Toronto FC

Infobox Football club
clubname = Toronto FC
current = Toronto FC 2008


fullname = Toronto FC
nickname = TFC, Reds
shortname =
founded = 2006
dissolved =
ground = BMO Field
capacity = 20,522
chrtitle = Owner
chairman = flagicon|Canada MLSE
ceo =
mgrtitle = Head Coach
manager = flagicon|ENG John Carver
league = Major League Soccer
season = 2007
position = Eastern Conference: 7th
Overall: 13th
Playoffs: DNQ
pattern_la1=_whiteshoulders|pattern_b1=_adidas_geist_bw|pattern_ra1=_whiteshoulders
leftarm1=DD0000|body1=DD0000|rightarm1=DD0000|shorts1=DD0000|socks1=DD0000
pattern_la2=_redshoulders|pattern_b2=_adidas_geist_bw|pattern_ra2=_redshoulders
leftarm2=C0C0C0|body2=C0C0C0|rightarm2=C0C0C0|shorts2=DD0000|socks2=C0C0C
firstgame = Toronto FC 0–2 C.D. Chivas USA
"(Home Depot Center; April 7, 2007)"
largestwin = 4–0 vs FC Dallas
"(BMO Field; June 17, 2007)"
worstdefeat = 0–4 vs New England Revolution
"(Gillette Stadium; April 14, 2007)"
topscorer = flagicon|ENG Danny Dichio (11)
fansgroup = U-Sector, Red Patch Boys, The North End Elite,
Tribal Rhythm Nation,
Ultras 114, South Side Jumpers, The Firm

Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club located in Toronto, and the first non-American team in Major League Soccer (MLS). The club's first regular season match was April 7, 2007 at Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, a 0–2 loss to Chivas USA. Although they did not make the playoffs, Toronto FC was a financial success in its inaugural season, selling out every home game in the 20,522-seat BMO Field and capturing media attention. Toronto FC sold all of its 14,000 season tickets in the first year and all 16,500 of its second year season tickets. The team's second season saw them host the 2008 MLS All-Star Game at BMO Field and be named a finalist for the 2008 Sports Business Journal Pro Sports Franchise of the Year award.

History

Club Identity

After Toronto's expansion was announced in 2005, [ [http://forums.soccerfansnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=35864 Name Toronto's MLS team?] ] the name of the club was officially announced on May 11, 2006 by the team's owner, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE).ref|bio1 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. Larry Tannenbaum, chairman of MLSE, stated at the team name's unveiling that "I think the way we spell it is 'futbol'."ref|bio2

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.Fact|date=August 2008 The team has been called "TFC" [ [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/othernews.asp?articleID=238513 Toronto FC acquires Ruiz from Galaxy] ] [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008/07/15/mls-tfc-dichio.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r4:c0.0885869 TFC's Danny Dichio shelved weeks with concussion] ] [http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=830202 MLS Preview: Toronto FC - New England Revolution] ] and "the Reds" [ [http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080815&content_id=180379&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280 Reds acquire forward Johann Smith] ] by the media and the club. The official team colours are Collegiate Red, White, Dark Onyx, and Light Onyx.

Toronto FC Supporters

Richard Peddie, CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. has stated that he and the ownership would be content with between 13,000–15,000 fans per game at Toronto FC home games,ref|bio18 however, this range has been exceeded. The club capped their season ticket sales at 14,000 on March 15, 2007, setting a league record.ref|bio19 For the 2008 season the cap was raised and Toronto FC announced that they have sold 16,500 season tickets and will again sell out every home game. There are 9,000 people on the waiting list for season tickets.

The fans have been called enthusiastic [ [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=531102&root=mls&&cc=5901 Toronto fan passion unsurpassed in MLS] ] but excessive [ [http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/toronto-fc-fans-whizz-at-church-decent-soccer-16909 Toronto FC Fans Whizz at Church, Decent Soccer] ] by North American standards. After celebrations during the club's first victory in a MLS match at home to 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.ref|bio20

Competitions

Toronto FC play in MLS but are ineligible for the U.S. Open Cup; instead, they took part in the 2008 Canadian Championship, losing out embarrassingly to Montreal Impact in the first edition of the annual tournament to determine the Canadian Soccer Association's representative in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Toronto's league games against Columbus Crew were given special significance in 2008 as the deciding games in the Trillium Cup, a competition decided by the team's regular-season results against each other. [ [http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=79996 Crew, Toronto FC Announce That 'Trillium Cup' Will Be Awarded To Winner Of Season Series] ] Toronto's 2008 season opener in Columbus was attended by 2 000+ travelling fans, [ [http://www.canadianmarketingblog.com/archives/2008/04/the_house_that_toronto_fc_fans.html http://www.canadianmarketingblog.com/archives/2008/04/the_house_that_toronto_fc_fans.html] ] who witnessed a 2-0 defeat en route to losing the first edition of the Trillium Cup.

Ownership and management

Toronto FC are owned and managed by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., who also own and operate the Toronto Maple Leafs, a National Hockey League team; the Toronto Raptors, a National Basketball Association team; and the Toronto Marlies, an American Hockey League team. Along with sports ventures like Leafs TV and Raptors NBA TV, the company is also involved in real estate and property management, owning such sports venues such as the Air Canada Centre and Ricoh Coliseum. Tom Anselmi, COO and executive vice-president of MLSE, has "overall responsibility" for the team [ [http://web.mlsnet.com/t280/about/meet_us/anselmi/ Meet Us] ] and is an Alternate Governor of MLS, while Director of Soccer Mo Johnston is also club manager (although head coach John Carver performs much of the day-to-day coaching). [http://www.thescore.ca/blogs/footy/index.asp?name=footy/2008/02/mo_johnston_ste.html Johnston moves upstairs] ] Paul Beirne currently serves as Director of Business Operations.ref|bio4

Television and radio

Toronto FC's opening match against Chivas USA was broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. On April 11, 2007 the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) announced it too had secured rights to broadcast some of the team's matches, along with The Score.ref|bio6 The CBC carried 14 regular-season games in 2007, including the home opener and what had been intended as the MLS debut of David Beckham at BMO Field on August 5. [ [http://www.sportingo.com/sports/a2127_beckham-likely-make-mls-debut Beckham likely to make MLS debut in Toronto] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6931645.stm Beckham misses match in Toronto] ] [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSL0434054620070806 Beckham's MLS debut on hold as Galaxy draw with Toronto] ] Rogers Sportsnet employs Gerry Dobson as play-by-play commentator and Craig Forrest as colour, while James Sharman and Paul James called games on The Score during the first season, while feeds from American broadcasters such as MSG Network, FSN and ESPN 2 were used for the second season. On CBC, Nigel Reed and Jason DeVos handle the broadcasts, with Brenda Irving serving as host and Mitch Peacock performing the sideline role for the national broadcaster.

No radio arrangements have been announced to date.

Anthem

Toronto FC's official team anthem is "TFC", performed by Scarborough-based alternative rock band Barenaked Ladies. After home matches in the second half of the 2008 season, the club has played a version of Glass Tiger's "My Town" accompanied by a video on the large screen, re-recorded by the band to incorporate lyrics about the city and club.

Head coaches

Coaching history

Mo Johnston

*August 25, 2006 to February 1, 2008Toronto 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".ref|bio7 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.ref|bio8 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 presentJohn 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.

Coaching staff

;flagicon|ENG Chris Cummins:Assistant manager:On May 9, 2008, the club announced the signing of former Luton Town Director of Youth Development Chris Cummins as assistant coach [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008/05/09/toronto-fc-coach.html?ref=rss Toronto FC names Cummins assistant coach] ] . Cummins rejoins former Luton colleague John Carver in Toronto. His duties include overseeing the reserve side alongside Nick Dasovic.

;flagicon|ENG Paul Winsper:Strength and Conditioning Coach:On January 11, 2008, the club announced that Paul Winsper had been hired as Strength and Conditioning Coach. [ [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2008/01/11/4768382-cp.html Toronto FC adds well-known fitness coach Paul Winsper to staff] ] [http://mlssoccernews.blogspot.com/2008/01/beckhams-fitness-guru-lands-with.html Beckham's fitness guru lands with Toronto] ] In 2007, Toronto's injury woes had quickly exposed their lack of depth, and Winsper, a decade-long veteran with Newcastle United's staff and former colleague of Carver, was brought in to improve the club's fitness. He has previously served as personal fitness guru to David Beckham.

;flagicon|IRE Eddie Kehoe:Goalkeeping Coach:Kehoe, a former goalkeeper in Ireland, assisted Carmine Isacco with coaching goalkeepers in the team's inaugural season. Isacco's departure at the end of 2007 saw Kehoe, previously editor of Soccer 360 magazine, assume a full-time role as goalkeeping coach.

;flagicon|ENG Malcolm Phillips:Equipment Manager:Phillips hails from Southampton, England, and joined up with Toronto in 2007.

;flagicon|CAN Carmelo Lobue:Athletic Therapist:Lobue was famously red-carded and forced to leave the team's bench during Toronto's home clash with FC Dallas in 2008. [ [http://www.thestar.com/article/471965 Dallas blanks Toronto FC 2-0] ]

;flagicon|CAN Dr. Ira Smith:Team Physician

;flagicon|CAN Earl Cochrane :Manager, Team Services

;flagicon|CAN Nick Dasovic:TFC Academy Head Coach, second assistant to the first team

;flagicon|CAN Jason Bent :TFC Academy U-18 Head Coach

;flagicon|CAN Stuart Neely :TFC Academy U-16 Head Coach

Roster

In accordance with MLS policies, Toronto FC is restricted to an 18-man senior roster and a 10-man developmental roster. Like its American counterparts, the squad consists of both domestic and foreign players (though these domestic players are Canadian rather than American).

In 2007, the club was allowed thirteen international players, of which no more than eight could be non-Americans (8+5). Following former coach Mo Johnston's complaints that the player constraints set by the league are too strict, MLS relaxed these regulations for the 2008 season, allowing Toronto FC 16 international players, of which no more than eleven can be non-Americans (11+5). This new measure is to compensate for the smaller talent pool in Canada, thus keeping the league appropriately competitive (American teams are permitted up to eight international players, including Canadian players). Thus, Toronto FC is required to field fewer domestic players than its American counterparts,ref|bio9 and at one point in 2008 had traded for more spots to bring their total number of international spots to 18, [ [http://www.thescore.ca/blogs/footy/index.asp?name=footy/2008/07/press_release_h_1.html Huckerby Trade Details] ] potentially allowing the club to not field a single Canadian player.

Current squad

"As of October 5, 2008"

Notable former players

*flagicon|USA Jeff Cunningham
*flagicon|USA Maurice Edu
*flagicon|IRE Ronnie O'Brien
*flagicon|FRA Laurent Robert
*flagicon|ENG Andy Welsh

TFC Academy

The TFC Academy was established in 2008, with Nick Dasovic named as head coach. [ [http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3636257 Toronto FC Finalizes Technical Staff For TFC Academy] ] [ [http://web.mlsnet.com/t280/youth/academy/ TFC Academy] ] The squad plays in the National Division of the Canadian Soccer League, the highest professional soccer league within Canada. TFC Academy plays their home games at Lamport Stadium in Toronto.

tadium

, including hosting the opening match and final.

The stadium is owned by the City of Toronto, [ [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080620.wfield20/BNStory/Front/home Expansion of city-owned BMO Field considered] ] while MLSE, the team's owner, operates it. [ [http://www.hcareers.ca/seeker/employer-profiles/maple-leaf-sports-entertainment-toronto About Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment] ] The cost of the stadium is estimated at $62.5 million. [ [http://www.stadiumguide.com/torontonew.htm BMO Field] ] The 2008 MLS All-Star Game took place at BMO Field, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber has stated that an MLS Cup will also take place there by the year 2012.Fact|date=August 2008

tatistics and records

Year-by-Year

Average attendance

"regular season/playoffs"
* 2007: 20,134/missed playoffs
* 2008: TBD/TBD
* All-Time: 20,134

Honours

Sport honours|Canadian Championship
*Runners up|2008

Invitational

Sport honours|Carolina Challenge Cup (pre-season)
*Runners up|2007Sport honours|Texas Pro Soccer Festival (pre-season)
*Third place|2008

References

* [http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/news_story/?ID=165560&hubname= Toronto FC to join MLS lineup]

Footnotes

# cite web|url=http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jspymd=20060511&content_id=58784&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280|work=toronto.fc.mlsnet.com|title=Toronto FC to join MLS fold in 2007|accessdate=May 22|accessyear=2006
# cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/05/12/1576469-sun.html|work=slam.canoe.ca|title=Execs put on hot seat|accessdate=August 21|accessyear=2006
# cite web|url=http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060918&content_id=73120&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280|work=toronto.fc.mlsnet.com|title=Toronto FC: Your questions answered|accessdate=November 3|accessyear=2006
# cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/05/12/1576469-sun.html|work=slam.canoe.ca|title=Execs put on hot seat|accessdate=August 21|accessyear=2006
# cite web|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060826.SOCCERMO26/TPStory/Sports|work=globeandmail.com|title=Toronto FC skipper understands pressure|accessdate=August 27|accessyear=2006
# cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/04/11/cbc-torontofc.html|work=cbc.ca|title=CBC signs broadcast deal with Toronto FC|accessdate=April 12|accessyear=2007
# cite web|url=http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060825&content_id=70315&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280|work=toronto.fc.mlsnet.com|title=Mo Johnston named Toronto FC head coach|accessdate=August 27|accessyear=2006
#cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/cp/sports/060825/s082544.html|work=cbc.ca|title=Toronto FC names former Scottish standout Mo Johnston head coach|accessdate=August 28|accessyear=2006
#cite web|url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20070301&content_id=84612&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp|work=mlsnet.com|title=MLS announces 2007 competition calendar and key dates|accessdate=March 1|accessyear=2007
#cite web|url=http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/Soccer/2006/08/26/1777221-sun.html|work=lfpress.ca|title=Mo Johnston to coach Toronto|accessdate=August 28|accessyear=2006
#cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/cp/sports/060825/s082544.html|work=cbc.ca|title=Toronto FC names former Scottish standout Mo Johnston head coach|accessdate=August 28|accessyear=2006
#cite web|url=http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060908&content_id=72034&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280|work=toronto.fc.mlsnet.com|title=Toronto FC signs Jim Brennan|accessdate=September 20|accessyear=2006
#cite web|url=http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/MLS/chat/2006/08/31/|work=toronto.fc.mlsnet.com|title=MLSnet.com Live Chat: Mo Johnston|accessdate=September 4|accessyear=2006
#cite web|url=http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20061103&content_id=77753&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280|work=toronto.fc.mlsnet.com|title=Toronto FC to add 10 players Nov. 17|accessdate=November 3|accessyear=2006
# cite web|url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20061117&content_id=78993&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp|work=mlsnet.com|title=Trade flurry follows Toronto FC draft|accessdate=November 29|accessyear=2006
# cite web|url=http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/t280/stadium/construction/|work=toronto.fc.mlsnet.com|title=Construction Updates|accessdate=April 4|accessyear=2007
# cite web|url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20060920&content_id=73273&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp|work=mlsnet.com|title='BMO Field' to be home of Toronto FC|accessdate=September 20|accessyear=2006
# cite web|url=http://www.mlsnet.com/main.jsp|work=Major League Soccer|title=The Official Site of major League Soccer|accessdate=May 16|accessyear=2007
# cite web|url=http://www.mlsnet.com/main.jsp|work=Major League Soccer|title=The Official Site of major League Soccer|accessdate=June 5|accessyear=2007
# cite web|url=http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20070526&content_id=95479&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280|work=toronto.fc.mlsnet.com|title=Herron doubles up, but TFC earn a tie|accessdate=May 26|accessyear=2007

ee also

*Canadian Championship
*Canadian National Team
*Canadian Soccer Association
*Canadian Soccer League
*Toronto Lynx
*Toronto Blizzard
*Trillium Cup
*Former Toronto FC Players

External links

* [http://www.torontofc.ca Official website]
* [http://www.MLSnet.com/ Official website of MLS]
* [http://tickets.musicoil.com/ResultsVenue.aspx?venid=5662&vname=BMO+Field/ MLS Live]

Video

* [http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060825&content_id=70329&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280 Press conference announcing the hiring of Mo Johnston (Click on "350k)"]