Laryea dazzles after position switch
Toronto native’s play with hometown Reds leads to national team
The future looked uncertain for Richie Laryea last November when Orlando City SC declined his contract option three seasons after drafting him seventh overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
With his partner expecting a baby in February, it was no time to be out of work.
His time in soccer limbo did not last long, however. Toronto FC contacted him some three weeks later and Laryea, converted from central midfielder to right fullback, has turned heads with his new club this season.
His play also caught the eye of John Herdman. Looking for fullback options, the Canada coach called Laryea up for the CONCACAF Nations League A series against Cuba.
The 24-year-old Toronto native started in the 6-0 win over Cuba on Saturday at Toronto’s BMO Field. The two teams meet again Tuesday in George Town, capital of the Cayman Islands.
“Unreal,” was Laryea’s summary of his senior debut before friends and family.
Herdman said Laryea’s performance left him with “a big smile.”
“He’s just a really good person,” Herdman said after the match. “When I called him to say he’s getting the call-up, he said he didn’t sleep. And I genuinely believe that. He was really grateful. And I think watching his performance tonight, he’s brought something different for us. I’ve not seen that level of cohesion.”
Laryea, who spent time at a Canadian under-18 camp in 2013 and an under-23 gathering in 2016, combined well with midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye and forward Junior Hoilett down the right flank.
“His instincts, his touch — that was a top, top performance. If Junior hadn’t scored a hat trick, I would have had Richie up there as man of the match,” Herdman said.
Laryea has made 18 appearances this year for Toronto including 14 starts, pushing Brazil’s Auro for playing time at right fullback. He has one goal and one assist.
Laryea has given Toronto coach Greg Vanney more flexibility in the backline. He has also added some steel to the TFC lineup. The soft-spoken Laryea is a feisty competitor. If an opponent takes liberties with a teammate, he is rarely far from the fray.
Vanney needed depth at fullback after the team parted company with Dutch international Gregory van der Wiel in the pre-season. Vanney did his due diligence. He spoke with former Orlando assistant coach Miles Joseph about Laryea, who had appeared as a wingback as a substitute in one Orlando game and in a few training sessions. Then he sat down with Laryea.
“I was a central midfielder turned left back and I fought it for a couple of years,” said Vanney, who won 37 caps for the U.S, in a playing career divided between MLS and France. “It was really a question for Richie — how much would he embrace it? Really the credit goes to him, because he has really worked at his craft.”