Toronto’s Vanney named MLS coach of the year
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 one victory 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 leaguerecord 69 points, collecting the Voyageurs Cup as Canadian champion and Supporters’ Shield for best regular-season record en route.
Toronto, the first team to clinch a spot in the playoffs this season, 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).
There were challenges, however.
Veteran defenceman Drew Moor missed time with a heart scare. Captain Michael Bradley and striker Jozy Altidore endured public humiliation via the failed U.S. World Cup qualifying campaign.
And mercurial Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco, an MVP candidate once again, had a roller-coaster year that featured tantrums, a poorly timed playoff suspension and some nagging injuries in addition to wonderful moments of skill.
“Far more teams would have caved than teams that would have persevered through this ... We still managed to persevere and get the results we need in difficult times,’’ Vanney said.
Perhaps Vanney’s biggest accomplishment has been successfully motivating a team that came within one kick of the MLS championship in 2016. He did it by setting goals and having discussions on the kind of attitude or character needed to achieve them.
“That to me is the most important discussion because the only way you achieve goals is if you have the right attitude every day when you go out to work,’’ he said.
Vanney is the cool head running the show, a student of the game who is never far from a screen so he can do some more soccer homework. Former Los Angeles Galaxy teammate Ante Jazic calls him a “soccer nerd.’’