Job searching can be a frustrating endeavour. You apply to job after job with no responses. Helplessness sets in. But, that gut-wrenching feeling is always worth the payoff: two or three interviews come all at once – maybe even job offers – and you land that once-in-a-lifetime dream job seemingly out of nowhere. While Ben Fisk wasn't actively searching for a job this winter, Atlético Ottawa's belated arrival in the Canadian Premier League was his ultimate unexpected, once-in-a-lifetime professional opportunity. Fisk was honoured on Wednesday as the inaugural signing for the Club de Atlético de Madrid-backed expansion team that came to life only a few weeks ago and is quickly building for the upcoming the 2020 CPL season. RELATED READING: Atlético Ottawa signs Canadian veteran Ben Fisk as its first player "There was this thought of, 'this is where my career is supposed to go,'" Fisk told CanPL.ca. "Given how negotiations dragged on (with Pacific FC), the Ottawa team being announced out-of-the-blue, and the Spanish backing, I felt like it was inevitable." Any employer would see Fisk's resume and Ottawa's need for a big name first signing and see a "perfect fit": a veteran of Canadian soccer and the CPL, with a captain's pedigree, who plays with European style and flair, and he even speaks Spanish. "Beyond the offer, it was the idea of being part of something new and having more doors opened for my career," Fisk explained. "I can't say enough about the organization. How quickly they were in touch with me, almost right away. That makes you feel valued. You get a feeling you'll be a massive part of the organization, whether you're an inaugural player or not." Fisk's decision to leave Pacific FC wasn't an easy one. The British Columbia-born attacker made that clear when he teased his move to Ottawa to CanPL.ca last month, leaving a club where scored six goals and tallied five assists in 24 league appearances (19 as a starter; 1,662 minutes) and often wore the captain's armband last season. But, ultimately, his 2019 campaign was what caught the eye of Club Atlético de Madrid's Fernando López, who will oversee operations for the CPL club. "I really like him as person, apart from the technical side and what he does on the pitch," Fernando López told CanPL.ca. "He was one of the key players for Pacific last year. We really liked his technical ability on the attacking side. We believe we need to be very strong at his position, with someone with good technique. Ben is very fast and a smart player, and we need that kind of player close to the goal." RELATED READING: Splashy Ben Fisk signing a statement of intent for Atlético Ottawa Walking the streets of Victoria on a sunny Wednesday morning, Fisk, 27, expressed his admiration for Vancouver Island: "I loved my year here. But with the other option on the table, it turned into a decision about my next five years. I love it here so much and I thought the longer I stayed here the harder it would be to leave. "I saw Ottawa as a chance to open some doors and, at my age, I still have a lot to give to the game and get to another level." Things are moving fast for Fisk. He'll leave for Madrid and the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium next week for a month of pre-season with the big club, Atlético Madrid: straight from Victoria to training camp at one of the world's biggest footballing outfits. Fluent in Spanish after playing two seasons in Spain's third tier, Fisk is ready to be the "glue" for a team coached by former Atlético and Toronto FC player Mista. "I've learned to embrace that role as a middle man – someone who can bring people together, something that's already part of my personality" Fisk said. "This is a chance to do that on a bigger scale, especially with Spanish. I'll be there to do whatever Mista needs and play whatever they need." If the other 20-odd newcomers come together as nicely as their first, the rapidly-building Ottawa outfit will be in a nice spot. "With the backing of Atletico Madrid, it's hard to imagine this club being anything other than an immediate success," Fisk stated. "Given my couple years in Spain, I thought I could be a leader for them and a bit of a bridge for the Spanish owners coming into a Canadian market." Fisk, as Ottawa's inaugural signing, won't step foot in the nation's capital until April 7 – a week before the 2020 CPL season begins. Atlético Ottawa will begin play a week later, on April 18th, when they visit 2019 Champions Forge FC at Tim Hortons Field.

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