Toronto FC boss named MLS coach of the year

TORONTO Greg Vanney’s arrival at Toronto FC as assistant general manager and academy director went almost unnoticed in December 2013.

It was a transaction largely lost in a week that saw the MLS club acquire Brazilians Gilberto and Jackson, reward goalkeeper Joe Bendik with a new deal and trade away the rights to ’keeper Stefan Frei and midfielder Bobby Convey.

But Vanney moved front and centre on Aug. 31, 2014, when GM Tim Bezbatchenko fired coach Ryan Nelsen and gave the keys to the struggling team to the former U.S. international defender.

Fifty-one regular season wins later — more than the franchise’s first seven coaches combined — and with Toronto a win away from a second straight MLS Cup appearance, the 43-year-old Vanney has been named MLS coach of the year.

Vanney received 37.07 per cent of votes by MLS team officials, players and media. Atlanta’s Gerardo (Tata) Martino was second at 22.30 per cent and Chicago’s Veljko Paunovic third at 11.17.

Vancouver’s Carl Robinson was fifth at 6.07 per cent, behind New York City FC’s Patrick Vieira (10.33 per cent).

Vanney, while proud of the honour, deflected the credit.

“I think this particular award goes to all of us who have been involved this year because it really came because of the success we had as a team this year,” he said.

Vanney was rewarded for a record-breaking season that saw Toronto (20-5-9) earn a league-record 69 points, collecting the Voyageurs Cup as Canadian champion and Supporters’ Shield for best regular-season record en route.

Toronto set franchise records for wins (20), goals scored (74), fewest goals allowed (37), shutouts (13), home wins (13), home points (42), road wins (7) and road points (27).