- Greg Vanney isn’t Toronto FC’s head coach anymore, notifying the management this Sunday.
- The 46-year old revolutionized the franchise from the BMO Field, making it one of the best in the MLS.
- Toronto will seek a new head coach, while Vanney wants to take a break for a while.
Vanney Gone After Six Years
Greg Vanney and the Toronto FC decided to break ties after six years. The best coach in FC’s history notified the team president Bill Manning and the general manager, Ali Curtis, about his decision not to extend his stay at the BMO Field. This news was officially confirmed this Tuesday.
Vanney issued a statement thanking all the people he worked with in Toronto, but most notably saying farewell to all the fans who were massive support, right from the start of his tenure.
“I’m forever grateful to each of you. Lastly, to the TFC Fans. You’re truly amazing and the memories and emotions from our biggest nights together will be cherished.”
Since 2014 once he took over the leading role in Toronto’s locker room, Vanney became one of the best head coaches on the continent. Toronto won the MLS Cup in 2017, reaching two more finals. The same year, FC won the Supporters’ Shield and the Canadian Championship, completing a Treble.
Apart from this, Vanney led FC to two more Canadian Championships in 2016 and 2018, and reached the CONCACAF Champions League finals the same year, but lost after a penalty shootout against Guadalajara.
Prior to his appointment, Toronto never managed to reach the MLS Playoffs, and now six years later, he leaves the organization as one of the best not only in the MLS, but much wider. Vanney leaves the club as the record-holder in games managed, with 250 and number of wins, 112.
Many believe that the reason for his decision was a stressful 2020 campaign. The FC lost in the first round of the playoffs to Nashville SC, even though securing the conference’s second seed. The Canadians faced a lot of troubles, having to play their games away from the BMO Field and entering the postseason in a pretty bad shape.
What’s Next?
Vanney spent the majority of his career in the Los Angeles Galaxy, and it wouldn’t be odd to see him back in LA, trying to win some trophies as a coach. In six years and 168 matches played for the Galaxy, Vanney won three pieces of silverware – the Supporters’ Shield in 1998, CONCACAF Champions’ Cup two years later, and the US Open Cup in 2001. there are lots of ties between him and the team from Dignity Health Sports Park.
As for Toronto, team president Manning was pretty clear about their immediate plans.
“We’re going to try to have the best coach possible, whether it’s an international coach or it’s a domestic-based coach,” said Manning.
So far, there haven’t been any rumors about who could be the potential replacement. It seems that FC’s executives await for the season to end before taking some actions.
