Sam, tell us about Toronto FC! We’re dying to know!

By: Sam | February 7th, 2007

That’s all I’ve been hearing ever since I got myself into this. It’s a trial sometimes, but to appease the lot of you, here’s a quick rundown of what the franchise looks like as of today. You can count on lots of transfers from now until the start of the regular season, however.

May 11, 2006, was the birth of Toronto FC. Not Toronto Football Club, but Toronto FC. Owned by MLSE Ltd., the first professional soccer club in Canada was announced by MLS commissioner Don Garber, who claimed this expansion would be a most important one, that soccer in Canada would need just this, and blah, blah, blah. Playing in BMO Field in Exhibition Place in Ontario’s capital, 20 000 fans will support TFC in their early stages. It’s up to them to keep up that figure.

Mo Johnston, the former Celtic, Rangers and Everton player, as well as Scottish international and more recently, Red Bulls New York head coach, was hired as Toronto’s first manager. Assistants Bob Gansler, Mike Matkovich and Carmine Issaco were appointed soon after.

For a while, TFC boasted a one-man roster, that of Canadian international midfielder Jim Brennan (photo) , set to be the first captain in the history of the club. More followed, and now Toronto FC has their full 18-man roster, featuring such names as José Cancela, Maurice Edu, Ronnie O’Brien, Alecko Eskandarian, and Edson Buddle.

And get this: We already have two ultras groups! The U-Sector and The Red Patch Boys will be the first official supporters sections to populate BMO Field.

Otherwise, the MLS had the odd idea to start Toronto’s season with three games on the road, with the club visiting Chivas USA, New England and Kansas City before staging their home opener against the latter club.

Anyway, that’s that. Hope I enlightened you!