TFC rewards a winning brain trust
Bezbatchenko, Vanney ink new contracts as a reward for bringing Reds stability
When Bill Manning took over as president of Toronto FC in October 2015, his belief was the best move was no move when it came to GM Tim Bezbatchenko and head coach Greg Vanney.
“I did not come in intending to make moves,” Manning said. “I wanted them to prove my theory correct in that the last thing TFC needed was another coaching change and another member in the general manager seat.
“First and foremost TFC needed stability.”
Manning ensured that Friday when the Reds announced both Bezbatchenko and Vanney had been rewarded with new contracts. Their existing deals, which were to expire at the end of this season, have been replaced with contracts that run through the 2020 season.
There is also an option for 2021with Bezbatchenko, who gets senior vicepresident of soccer operations added to his title.
“We’re all here for the long haul, to build a perennial championship contender,” Manning said. “It’s a really good day for TFC.”
Toronto, which made it to the MLS Cup final last year only to lose to Seattle in a penalty shootout, is currently tied with the Chicago Fire atop the league at 11-3-5. The team has yet to lose this year at BMO Field.
Many new bosses prefer to put their own people in place. Manning, a twotime MLS executive of the year at Real Salt Lake, stayed the course after arriving, although he thought Bezbatchenko and Vanney were very much works in progress.
“They spoke the same language as me,” Manning said.
He also wanted to put an end to the cycle that had seen eight managers in the franchise’s first eight seasons.
Bezbatchenko was just 31 when he came on board as GM in September 2013 from the league’s head office, where he had served as senior director of player relations and competition.
Toronto’s career league record was 49-102-66 when Bezbatchenko took over. The club has gone 53-45-28 since with Bezbatchenko, along with chief scout Jack Dodd and others, proving adept at finding the pieces needed to keep the TFC engine humming.
The young GM also proved to be adept in office politics. When the relationship with former manager Ryan Nelsen soured, Bezbatchenko summoned reporters and challenged the team two-thirds of the way through the 2014 season “to take it up a notch.” Nelsen, who had not been warned of the GM’s move, predictably fired back and was promptly fired.
Bezbatchenko then elevated Vanney, his assistant GM and academy director, to head coach and technical director.
“I think we share a similar vision in how the game should be played,” Bezbatchenko said Friday.
Under Vanney, Toronto has become one of the more sophisticated teams in MLS, able to switch tactics as needed. He has also managed to keep his well-stocked, well-paid roster happy.
Apart from the occasional outburst from mercurial star striker Sebastian Giovinco, the Toronto FC squad is remarkably even-keeled.
Vanney is the cool head presiding over the squad, a student of the game who is never far from a screen so he can do some more soccer homework. “Someone who’s not afraid to take risks but someone who’s also smart enough to realize when something doesn’t work,” said Manning.
Under Vanney, TFC is 46-36-32 in regular-season and post-season play.