Toronto FC
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| Full name | Toronto FC | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Reds, TFC | |||
| Founded | 2006 | |||
| Ground | BMO Field Toronto, Ontario (Capacity: 22,000) |
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| Executives |  Larry Tanenbaum (MLSE) Richard Peddie (MLSE) Tom Anselmi (MLSE) |
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| Head Coach |  Preki |
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| League | Major League Soccer | |||
| 2009 | Eastern Conference: 5th Overall: 12th Playoffs: DNQ |
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 Current season |
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Toronto FC is a professional soccer club located in Toronto, Ontario and the first Canadian team to participate in Major League Soccer. The club was founded in 2006 and was MLS' 13th team, joining the league in the 2007 season.
Toronto FC is owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which operates the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, the AHL's Toronto Marlies, and the NBA's Toronto Raptors. TFC plays its home games at BMO Field, located in Exhibition Place along the Toronto lake shore.
Toronto FC's title sponsor, found on the front of their jersey and on most team merchandise, is the Bank of Montreal (BMO). TFC fans have helped make the club one of the MLS' most successful franchises off the pitch, having been profitable since its first year with regular sellouts and sold-out seasons tickets.
The club is the current Canadian Champion, having won the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship.
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History
Club identity
After Toronto's expansion was announced in 2005, the name of the club was officially announced on May 11, 2006 by the team's owner, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE).[1] The "FC" in the team's name is the conventional initialism for Football Club, but in official media and documents, the team has only been referred to as Toronto FC.
The announcement followed an online consultation in which the public was invited to vote on the name during a limited period. The voting options were "Toronto Northmen," "Inter Toronto FC," "Toronto Reds," and "Toronto FC." MLSE's strategy in choosing "Toronto FC" following this process was based on two reasons. Firstly, over 40 percent of the online vote supported the simplified Toronto FC name during the consultation; secondly, MLSE hoped that the fairly generic name would help the new club earn a more organic nickname from the Toronto fans rather than having one imposed upon the club.[2] The team has been called "TFC" and "the Reds" by the media and the club.[3][4] The official team colours are red (jerseys, shorts and socks) with white trim, and white jerseys with matching white shorts and socks.
MLS expansion in Canada
While Toronto FC was the first Canadian team to join the previously all-American MLS, it will not be the last. Due to Toronto's popular success, MLS has sought out other cities in Canada for expansion, most recently awarding franchises to Vancouver (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and Montreal, with these teams joining the league in 2011 and 2012 respectively.[5] Ottawa has also been cited as a potential player in future MLS expansion.
Toronto FC supporters
Before the start of the 2007 season, Richard Peddie, the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., stated that he and the ownership would be content with between 13,000–15,000 fans per game at Toronto FC home games. However, this range has been exceeded. The club sold out season tickets its first three years, capping season tickets at 16,000 for the 2009 season. There are currently more than 14,000 people on the waiting list for season tickets. Toronto FC is also known for changing fan bases in the MLS. A year after Toronto joined in the league the Seattle Sounders became the new expansion franchise. To keep up with the expectations they had to have just as passionate fans. They are great but there will never be any fans like those of Toronto FC in the MLS. [6].
The fans have been called enthusiastic and their passion unsurpassed in MLS[7]. After celebrations in which seat cushions were thrown on the field after its first ever goal in a victory at home to the Chicago Fire, the Toronto FC front office sent an email to season ticket holders reminding fans to refrain from throwing objects or running onto the field. The fans are also known for their traveling support, notably sending large contingents of fans to Columbus in the opening matches of the 2008 and 2009 Trillium Cup.[8]
Competitions
Canadian Championship
Toronto FC play in MLS but are ineligible for the U.S. Open Cup; instead, they take part in the annual Canadian Championship for the Voyageurs Cup, to determine the Canadian Soccer Association's representative in the CONCACAF Champions League. Currently Toronto only competes against the Montreal Impact and the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL 1st Division, although Vancouver and Montreal will be joining them in MLS as expansion teams in 2011 and 2012.
In the championship's inaugural season in 2008, TFC were the favourites to win the championship but lost it to the Montreal Impact. The second year of the championship in 2009, TFC on the final game of the championship needed to beat Montreal by 4 goals in order to win because Vancouver had a goal differential of +4 and anything less would result in Vancouver winning the championship. TFC was up to the task and beat an under strength Montreal Impact 6-1 on the back of a hat-trick by Dwayne De Rosario. TFC was down 1-0 in the first half but DeRosario scored three straight times with Amado Guevara scoring 2, in the 69th and 92nd mins and Chad Barrett scoring the goal, in the 82nd min, that gave Toronto the lead over Vancouver.
CONCACAF Champions League 2009-10
Toronto FC participated in the CONCACAF Champions League 2009-10. Toronto FC lost 1-0 on aggregate to the Puerto Rico Islanders in the preliminary round of the tournament.
CONCACAF Champions League 2010-11
Toronto FC played C.D. Motagua in the preliminary round of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League. Toronto won 1-0 in the first leg on a goal by Chad Barrett, and tied 2-2 in the second leg on goals by De Rosario and Barrett, qualifying for the group stage. Toronto won their first ever group stage match 2-1 against Cruz Azul on August 17, 2010.
Rivalries
Being such a young soccer club, Toronto FC has few true rivalries against many MLS teams. Columbus Crew and Toronto FC compete for the Trillium Cup. Although Toronto has yet to win a game against Columbus in the past four years, the large number of Toronto fans which typically travel to Columbus has helped spark a fierce rivalry between both clubs' supporters.
Toronto FC's biggest rival (arguably) will not play in MLS until 2012. The Montreal Impact, a successful side currently in the D2 Pro League, has emerged as a fierce rival and won the inaugural Canadian Championship and seventh Voyageurs Cup. The proximity of the two cities, the fact that Toronto and Montreal have traditionally been rivals, particularly in hockey and the fact that these two franchises are slated to play each other twice a year in the Canadian Championship only adds fuel to this rivalry.
With an expansion MLS franchise in Vancouver, Toronto FC will have a second Canadian team to compete against in MLS play beginning in 2011.
Ownership and management
Toronto FC are owned and managed by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., who also own and operate the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Marlies. Along with sports ventures like Leafs TV, Raptors NBA TV and GolTV Canada, the company is also involved in real estate and property management, owning such sports venues such as the Air Canada Centre, Ricoh Coliseum and being a partner in the development of Maple Leaf Square. Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and COO of MLSE, has overall responsibility for the team and is an Alternate Governor of MLS[9], while Mo Johnston is also manager and director of soccer,[10] Paul Beirne currently serves as Director of Business Operations.[11]
Television and radio
As of 2010, Toronto FC games can be seen on CBC Television, Rogers Sportsnet, and Gol TV Canada.
Rogers Sportsnet employs Gerry Dobson as play-by-play commentator and Craig Forrest as colour commentator. On the CBC, Nigel Reed and Jason DeVos handle the broadcasts, with Brenda Irving and Scott Russell serving as hosts. Since acquiring an 80.1 per cent share in GolTV Canada in early 2009, the owner of Toronto FC, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment broadcasts select games on GolTV Canada which are hosted by Lee Godfrey and Andi Petrillo with Luke Wileman calling the game alongside Jason DeVos.
Previous broadcasters during the 2007 and 2008 seasons include The Score and CBC Bold.
The Fan 590 broadcasts select games on the radio, Dan Dunleavy calls the games while Bob Iarusci joins him as color commentator for home games. When a Toronto FC game conflicts with another team's game that the Fan is a flagship broadcaster to, the Toronto FC game is webcast on the Fan590 website.
Head coaches
Coaching history
As of August 28, 2010.
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 Mo Johnston |
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 John Carver |
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| 3 |
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Chris Cummins |
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| 4 |
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Preki |
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Mo Johnston
- August 25, 2006 to February 1, 2008
Toronto FC confirmed that former Red Bull New York coach Mo Johnston would serve as the first head coach in team history at a press conference in Toronto in August 2006. During the press conference, Tom Anselmi said Johnston "represents the next generation of MLS coaches who have extensive playing experience in Europe and North America".[12] Johnston's playing career included stints at Celtic, Rangers, and Everton before ending his career with the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer and winning the 2000 MLS Cup. At the time of his hiring, Johnston claimed that a "wonderful" assistant coach had already been hired while declining to divulge the person's identity.[13] This person was later revealed to be former U.S. National Team and Kansas City Wizards coach, Bob Gansler. On February 1, 2008, it was announced that Mo Johnston was moving to become Toronto FC Manager and Director of Soccer.
John Carver
- February 1, 2008 to April 25, 2009
John Carver worked on the coaching staff at Newcastle United under Sir Bobby Robson before getting managerial experience as caretaker manager at Leeds United and later as assistant at Luton Town. He was announced as Toronto FC's new head coach in February 2008 with his predecessor Mo Johnston "moving upstairs" into a sporting director role.[10] Carver resigned as head coach on April 25, 2009 for personal reasons.
Chris Cummins
- April 29, 2009 to October 27, 2009
On May 9, 2008, the club announced the signing of former Luton Town Director of Youth Development Chris Cummins as assistant coach.[14] Cummins was officially named Interim Head Coach on April 29, 2009 following John Carver's resignation. It was announced on October 27, 2009 that Cummins' contract would not be renewed past the 2009 season.[15]
Preki
- November 19, 2009 to Present
Three weeks after Chris Cummins vacated the role, Predrag "Preki" Radosavljević was officially announced as Toronto FC's head coach.[16] Preki's three-year tenure as head coach of Chivas USA ended only a week before he joined TFC.
Coaching staff
- Preki
- Head Coach
- Preki was signed as the head coach after the 2009 season.
- Nick Dasovic
- First Assistant Coach
- Former Canadian international Nick Dasovic was named First Assistant Coach on April 29, 2009 replacing Chris Cummins. Dasovic had served as the TFC Academy Head Coach in 2008.
Leo Percovich- Assistant Coach
- Former Uruguyan international Leo Percovich was named Assistant Coach on December 14, 2009. He was previously the goalkeeping coach at the Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA.
- Danny Dichio
- Assistant Coach
- Mike Toshack
- Goalkeeping Coach
- Ontario native Mike Toshack joined Toronto on January 8th, 2009. Toshack moved back to Canada after three seasons with the Houston Dynamo.
- Malcolm Phillips
- Equipment Manager
- Phillips hails from Southampton, England, and joined up with Toronto in 2007.
- Carmelo Lobue
- Athletic Therapist
- Lobue was famously sent-off and forced to leave the team's bench during Toronto's home clash with FC Dallas in 2008.[17]
- Marcelo Casal
- Massage Therapist
- Dr. Ira Smith
- Team Physician
- Earl Cochrane
- Manager, Team Services
- Jason Bent
- TFC Academy Senior Team Head Coach
- Stuart Neely
- TFC Academy Junior Team Head Coach
Players
Current roster
As of August 26, 2010.[18]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For recent transfers, see List of MLS transfers for the 2010 season.
Notable former players
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TFC Academy
TFC Academy is the youth academy of Toronto FC that was established in 2008.[19][20] The Academy consists of a Junior and Senior Team who play in the Canadian Soccer League, the highest professional soccer league within Canada. They play their home games at Lamport Stadium.
Ground
Before the 2007 Major League Soccer season, construction was completed on a new stadium at Exhibition Place in Toronto at a cost of $62.5 million.[21][22] On September 20, 2006, MLS's official website announced that BMO Financial Group had officially purchased the naming rights for the new stadium.[23] It is the largest soccer-specific stadium in Canada. With the expansion of the north end in 2010, the stadium has a capacity of 21,800 although 21,978 was the largest attendance when Canada played host to Jamaica on August 20, 2008 for a 2010 World Cup Qualifier. It is owned by the City of Toronto, while MLSE, the team's owner, operates it.[24][25]
As the National Soccer Stadium, it served as a major venue for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, including hosting the opening and final matches. In 2008, it played host to the 2008 MLS All-Star Game. BMO Field has also hosted various high profile teams in international friendlies such as Real Madrid in 2009. It was chosen as a neutral venue to host the 2010 MLS Cup in November, 2010.
Expansion to the north end that will cost $2 million and add 1,249 seats will be completed for the start of the 2010 MLS Season.[26]
Following criticism of BMO Field's use of Field Turf and its rapid deterioration, MLSE agreed to a deal with the city to replace it with a natural grass surface for the 2010 MLS Season. Along with the grass, a heating and drainage system was also installed at a cost of $3.5 million to MLSE.
Although not expected in the near future, Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and chief operating officer with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has indicated a second level could be added to the east side stands and extra rows added to the south side stands which would add an additional 8,000 seats for about $15 million.[27]
Statistics and records
Club captains
| Dates | Name |
|---|---|
| 2007–10 | Jim Brennan |
| 2010– | Dwayne De Rosario |
Most goals
League, CONCACAF Champions League & Voyageurs Cup
| # | Name | Career | Goals | Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dwayne De Rosario |
2009– | 25 | 62 |
| 2 | Chad Barrett |
2008– | 20 | 72 |
| 3 | Danny Dichio |
2007–09 | 14 | 66 |
| 4 |  Amado Guevara |
2008–09 | 11 | 53 |
| 5= | Jeff Cunningham |
2007–08 | 6 | 36 |
| 5= | Maurice Edu |
2007–08 | 6 | 41 |
| 5= | Rohan Ricketts |
2008–09 | 6 | 44 |
| 8= | Jim Brennan |
2007–10 | 4 | 93 |
| 8= |  O'Brian White |
2009– | 4 | 34 |
| 10= | Nana Attakora |
2007– | 3 | 54 |
| 10= | Fuad Ibrahim |
2008– | 3 | 32 |
| 10= |  Carl Robinson |
2007–10 | 3 | 84 |
| 10= |  Colin Samuel |
2007–08 | 3 | 19 |
| 10= |  Marco Velez |
2008–09 | 3 | 46 |
Last Update: September 4, 2010.
Most appearances
League, CONCACAF Champions League & Voyageurs Cup
| # | Name | Career | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Brennan |
2007–10 | 93 | 4 |
| 2 | Carl Robinson |
2007–10 | 84 | 3 |
| 3 | Marvell Wynne |
2007–10 | 76 | 2 |
| 4 | Chad Barrett |
2008– | 72 | 20 |
| 5 | Danny Dichio |
2007–09 | 66 | 14 |
| 6 | Dwayne De Rosario |
2009– | 62 | 25 |
| 7 |  Stefan Frei |
2009– | 57 | 0 |
| 8 | Nana Attakora |
2007– | 54 | 3 |
| 9 | Amado Guevara |
2008-09 | 53 | 11 |
| 10 | Marco Vélez |
2008–09 | 46 | 3 |
Last Update: September 4, 2010.
Year-by-year
| Year | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Canadian Championship | CONCACAF Champions League | Carlsberg Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 7th, East | Did not qualify | (Began in 2008) | (Began in 2008) | (Began in 2008) |
| 2008 | 7th, East | Did not qualify | 2nd | Did not qualify | Lost to Pachuca CF in Penalties |
| 2009 | 5th, East | Did not qualify | Champion | Preliminary round | Lost to River Plate in Penalties |
| 2010 | Champion | Lost to Bolton Wanderers in Penalties |
Average attendance
| Year | Reg. Season |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 20,134 |
| 2008 | 20,108 |
| 2009 | 20,344 |
| 2010 |
- Overall Average: 20,195
The largest attendance at the stadium for an MLS game was on August 22, 2010 when Toronto FC hosted New York Red Bulls in front of 22,180 fans.
Honours
Domestic
- Canadian Championship
- Champions (2): 2009, 2010
- Runners up (1): 2008
See also
- Canadian Championship
- Canadian National Team
- Canadian Soccer Association
- Canadian Soccer League
- Toronto Lynx
- Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
- Toronto Blizzard (1986–1993)
- Trillium Cup
References
- ↑ "Toronto FC to join MLS fold in 2007". toronto.fc.mlsnet.com. http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jspymd=20060511&content_id=58784&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "Toronto FC - our brief history and bright future". mlsnet.com. http://web.mlsnet.com/t280/about/. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
- ↑ "Toronto FC acquires Ruiz from Galaxy". seattlepi.nwsource.com. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/othernews.asp?articleID=238513. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "MLS Preview: Toronto FC - New England Revolution". goal.com. http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=830202. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "MLS awards Vancouver team for 2011". MLSnet.com. 2009-03-18. http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090318&content_id=227084&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp.
- ↑ Girard, Daniel (2009-03-18). "MLSE spies big BMO Field expansion". Toronto: thestar.com. http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/603933. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
- ↑ "Toronto fan passion unsurpassed in MLS". soccernet.espn.go.com. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=531102&root=mls&&cc=5901. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ Campbell, Morgan (2008-03-30). "TFC fans paint Columbus red". Toronto: thestar.ca. http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/407273. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
- ↑ "Meet Us". mlsnet.com. http://web.mlsnet.com/t280/about/meet_us/anselmi/. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Johnston moves upstairs". thescore.ca. http://www.thescore.ca/blogs/footy/index.asp?name=footy/2008/02/mo_johnston_ste.html. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "Execs put on hot seat". slam.canoe.ca. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/05/12/1576469-sun.html. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "Mo Johnston named Toronto FC head coach". toronto.fc.mlsnet.com. http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060825&content_id=70315&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "Toronto FC names former Scottish standout Mo Johnston head coach". cbc.ca. http://www.cbc.ca/cp/sports/060825/s082544.html. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "Toronto FC names Cummins assistant coach". cbcsports.ca. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008/05/09/toronto-fc-coach.html?ref=rss. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "Toronto FC and Cummins Part Ways". torontofc.ca. http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20091027&content_id=7557648&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
- ↑ "Toronto FC Names Preki New Head Coach". torontofc.ca. http://www.mlsnet.com//news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20091119&content_id=7687148&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
- ↑ "Dallas blanks Toronto FC 2-0". The Toronto Star. 2008-08-03. http://www.thestar.com/article/471965. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/toronto-fc
- ↑ "Toronto FC Finalizes Technical Staff For TFC Academy". oursportscentral.com. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3636257. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "TFC Academy". mlsnet.com. http://web.mlsnet.com/t280/youth/academy/. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "Construction Updates". toronto.fc.mlsnet.com. http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/t280/stadium/construction/. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "BMO Field". stadiumguide.com. http://www.stadiumguide.com/torontonew.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "BMO Field". mlsnet.com. http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20060920&content_id=73273&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "Expansion of city-owned BMO Field considered". The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080620.wfield20/BNStory/Front/home. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "About Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment". hcareers.ca. http://www.hcareers.ca/seeker/employer-profiles/maple-leaf-sports-entertainment-toronto. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "North End Expansion Of BMO Field". torontofc.ca. http://www.mlsnet.com//news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20100318&content_id=8828982&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
- ↑ Girard, Daniel (2009-03-18). "MLSE spies big BMO Field expansion". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/603933. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
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