Football
ESPN staff 9y

Toronto FC 'rewriting the history of who we are' says coach Greg Vanney

Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney says the club is "rewriting the history of who we are" as they try to make the MLS playoffs for the first time.

The Candian club has never qualified for the postseason in their eight seasons in the league, but are in good position this year, sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto endured a difficult summer with just three wins in 10 games -- and those coming against Orlando City and Philadelphia Union, both among the league's worst teams.

But they rebounded on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Montreal to equal their franchise record for wins in a season with 11, and that had Vanney looking up.

"We have the history that is behind us that everybody wants to remind you of [whenever things go bad]," Vanney told Sportsnet.ca. "It's always weighing on people and they're quick to say, 'Ah, here we go again.'

"We're trying to take that big step forward that says that's not us anymore. That history is no longer us; we're rewriting the history of who we are and who are are going to be.

"We know that we have things to prove but we're going to do that. For me, it's just about establishing the culture of greatness here and believing in it."

A big part of Toronto's recent success is due to their newfound willingness to spend after Tim Leiweke, who once helped bring David Beckham to MLS, took over as Maple Leafs Sports president and hired Tim Bezbatchenko as general manager in 2013.

The new brass brought in midfielder Michael Bradley before the 2014 season and added striker Jozy Altidore and MVP candidate Sebastian Giovinco for this campaign, giving Toronto the highest payroll in the league.

Vanney said the team's organisation has improved immensely both on and off the pitch since he was hired a year ago this week.

"I've enjoyed every minute of it. Some of it has been easy; some of it has been not so easy. ... But I feel now we have an interesting roster with a lot of options that has taken its shape over the course of the past 12 months," Vanney said.

"I think we have some really talented players, between bringing Sebastian in and bringing Jozy [Altidore] in, and the additions of Benoit [Cheyrou] and a number of other guys -- we're really good from that standpoint.

"I think we've come a long way [in the past year], both with the first team and with the club and the academy and our philosophy on things. For me, it's been an incredible 12 months, and I really look forward to really interesting and great things in the future."

^ Back to Top ^