The rise of the Sudbury Cyclones continues to make headlines — and now, so does the man leading them.
Giuseppe Politi, the Cyclones’ first and only head coach, has been named League1 Ontario Championship Coach of the Year after guiding Sudbury to back-to-back promotions and one of the most successful seasons in the club’s short history.
Under Politi’s direction, the Cyclones finished second in the League1 Championship standings with a 12-3-7 record, securing promotion to the League1 Premier Division for the 2026 season — just a year after climbing out of League2.
“This recognition really belongs to the players, staff, and the entire Sudbury community,” said Politi, who has spent years building the program from the ground up. “What we’ve achieved together shows that northern Ontario belongs on the provincial soccer map.”
The honour caps a stellar awards season for Sudbury. Earlier this week, Connor Vande Weghe was named Goalkeeper of the Year and a finalist for Most Valuable Player, while earning a First Team All-Star selection. Striker Jaiden Santo also received Second Team All-Star recognition.
Politi’s win places him among the league’s top coaching minds, edging out Donovan Taffe of Unionville-Milliken and Ramin Mohammadi of Whitby for the title.
With momentum at an all-time high and League1 Premier football on the horizon, Politi says the goal remains simple: “Keep pushing the standard higher every season.”
The Sudbury Cyclones will begin their League1 Premier campaign in spring 2026 — a new chapter for a club that, in just two years, has gone from a start-up side to one of Ontario’s most inspiring soccer stories.