Forge FC loses key architect of dynasty squad to CPL front office

Hamilton | Soccer | Sports |

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Published April 12, 2023 at 11:59 am

costa smyrniotis forge fc canadian premier league cpl
The Canadian Premier League announced the hiring of Costa Smyrniotis, a key architect of Forge FC's multi-time championship squad. (Brandon Taylor/Forge FC Hamilton)

The Canadian Premier League announced on Wednesday that Costa Smyrniotis, a key architect of Forge FC‘s dynasty squad, has been hired as Executive Vice President of Soccer.

The brother of Forge head coach and technical director Bobby Smyrniotis, Costa had served as Director of Football and Business for the Hamilton-based club since its inception in 2018, winning three CPL championships in four tries.

The announcement comes three days before Forge opens their 2023 season against Cavalry FC at Tim Hortons Field.

In an official media release, the league says Smyrniotis “will work with Commissioner Mark Noonan to create and implement a long-term vision for the League’s on-field product and off-field business. He will be tasked with continually improving the CPL’s quality of play and its entertainment value and expanding the League’s footprint in the Canadian and global sports landscape.”

In the same release, Noonan refers to Smyrniotis as “one of the most accomplished soccer executives in Canada, on and off the field of play.”

Under Smyrniotis, Forge was the first CPL team to reach the Canadian Championship Final in 2020 and the Concacaf League semifinal in 2021. The club later became the first team in league history to compete in the Concacaf Champions League in 2022.

Costa, along with his brother, Bobby, founded Mississauga-based Sigma FC, which has served as a feeder system for Forge and established itself as one of the most respected development academies in North America. Sigma graduates can be found playing and coaching all over the world, including Cyle Larin, the current all-time leading goal scorer for the Canadian Men’s National Team.

Smyrniotis also established a leading player agency based in Canada, managing the careers of many clients within the global soccer landscape, including many Canadian internationals.

“I am extremely excited to join Commissioner Noonan and the whole Canadian Premier League team,” said Smyrniotis. “I am a very proud supporter of Canadian soccer and especially of all the talent we have in this country both on and off the field. I am always led by a football-first philosophy, and I am confident we can continue to grow our game in this country over the years to come.”

Smyrniotis also has a background in business, previously holding senior roles at multinational corporations, including Mercedes-Benz Canada and TD Securities, before he transitioned to working in soccer full-time. He is a graduate of York University, where he earned his Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Business. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

“On behalf of Bob Young and myself, our entire ownership group and everybody associated with Forge FC, we want to sincerely thank Costa for all of his phenomenal contributions to the club. Costa has been the architect behind Forge FC and leaves a legacy that speaks for itself with three CPL titles and appearances in all four CPL Championship matches,” said Hamilton Sports Group Managing Partner & CEO Scott Mitchell.

“Beyond league play, Forge FC’s success within CONCACAF has been an inspirational beacon of light and helped put both Forge FC and the CPL on the map internationally. While we will miss Costa tremendously, the soccer culture he has established within Hamilton and Forge FC will endure.”

“With great success comes great opportunity, and with Costa establishing himself as one of the brightest minds in Canadian soccer, we are thrilled that he will continue to work within the CPL ecosystem as the top football executive at the CPL office with our Commissioner Mark Noonan. His role as Executive Vice President of Soccer within the CPL is crucial in the development and growth of our league, and there’s no doubt he will achieve similar success in his new leadership role,” Mitchell concluded.

The CPL says his appointment is effective immediately.

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