Coach John Herdman faces uphill climb at Toronto FC
You don't have to look far to find an MLS club whose lavish spending has improved its finances. Inter Miami is right there, polishing its Leagues Cup trophy and preparing for its charge to the playoffs.
But Miami is the exception, not the rule.
Expensive foreign players aren't a surefire way to ensure MLS success. And Toronto FC--Canada's first MLS franchise and its most successful--has proved that this season. Expensive Italian signings Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi have struggled to adapt to life in MLS, and in their frustration have threatened to take all of Toronto FC down with them. Their vocal complaints led to the dismissal of American coach Bob Bradley and saw Toronto drop all the way to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. But Bradley's departure didn't cool their tempers--Insigne walked out of training this week after getting into a verbal altercation with interim coach Terry Dunfield.
Toronto is clearly in need of strong, clearheaded leadership. And thankfully for TFC fans, it appears to have found it.
Tuesday morning, Toronto announced that John Herdman would be taking over as coach of the troubled club. Though he was raised in England, Herdman is something of a Canadian soccer legend. He brought both the women's national team and the men's national team to World Cups against a headwind of disorganization at the top of the Canadian Football Association. He's a well-respected coach in North America and abroad, which begs the question: why would he take on a headache of a project like Toronto?
From Herdman's perspective, staying close to home is certainly a factor. He mentioned in his welcoming press conference that it was a coup for him to continue his coaching journey in a city that he knew well. But it also points to the draw that MLS has with top coaches, despite--and maybe even because of--the sheer amount of growth still in front of the league.
Toronto must face more growth than most, with results on the field still lagging and team spirit at an all time low. But Herdman understands this challenge. After a rough few years struggling with unprofessional behavior at the Canadian Football Association, Herdman seems to see this Toronto FC post as the biggest and best way for him to continue lifting Canadian soccer up in the world rankings.
"There's work to be done, and we recognize that transformational change takes time," Herdman said. "We understand what it will take to make a difference, and I am committed to getting this city and club where it belongs."
Toronto's next game is Wednesday evening against the Philadelphia Union. Herdman will not yet be coaching the team officially--he is expected to take over the reins on October 1.
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