Longstaff has ice in his veins
Soccer star is feeling right at home in Toronto, known best as a hockey city
Mark my words, within a few months one of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s marketing boffos will make the connection, and we’ll see a new ad campaign that features Toronto FC’s Matty Longstaff skating circles around Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews.
Longstaff, although known for his abilities in a pair of cleats and heralding from England, knows his way around an ice rink. His father, David Longstaff, is a legend in the British hockey scene as both a player and a coach. “Me and my brother grew up on it,” Longstaff says, referring to brother Sean, who is a key member of English Premier League squad Newcastle United. “Obviously we went to watch all the games back in England, and we lived in Sweden for a year when he played for Djurgården. We always watched the NHL.”
And he says one of the first things he did in Toronto was go to a game.
“I’ve always followed Toronto,” Longstaff says. “I think the Leafs back home are the most-known team. Obviously, it’s such a big hockey city, and there’s so much media. Toronto was the team that we always followed pretty closely, as well as … the top players like (Connor) McDavid and (Leon) Draisaitl.”
Longstaff, a central midfielder, certainly feels at home after signing a two-year deal with TFC at the end of February. A resident of High Park, where he lives with his Scottish girlfriend, his Canadian adventure comes after he experienced all the sport can offer, and all it can take away.
The high was scoring in his Premier League debut as a teenager for Newcastle in 2019 — against Manchester United, no less. But a career-threatening ACL injury while on loan at Colchester late in 2022 was the low. Despite being without a contract at Newcastle, the club committed to the rehabilitation of his knee.
He caught John Herdman’s interest while the Toronto coach was visiting Newcastle.
“He asked if I was interested,” Longstaff says.
“And the minute I heard that, I was desperate to get here. I’d already spoken to my agent and knew they needed a central midfielder, but you never know if they’re going to take you.”
“I was really fortunate that the gaffer here gave us the opportunity to come across to the club and train and show that I’m kind of back, and that I’m in a good state where I can build up minutes and get back to being where I was.”
Longstaff has yet to play a full 90 minutes this season, with Herdman saying you need to “take it slow” with ACL injuries. Longstaff acknowledges the team’s medical personnel know more than he does.
A more consistent return to the pitch is on the horizon. But a return to the ice? That’s likely a ways away.
“Obviously, with the knee injury I don’t really fancy risking it at the minute,” he says. “I’m not the best, I can skate around and have a little mess around with a stick and puck and stuff. I love doing that back home.
“Now we’re coming into the summer here, I don’t think there’ll be many frozen lakes or whatever it is here.”
The Lionel Messi show
I had the good fortune to watch Inter Miami play in Fort Lauderdale last Saturday. I last saw Lionel Messi play in 2011 at Camp Nou, the home of Barcelona. Back in those days, he was at his very best. Thirteen years later, even at the age of 36 and clearly in decline, Messi is still a sight to behold and the best player on the pitch with the ability to stop time every moment he receives or gathers the ball. If you do get the chance to see Messi in person, do yourself a favour.