Coach could be TFC’s secret ingredient
Without cameras and recorders rolling, Greg Vanney would probably pick himself — but on the eve of Major League Soccer naming its coach of the year, Toronto FC’s boss offered his own list worthy of the honour.
Far too modest to pump his own tires following Sunday’s training, Vanney rattled off names like Tata Martino (Atlanta), Mike Petke (Salt Lake City) and Wilmer Cabrera (Houston) hours before MLS was expected to reveal who players and staff and media deemed the league’s top coach.
“I do my job within the structure of (our club),” Vanney said ahead of Wednesday’s Eastern Conference final with Columbus. “I come to work every day to learn and be the best I can and to challenge our guys to take the right steps forward.”
“I’ve changed a ton … When I took this job, I was an unproven coach who’d worked a lot with young players.”
Since then, a culture change — the often overlooked aspect of a championship-calibre club — has occurred inside the dressing room.
“This doesn’t happen everywhere,” Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley said.
“This is special. We had it with the (U.S.) national team for a period between 2007 and 2011, where we had some really big experiences as a group that allowed us to grow together. We have that here…
“The relationship I have with Greg is a big part of that feeling. I’d do anything for him. I’d do anything for this team. I’d do anything for this club.”
It’s not just about X’s and O’s with Vanney, or assistant coach Robin Fraser or anyone in Toronto FC’s front office. Bradley hardly mentions tactics when praising his head coach.
“It’s so important that the coach and veteran, big players have a strong relationship, a feeling you’re all in something together,” Bradley said. “Greg has done an incredible job of cultivating that.”
Bradley later referred to Vanney as the top coach in the league this year — a “no-brainer,” he said.