WELCOME TO THE CLUB
Manning, Vanney found the same name atop their wish lists for a new GM
Toronto FC wasted no time in filling its general manager vacancy, introducing Ali Curtis as Tim Bezbatchenko’s replacement,
It has been a whirlwind week for Ali Curtis, the fifth general manager in Toronto FC history.
This time last week, Tim Bezbatchenko had just informed TFC president Bill Manning of plans to leave his job as general manager and senior vice-president of soccer operations after five seasons to become president of his hometown Columbus Crew. Manning — who, before Christmas, had given Bezbatchenko permission to seek another position — quickly phoned coach Greg Vanney, who flew in from Phoenix last Thursday to discuss the game plan for a successor.
Curtis’ name topped both of their lists, and Manning would only interview one person for the position — the player he’d drafted second overall while working for the now-defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny in 2001. The new GM came to Toronto on Saturday and met with Manning for a few hours, before a flight to Arizona to spend a day with Vanney. The coach gave Manning his feedback — a “nobrainer,” Vanney called it — and Curtis was signing on the dotted line by Monday.
“We don’t want to stand still, and we did not want to take a long time,” Manning said at Thursday’s press conference to introduce Curtis. “Greg and I knew right away that, while we certainly will miss Tim, we wanted to get the best guy out there to lead this franchise in terms of soccer going forward … We wanted to get rolling — especially with training camp starting (Jan. 14 in Toronto), with the draft (Jan. 11 in Chicago), with the combine.”
The accelerated timeline is much different from Curtis’ previous experience as sporting director of the New York Red Bulls — his first executive position, starting in 2014, after years with the league office. Back then, he arrived with a 300page binder outlining his vision for the Red Bulls. His work with the Reds, Curtis says, will start with getting up to speed quickly, from the senior team to the academy, before making any moves.
One of the biggest decisions looming will be what to do with designated players Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, whose contracts are up at season’s end. Curtis said he’d already exchanged text messages with some players. Bezbatchenko — whose new role with the Crew had yet to be formally announced Thursday — and Curtis are long-time friends, and the outgoing GM will stay around for a few days to help ease the transition.
“I think it’s very important any time you enter a new situation or organization that you listen, you learn, you process and analyze, but you roll up your sleeves and you get your hands dirty,” Curtis said.
With 25 names on the roster and five spots empty, the Reds are targeting a few players. There isn’t much work to be done acquisition-wise, however, until play officially kicks off with the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League round of 16 against Panama’s Club Atletico Independiente on Feb. 19.
“What I really challenged Ali with — as he gets to know the organization over the next four to six months and the structure — is what can he add to that, and how can he improve on what we’re doing and how we want to continue to grow this club,” Manning said.
There has been little roster attrition since Bezbatchenko arrived in 2013, after years of turnover. Today, after the surprising exit of the man often credited with transforming the Reds from laughingstock to MLS powerhouse, there’s a sense that the foundation is solid enough to withstand the loss.
The man they call Bez is leaving the franchise in a much better place than when he arrived, both Manning and Vanney agreed.
“It’s a tribute to Tim, to Bill, to everybody, that the organization has moved leaps and bounds — not just on the field but off the field, everywhere,” Vanney said. “It’s a real machine now, so I think that’s exciting.”