career began in 2006 in his home city of Petrópolis, Brazil for the club Imperial. At the time, he was only 20 years old.
“Since I was in school, I was always thinking about becoming a coach,” Leal said. ”Even when I was playing, I was the person responsible for calling the guys together and organizing games.”
Over the years, Leal built an international career, with experiences in Slovakia, Chile and Mexico, where he worked at Atlético San Luis, Atlético Ottawa’s sister club.
“I spent two and a half years coaching in Mexico, developing players and the project. Since that time, I knew about Atlético Ottawa and followed the project closely,” Leal said.
‘We are beginning a process, and we need to improve some things. But after the last match, I had a lot of good feelings about the group and about the team.’
— Gustavo Leal, head coach, Atlético Ottawa
He described his style of coaching as similar to former coach Mejía’s, mainy based on possession, but he said he believes they remain two different people with different approaches.
Among his accomplishments, the Brazilian tactician won a gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with Brazil’s under-23 national team, in the final against Spain.
“Every experience teaches you something that you can use in the next opportunity,” he said.
For his first match in charge, a 1-1 draw against Inter Toronto last week, Leal travelled for nearly 30 hours to arrive in time for kickoff. Such commitment reflects the excitement surrounding Atlético Ottawa as the 2025 North Cup winner enters the second half of the season as the CPL’s defending champion.
“We are beginning a process, and we need to improve some things. But after the last match, I had a lot of good feelings about the group and about the team,” he said.
“I am going to give them a sprinkle of Brazilian flair.”
Leal said his main priority is building strong relationships with the staff, the players and the Atlético community.
After the win over Pacific FC on Sunday, Ottawa’s record of six wins, five losses and three draws has Atlético in third place with 21 points, just a point ahead of Vancouver FC (6-6-2) and six points behind Calgary’s Cavalry FC (8-2-3). Hamilton’s Forge FC (10-1-1) is dominating the league this season with 31 points.
