- Paul Dolan, who retired in 1997, is the best soccer player from Ottawa.
- Two of the five featured individuals played for the Canada national team.
- Only Theo Bair played for a team in the first division of a European league.
Paul Dolan was one of Canada’s mainstay goalkeepers from 1984 to 1997, making 40 senior caps.
He sits atop the list of the five best soccer players from Ottawa, but who are the other four, and with which professional teams have they played?
5 Best Soccer Players from Ottawa, Ranked
| Rank | Name | Team(s) | Years Active |
| 1 | Paul Dolan | Canada | 1984-1998 |
| 2 | Theo Bair | AJ Auxerre, Motherwell FC, St. Johnstone FC, Hamarkameratene | 2016-2025 |
| 3 | Sébastian Breza | Yverdon Sport FC, Carrarese Calcio 1908, CF Montreal, Bologna FC 1909, SS Monopoli 1966, Potenza Calcio, Palermo Spring, Palermo FC | 2016-2025 |
| 4 | Gabriel Bitar | York United FC, Vancouver FC, FC Edmonton, Cavalry FC | 2018-2025 |
| 5 | Jeff Addai | FC Marisca Mersch, PEPO Lappeenranta, Vaasan Palloseura, FC Tulsa, VfR Mannheim, Ottawa Fury FC | 2014-2024 |
Greatest Soccer Players from Ottawa
1. Paul Dolan
Paul Dolan had 40 caps with the Canadian national team, including his claim to fame, a World Cup appearance in 1986 against France in the group stage.
Dolan played for Canada from 1984, forming a one-two goalkeeper punch with Craig Forrest for five years before retiring in 1997.
2. Theo Bair
Theo Bair plays for Auxerre in France’s Ligue 1. The centre-forward made 63 appearances for Motherwell FC and St. Johnstone FC in the Scottish Premier League.
He has also represented Canada, earning five senior appearances during John Herdman’s reign.
3. Sebastian Breza
Sebastian Breza won the Canadian Cup in 2021 with Montreal CF. Breza has made 45 appearances with the MLS club, the most senior level he’s played at.
Breza also made lower-division stops in Switzerland and Italy.
4. Gabriel Bitar
Gabriel Bitar has played for four Canadian teams since turning professional in 2018, including York United FC, Vancouver FC, FC Edmonton, and Cavalry FC.
While he currently plays for York United, Bitar made 53 appearances for Vancouver FC, his most-capped club team. (You can find soccer betting odds for the Canadian Premier League at the BetMGM sportsbook.)
5. Jeff Addai
Jeff Addai made stops in Finland, Luxembourg, Germany, and the USL Championship before permanently hanging up the boots in 2024.
He didn’t crack the top leagues in any county he played in, but made 104 professional appearances for six clubs over a 10-year career.
Who Is the Best Soccer Player Born in Ottawa?
Paul Dolan is the best soccer player born in Ottawa.
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