Maxime Crépeau: LAFC move about silverware - Need to build "trust" with Canada Soccer

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Maxime Crépeau is his usual relaxed self as he sits down with a select group of international media at the Los Angeles FC training complex to chat about his recovery, the Canadian men’s national team, leaving the Vancouver Whitecaps, and much more. The 28-year-old has just finished his individual training session as he continues to recover from his broken leg that he suffered at the MLS Cup final against Philadelphia Union. 

Market Value

M. CrépeauGoalkeeper

€3.00m

The Canadian goalkeeper broke his leg while rushing out to stop Union striker Cory Burke in the 110^th minute of overtime and was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO). At that point, the scoreline was 2-2, Philadelphia would score later in overtime, but Gareth Bale then would send the game into penalties with a late equalizer where LAFC would win the game. 

Crépeau’s heroics at the MLS Cup final meant he was both sent off but also that he missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with Canada. “I was really sad to miss the World Cup,” Crépeau said. “I planned to go down and support the guys in Qatar but wasn’t allowed to fly because of medical reasons before mid-December. So, I stayed here and started rehab right away, but I was always in touch with the boys.” 

Crépeau on his recovery: CanMNT March window a possibility?

Regarding timetable for a comeback, Crépeau harbors some hope that he could make the trip to one of the games during the March national team window. “It is really tight window for me, but let’s see,” Crépeau said. “If the schedule allows it, I will make the trip to Toronto for the game against Honduras. But for now, my focus is on my recovery.” 

Stats

M. CrépeauGoalkeeper

Canada

Career stats
All competitions

Games

15

Goals against

14

Clean sheets

3

Wearing a long black sock over his operated leg, Crépeau explained that he is currently training with a special treadmill that allows him to run at 80-90% of his body weight. “The leg is healing really well,” Crépeau said. “The bones are actually fine; it is now just a matter of rebuilding my muscles and strength.” 

Crépeau did say that he does not have a time scale yet on when he will fully recover. “Maybe in one month I have a better idea,” the Canadian men’s national team keeper said. Nonetheless, Crépeau feels optimistic about his career with the national team as he will be at a prime age to be Canada’s starter for the 2026 World Cup. “I will be 32, which is a great age,” Crépeau said. The native of Greenfield Park, Quebec, is currently the no.2 behind Milan Borjan. But Bojan is currently 35, and there is a sense that Crépeau will soon challenge for that no.1 position. 

Player Comparison

Maxime Crépeau

Milan Borjan

Without Club

Slovan Bratislava

€3.00m

Market Value

€800k

29

Age

36

Goalkeeper

Position

Goalkeeper

-

Contract until

Jun 30, 2024

Full Player Comparison

Crépeau on Canada Soccer: "We still have a lot of work ahead of us"

There have been some discussions on whether the March games could be impacted by the ongoing dispute between the men’s and women’s programs with Canada Soccer. But Crépeau believes those games should be unaffected while also pointing out that there are still talks with the federation. 

“We have a lot of people involved to find a solution for the men’s and women’s programs,” Crépeau said. But is there enough trust from the players in the federation to come to a solution? “We are in the middle of it,” Crépeau said. “Trust? We didn’t see the board members for a long time, and it is difficult to build trust when you haven’t seen them in a while. But now everybody is at the table, and we will see what comes out of it. The World Cup showed that we still have a lot of work ahead of us.”

Crépeau’s comments about the national team and Canada Soccer shed some light on what continues to be a simmering conflict in the background. And the national team goalkeeper was equally open about his decision to leave the Vancouver Whitecaps for LAFC. 

Crépeau on leaving the Whitecaps: "Wanted to win silverware" 

“If you had told me we would have the double and have a fantastic idea, I would not have hesitated at all,” Crépeau said about what he described as his most difficult decision in his career. “At the end of the day, the number one thing was my happiness with our performances and what would be the next step of my career,” Crépeau said. “I will be 29 soon, and I was wondering where I would take my career.” 

Crépeau’s decision was mainly swayed by the fact that LAFC came up with a clear plan for success and that they were willing to make the keeper an important part of the club’s core going forward. “I loved Vancouver, they helped me to make a name in this league, but I wanted to be in a club that was willing to win right away,” Crépeau said. “I wanted to lift silverware, and that obviously worked out right away.” 

In retrospect, joining LAFC seemed like a no-brainer as Crépeau was a core player of a team that won both the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup. The Canadian also established himself as one of the best keepers in MLS, increasing his market value from €2m to €3m during his time in LA, making him the second most valuable goalkeeper in Major League Soccer (overview).