When Richie Ryan was named captain of Ottawa Fury FC for its inaugural season last year, it was his teammates who voted him in.

Head coach Marc Dos Santos had final say, but the players, many of whom had never played together before, quickly picked up on Ryan's leadership skills. He was instantly respected in the Fury room and quietly led by example on the pitch last year.

But his biggest impact was likely on rookie midfielder Mauro Eustaquio.

Going into his first professional campaign in 2014, the now 21-year-old Eustaquio was used sparingly in the spring campaign, his only game action coming as a late-game substitute in three matches. But with Ryan out hurt for a fall season match against Minnesota United FC, Eustaquio's work in training paid off with a spot in the starting 11. He would start again a few games later, this time at centre back with Drew Beckie out, before earning two more starts at centre midfield when Ryan was awaiting the birth of his daughter and then in the regular season finale with the captain suspended.

The 300 minutes Eustaquio ended up playing in his first year in the NASL earned rave reviews from both his coach and captain, though the Portugal-born, Ontario-raised player gives much of the credit to Ryan.

"He's a great guy on and off the pitch and he's a guy I look up to," Eustaquio, a former member of the Canadian U-20 squad, said Thursday after a final day of fitness testing at the TD Place gym. "When it comes to learning from him, everything I've done on the pitch last season is due to him. He's always talking to me, telling me to do this better or do that (differently).

"I've learned a ton from him."

While Eustaquio is a versatile player and will happily play wherever he's needed, he's become increasing comfortable and capable in the middle. But though he and Ryan play the same position, there's no sense of competition between them.

"To me, he's not (just) an option that's behind me (on the depth chart)," Ryan said. "I think everyone at the club's seen him grow. From the start of the season to the end of the season, he's matured as a person and as a player."

Ryan, whose ability to dictate the pace and read a game is what makes him so effective both as a captain and player, said he thought Eustaquio was "the best player on our team" in the games he started. He's always looking to improve, said Ryan of his teammate.

"Mauro is the type of person that wants to learn all the time," he said. "From Day 1 last year me and Mauro have had a good relationship in training and we're good friends off the pitch, which is a big help."

OFF TO GATINEAU

The players will welcome the change of scenery as they move to Gatineau's Complexe Branchaud-Briere Friday for the on-field portion of training camp.

The last few days have been spent on intense workouts in the gym, with Thursday's session likely to make the casual observer wonder how head of human performance and fitness coach Kyle Thorne remains such a popular presence on the team.

By the looks of it, the least-popular portion of Thursday was sprinting down a hallway while pushing a metal sled that weighs about 180 pounds.

"That was terrible," cracked striker Andrew Wiedeman during a short break.

Eustaquio said surviving the opening weeks of camp is all about mindset.

"You're always mentally prepared for the worst," he said. "But the work with Kyle has been fantastic.-

NEW ADDITION HAPPY IN OTTAWA

The forecast may not be quite like that of his homeland, but new Fury FC midfielder Brandon Poltronieri is settling into Ottawa life quite nicely.

Born in Los Angeles but raised in Costa Rica, Poltronieri jumped at the opportunity to come to the Fury after spending last season with the Atlanta Silverbacks. He was impressed by the club ever since coming to Ottawa with his former team last season.

"I love the city," he said Thursday. "The first time I came into the stadium, I said 'oh, this is like the feeling in Europe."

The 29-year-old said he was easily sold on coming to Ottawa by Fury coach Marc Dos Santos.

"I know about so many of the players, they have a lot of experience. I (thought) this team is going to be in the top (of the league) this year."

Poltronieri is comfortable playing anywhere on the left side of the field and filled in at left back for Fury teammate Mike Randolph while both were in Atlanta when the latter went down with an injury. Wherever he plays for Fury, Poltronieri said his goal was simple.

"I'm here to win, that's the only thing I have in my mind," he said. I want to work hard and do my best because we have the best inside the room. The stadium, the fans, everything is professional so you need to be professional (on and off) the field."

Twitter: @chrishofley