TFC Academy
Encyclopedia
TFC Academy are the youth academy
of Canadian MLS
club Toronto FC
which was founded in 2008. The academy competes in the Canadian Soccer League
, the highest professional soccer league operating entirely within Canada. The academy consists of a Senior and Junior team who play their home games at Lamport Stadium
.
"The goal of Toronto FC is, of course, to one day hoist the MLS Cup but another goal has always been to have an indelible mark of the soccer landscape in Canada, and specifically Ontario. It is our hope that Toronto FC not only be the aspirational choice for young soccer players in Canada, but an academy that has a real effect on the development of young, talented players. When we needed to find a league that would test the mettle of the best players in the academy we wanted something that would test them technically, physically, and tactically – after all, in most countries in the world, U18s are in professional environments – but at the same time wouldn’t jeopardize their amateur status and the CSL was an ideal fit.”
On August 26, 2010 Doneil Henry
signed a pro contract with the Toronto FC senior squad becoming the first ever TFC academy player to sign since the creation of the club in 2007. Three weeks following the Henry signing Toronto's first team signed forward Nicholas Lindsay
becoming the second academy signing in history.
January 24, 2011 Stuart Neely the academy director announced that Toronto FC ownership approved a $17.6 million investment in a new training facility and planning is underway for the creation of a third academy team. Neeley also hinted that with the new first team coaches Aron Winter
and Bob de Klerk
that TFC Academy will be following that of the famous Ajax developmental program, with both Winter and de Klerk working directly with the youth teams. In late September former defender Ashtone Morgan
became the first graduate of the Toronto FC Academy to be called up to the Canadian men's national team
.
Junior Team Head Coach Anthony Capotosto Senior Team Assistant Coach Michael Stefano Junior Team Assistant Coach Paolo Ceccarelli Goalkeeper Coach Domenic Ientile Goalkeeper Assistant Coach Carlo Di Nardo Head Physiotherapist Sebastian Buitrago Athletic Therapist
Oscar Cordon
Doneil Henry
Josh Janniere
Nicholas Lindsay
Keith Makubuya
Ashtone Morgan
Matt Stinson
Russell Teibert
. The Toronto FC Academy squad played their first game against opponents outside the Canadian Soccer League
on Tuesday June 29, 2010. The Academy tied Colo-Colo
4-4.
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
of Canadian MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
club Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
which was founded in 2008. The academy competes in the Canadian Soccer League
Canadian Soccer League
The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
, the highest professional soccer league operating entirely within Canada. The academy consists of a Senior and Junior team who play their home games at Lamport Stadium
Lamport Stadium
Allan A. Lamport Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium on King Street West in the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is used mostly for soccer. It was built in 1974 on the site of the notorious Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women, opened in the fall of 1975 and holds 9,600...
.
History
On March 29, 2008, Paul Beirne, Toronto FC Director of Business Operations, announced that"The goal of Toronto FC is, of course, to one day hoist the MLS Cup but another goal has always been to have an indelible mark of the soccer landscape in Canada, and specifically Ontario. It is our hope that Toronto FC not only be the aspirational choice for young soccer players in Canada, but an academy that has a real effect on the development of young, talented players. When we needed to find a league that would test the mettle of the best players in the academy we wanted something that would test them technically, physically, and tactically – after all, in most countries in the world, U18s are in professional environments – but at the same time wouldn’t jeopardize their amateur status and the CSL was an ideal fit.”
On August 26, 2010 Doneil Henry
Doneil Henry
Doneil Henry is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
signed a pro contract with the Toronto FC senior squad becoming the first ever TFC academy player to sign since the creation of the club in 2007. Three weeks following the Henry signing Toronto's first team signed forward Nicholas Lindsay
Nicholas Lindsay
Nicholas Lindsay is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth:Lindsay has played for Brampton Blast and Brampton East...
becoming the second academy signing in history.
January 24, 2011 Stuart Neely the academy director announced that Toronto FC ownership approved a $17.6 million investment in a new training facility and planning is underway for the creation of a third academy team. Neeley also hinted that with the new first team coaches Aron Winter
Aron Winter
Aron Mohamed Winter [VIN-ter] is a retired Dutch football midfielder and current head coach of Toronto FC...
and Bob de Klerk
Bob de Klerk
Bob de Klerk is a former Dutch footballer and current First assistant coach of Toronto FC.-Playing career:De Klerk played for KSV Waregem in Belgium and De Graafschap in the Dutch Eredivise...
that TFC Academy will be following that of the famous Ajax developmental program, with both Winter and de Klerk working directly with the youth teams. In late September former defender Ashtone Morgan
Ashtone Morgan
Ashtone Morgan is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, he was the first graduate of TFC Academy to play for the Canadian National Team.-Youth:...
became the first graduate of the Toronto FC Academy to be called up to the Canadian men's national team
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
.
Coaching staff
Stuart Neely Academy Director Danny Dichio Senior Team Head Coach Jim BrennanJim Brennan
Jim Brennan is a retired Canadian soccer player. During his playing career he gained experience playing extensively in Europe and North America, most notably with Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Norwich City and Toronto FC.He also played 49 times for the Canadian national team, was...
Junior Team Head Coach Anthony Capotosto Senior Team Assistant Coach Michael Stefano Junior Team Assistant Coach Paolo Ceccarelli Goalkeeper Coach Domenic Ientile Goalkeeper Assistant Coach Carlo Di Nardo Head Physiotherapist Sebastian Buitrago Athletic Therapist
Current Senior Squad
As of 15 July 2011Current Junior Squad
As of March 2, 2011Notable former Academy
Players who have signed for Toronto FC first team or have made an impact with other professional teams.Oscar Cordon
Oscar Cordon
Oscar Cordon is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth:...
Doneil Henry
Doneil Henry
Doneil Henry is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
Josh Janniere
Josh Janniere
Josh Janniere is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth:...
Nicholas Lindsay
Nicholas Lindsay
Nicholas Lindsay is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth:Lindsay has played for Brampton Blast and Brampton East...
Keith Makubuya
Keith Makubuya
Keith Makubuya is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth:Makubuya began his youth career with St.Catharines Concord soccer club...
Ashtone Morgan
Ashtone Morgan
Ashtone Morgan is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, he was the first graduate of TFC Academy to play for the Canadian National Team.-Youth:...
Matt Stinson
Matt Stinson
Matt Stinson is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth:Stinson began his youth career with Clarkson Comets SC in Mississauga, Ontario. In 2008, aged 16, he joined TFC Academy for the youth sides inaugural season...
Russell Teibert
Russell Teibert
Russell Teibert is a Canadian soccer player currently playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and amateur:...
International Games
TFC Academy joined with Chile giants Colo-ColoColo-Colo
Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo is a Chilean football club based in the commune of Macul, Santiago. It competes in the Primera División, the top-flight football league in the country, from which they have never been relegated. Their home ground is the Estadio Monumental David Arellano.Colo-Colo...
. The Toronto FC Academy squad played their first game against opponents outside the Canadian Soccer League
Canadian Soccer League
The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
on Tuesday June 29, 2010. The Academy tied Colo-Colo
Colo-Colo
Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo is a Chilean football club based in the commune of Macul, Santiago. It competes in the Primera División, the top-flight football league in the country, from which they have never been relegated. Their home ground is the Estadio Monumental David Arellano.Colo-Colo...
4-4.