Carl Haworth retires from professional football

Story by Richard Scott

Former Men’s National Team player Carl Haworth has retired from professional football after more than a decade of soccer in Canada and the United States. Haworth played the bulk of his career in Ottawa and played his final match on 7 October at the end of the 2023 Canadian Premier League season. He was honoured by Atlético Ottawa in their last home match on 24 September.

“When they called my number and I was walking off, I was trying to go as slow as I could to just soak it all in,” said Haworth after his last home match. “That’s when it really hit home. I could see my family from where I was as well as a big group of friends. It was nice to get to share that with the people I love and care about.”

Haworth helped Atlético Ottawa win the 2022 Canadian Premier League regular season title. He previously won a USL Premier Development League Championship with Forest City London and he was the Ottawa Fury FC Player of the Year in 2016.

Across his career, he notably played for Forest City London (2009 to 2012), the Montréal Impact Reserves (2012), Ottawa Fury FC (2013 to 2019), Indy Eleven (2020 and 2021), and Atlético Ottawa (2022 and 2023). He made more than 150 professional appearances with the Ottawa Fury after they joined the North American Soccer League in 2014.

“To see where this city has come in the soccer landscape in Canada has been amazing and tremendous,” said Haworth, who also noted that it is a testament “to all the guys and girls who were involved (with the Ottawa Fury) early on and then helped create professional football here in the city. On top of that, the fan support that we have had has been spectacular and the way that they have been able to galvanize this city.”

He made one international “A” appearance for Canada in 2016 as a winger in an away match against Korea Republic. He made three appearances for Canada’s U-23 side when they came within a victory of reaching the London 2012 Olympic Games.