If you're unfamiliar with Ottawa Fury FC, you can be forgiven for thinking head coach Marc Dos Santos and assistant Martin Nash have been working together for years.

The two work effortlessly together, a signal from one to the other on opposite sides of the pitch all that's needed to ensure both are on the same page at any given point in a training session.

But the relationship between the two as coaches is a young one, one that began after Dos Santos was hired to lead the expansion Fury into its first North American Soccer League season. Dos Santos would end up hiring an assistant who was a relative newcomer to the coaching scene. Nash, after all, only retired from his professional playing career in 2010.

But Dos Santos had known for years what Nash brought to the table, at least as a player, and Nash had played against Dos Santos-coached teams enough times in his career to know that a job working under him was something he was interested in.

The offer came at an uncertain point in Nash's soccer life. His distinguished playing career -- mostly in Vancouver but with stops in the United States and England -- had ended and, while he would serve as assistant coach with with the first-year MLS club's reserve squad and academy, Nash was looking for something else.

He found that when the Regina-born Nash, younger brother of basketball superstar Steve Nash, happened to be part of the same coaching course as Fury technical director Phil Dos Santos, Marc's brother.

"Phil told Marc and Marc gave me a call," said the former Whitecaps captain after" Fury training Wednesday. "We had a few conversations and it went really well and I got the opportunity (in Ottawa)."

Having played against Montreal Impact teams coached by Dos Santos when both Vancouver and Montreal were in what would become the NASL, Nash had an idea of what he was getting into, though the irony of a former rival coach offering a job isn't lost on him.

"I played those rivalries for years but (Dos Santos) was always respectful," Nash said of Dos Santos. "He had good teams and I liked the way his teams played so I thought I could learn a lot from him.

"It's been a great experience so far."

The chemistry developed quickly between both men, which could have something to do that both had been through similar experiences with their previous clubs. Despite his success coaching the Impact, Dos Santos wasn't part of the future coaching plan as the club moved to MLS, while Nash felt a similar sting with the Whitecaps that ultimately led to his retirement.

"The club just didn't feel I could cover the ground anymore," said Nash without a trace of bitterness, though he acknowledged the first year after he pulled the pin was tough, especially considering the rough introduction the Whitecaps had to top-tier North American soccer.

Nash, who was capped 38 times for the Canadian men's national team, wouldn't rule out a return to the Whitecaps one day as a coach, especially considering his family lives in Vancouver and his brother has a stake in the club, but his focus now is helping grow the Fury brand in Ottawa. But judging by the way Dos Santos speaks about his assistant, a future coaching job in MLS or other high-level soccer is hardly a stretch for Nash.

"Everything I don't have, he has, it's that simple," Dos Santos said when asked about Nash's coaching strengths. "I was not a captain of a big club in this league. I didn't play on the national team. All the playing side of the game that he brings and ideas he brings to training, the little things, he complements myself very well."

Martin Nash, career in numbers

Professional appearances: 421 (45 goals, 74 assists)

Appearances with Whitecaps (formerly 86ers): 244

National team caps: 38 (2 goals)

League championships: 4 (Rochester Rhinos '00, '01; Vancouver Whitecaps '06, '08)

FURY RELEASES DEFENDER

Fury FC bid farewell to Andres Fresenga Wednesday as the club announced it had released the Toronto-born defender.

The move wasn't surprising as Fresenga barely saw any game action during his stint with the club. Fury has depth at right back with players like Ryan Richter bringing more pace and experience to the back line. Forward Phil Davies as also proven to be a capable presence in the position, while newly-signed O'Brian Woodbine has also been used at right back.

Dos Santos said the decision to release Fresenga before the end of the season was for the player's benefit

"Because we like him and we respect him, we want to give him at least a month to decide what's his next step is," said the coach, adding Fresenga will be paid by the club through the end of the season.

"I'm very comfortable with the options we have for right back."

Dos Santos wished Fresenga well but said he "felt the full package of Andres Fresenga didn't fit the Ottawa Fury profile.-

SIDELINES

Ottawa's last-minute goal, off the boot of Ryan Richter, to draw San Antonio Saturday night kept Fury mathematically alive in the playoff race. That said, Fury will have t run the table in the final four matches and get some help from other teams to have a chance ... Fury's strong run of form of late earned two players a spot on the NASL Team of the Week, with striker Vini Dantas and defender Mason Trafford getting the nod this week ... Defender Drew Beckie didn't travel to San Antonio because of a sore foot but he was back training this week and is good to go for this weekend ... Fury has yet to beat its next opponent, though it has played the New York Cosmos hard both times en route to a pair of 1-0 defeats ... After goalkeeper Romuald Peiser welcomed a baby boy with his wife a week ago, captain Richie Ryan is next, as he and his wife are expecting any time now. Striker Tommy Heinemann is also expecting with his wife.

Twitter: @chrishofley