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Toronto FC Academy

Coordinates: 43°44′37″N 79°28′18″W / 43.74361°N 79.47167°W / 43.74361; -79.47167
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Toronto FC Academy
Full nameToronto Football Club Academy
Nickname(s)The Reds
FoundedMarch 1, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-03-01) as TFC Academy
StadiumBMO Training Ground
85 Carl Hall Road
Toronto, Ontario
Coordinates43°44′37″N 79°28′18″W / 43.74361°N 79.47167°W / 43.74361; -79.47167
Sr. vice presidentTim Bezbatchenko
Academy directorAnthony Capotosto
Head coach
LeagueU.S. Soccer Development Academy
2017 (L1O)3rd
WebsiteClub website

Toronto FC Academy, also known as TFC Academy, is the youth academy and development system of Canadian Major League Soccer club Toronto FC.

The academy has divisions from U12 to U19 and includes over 110 young players.[1] The U19, U17 and U15 teams compete in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.[2][3] The U16 and U14 are playing in the Ontario Player Development League.[4]

History

The TFC Academy's U-18 squad began playing in the Canadian Soccer League in 2008, with the U-16 squad competing in the CSL Reserve Division as TFC Academy II.

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.[5] Three weeks following the Henry signing Toronto's first team signed forward Nicholas Lindsay becoming the second academy signing in history.[6] In late September 2011, former defender Ashtone Morgan became the first graduate of the Toronto FC Academy to be called up to the Canadian men's national team.[7] In 2011 there were close to 50 players enrolled in the TFC Academy.

On 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 was underway for the creation of a third academy team.[8]

After the CSA de-sanctioned the CSL, TFC Academy withdrew from CSL prior to the 2013 season.[9] The senior academy team joined the Ontario Soccer League for the 2013 season, however in 2014 the under-20 squad (known as Toronto FC III) began competing in League1 Ontario (L1O), which is the third level of the Canadian soccer pyramid. The academy also fielded a team in the Premier Development League in the 2015-16 seasons before withdrawing.[10]

On June 27, 2013 Canada announced its 23-man squad for the upcoming 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the squad included Ashtone Morgan and Doneil Henry which was the first time TFC academy graduates had made a senior international tournament roster.[11]

In November 2014, Toronto FC announced the establishment of their own team to play in the minor professional USL Pro, which serves as a reserve team for TFC and a bridge between the Academy.[12] Toronto FC became the sixth MLS club to own a USL Pro team. The team, which was named Toronto FC II, began play in 2015 at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan, just north of Toronto.[13][14] The new facilities include a permanent seating area with room for expansion and a new artificial playing surface.[15]

In September 2018, the U20 team left L1O and transformed into a U19 team that competes in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, along with U17 and U15 teams.[16][17][2]

BMO Training Ground

Side view of the BMO training ground
Field at the BMO training ground
bird eye view

In April 2011, Toronto FC unveiled plans to develop a state-of-art facility and soccer program that looked to develop the next generation of Canadian players through coaching, training, technology, equipment and support. Construction began in May 2011 and in June 2012, TFC academy moved to their new BMO Training Ground on 14 acres of land in Downsview Park,[18][19] located in North York. Built at a cost of $21 million to MLSE, the facility has 4 pitches in total: four full-sized grass pitches (two heated) and 1 artificial turf pitches (1 capable of being bubbled for year-round use). The 36,000 square foot facility also contains first team facilities (dressing room, hot tub, ice bath, rehabilitation pool, physiotherapy room, private dining) seven dressing rooms for the Academy teams, gym, physio and rehab facilities (separate from first team), kitchen, cafeteria, media room, classroom and offices for coaching staff.[20]

Current Technical Staff

Executives
Academy Director Canada Anthony Capotosto
Coaching Staff
Team Head Coach Assistant Coach Goalkeeping Coach Fitness Coach
Toronto FC II United States Michael Rabasca Canada Chris Pozniak United States Phil Boerger Canada Fabian Casal
Toronto FC III (U19) England Danny Dichio
Toronto FC U17 Canada Gianni Cimini
Toronto FC U15 Canada Michael Stefano Canada Luciano Lombardi
Toronto FC U14 Canada Terry Dunfield
Toronto FC U13 Canada Marco Casalinuovo
Toronto FC U12 Canada Jonathan Mondino

Head Coaches (U19/U20)

Year-by-year (U20)

The Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs
2008[22] 3 Canadian Soccer League 6th, National Did not qualify
2009[23] 3 Canadian Soccer League 4th, National Quarterfinals
2010[24] 3 Canadian Soccer League 6th Quarterfinals
2011[25] 3 Canadian Soccer League 10th Did not qualify
2012[26] 3 Canadian Soccer League 7th Quarterfinals
2013 Ontario Soccer League
2014 3 League1 Ontario 1st Champions
2015 3 League1 Ontario 5th Group stage (Cup)
2016 3 League1 Ontario 3rd, Western Conference Round of 16 (Cup)
2017 3 League1 Ontario 3rd, Western Conference Quarterfinals
2018 3 League1 Ontario TBD

U20 (Toronto FC III) Roster

U20 team 2017

As of April 30, 2018[27]

No. Position Player Nationality
1 Goalkeeper Gianluca Catalano  Canada
2 Defender Afram Gorgees  Canada
3 Defender Kembo Kibato  Canada
5 Forward Daneiel Bilousov  Canada
7 Midfielder Jordan Faria  Canada
8 Midfielder Christopher Castillo  Canada
10 Midfielder Mehdi Essoussi  Canada
11 Midfielder Luca Petrasso  Canada
12 Goalkeeper Sebastian Sgarbossa  Canada
13 Midfielder/Forward Kunle Dada-Luke  Canada
14 Forward Zak Abdi  Canada
15 Defender Kaeson Trench  Canada
16 Defender/Midfielder Marko Mandekic  Canada
17 Midfielder Joshua Moreira  Canada
20 Midfielder Steffen Yeates  Canada
22 Defender Luke Singh  Canada
24 Midfielder Terique Mohammed  Canada
26 Midfielder Jaytin Pabla  Canada
27 Forward Ralph Priso  Canada
28 Goalkeeper Christian Rossi  Canada
— Defender Colin Gander  Canada
— Forward Daniel Da Silva  Canada
— Midfielder Matthew Srbely  Canada
— Forward Shaan Hundal  Canada
— Midfielder Dante Campbell  Canada
— Kai Martin  Canada

Academy Graduates

Below is a list of footballers who have played at some Toronto FC Academy youth squads:

So far, 16 players from the Academy have gone on to sign with the first team. Academy graduates who are currently playing for Toronto FC's first team:

Academy graduates with Toronto FC II:

Academy graduates or players (joined but left early) who have signed for other professional clubs:

  1. ^
    Signed to first team contract with Toronto FC.
    2.

International Games

TFC Academy joined with Chile giants Colo-Colo. 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. The U16 team competed Liga MX International tournament on August, 2017.[28] Toronto FC III participated in the Dallas Cup 2018.[29]

References

  1. ^ "Academy Quick Facts". Toronto FC. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY EXPANSION WELCOMES 16 NEW CLUBS FOR 2018-2019 SEASON". Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  3. ^ "Joining USSDA provides a high level of competition for the Academy". Retrieved August 31, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ "OPDL League". Retrieved September 11, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  5. ^ First Academy Player To Sign Pro Contract. Torontofc.ca, (2010-08-26). Retrieved on 2010-09-16.
  6. ^ Toronto FC Signs Academy Forward Nicholas Lindsay. Goal.com (2010-09-15). Retrieved on 2010-09-16.
  7. ^ "Morgan's call-up and the dreams of Canadian kids". Canadian Soccer News. September 29, 2011.
  8. ^ Toronto plan big push with academy. MLS Soccer (2011-01-24). Retrieved on 2011-01-24.
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ "K-W United FC partner up with TFC". Waterloo Region Record. 2017-04-24. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  11. ^ "Canada Finalize roster for Gold Cup, announces friendly". Canada Soccer. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  12. ^ "Toronto FC announces USL PRO team". Toronto FC. 2014-11-20. Retrieved 2014-11-20.
  13. ^ "Toronto FC Unveils USL PRO Details". USL Pro. 2015-01-21. Archived from the original on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-01-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "OSA, Toronto FC and Vaughan partner in new stadium". Ontario Soccer Association. 2015-01-21. Archived from the original on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-01-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Ontario Soccer body unveils new playpen in Vaughan". www.yorkregion.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  16. ^ "DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY EXPANSION WELCOMES 16 NEW CLUBS FOR 2018-2019 SEASON". Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  17. ^ "Toronto FC Academy joins U.S. Soccer Development Academy". Toronto FC. 2018-06-07. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  18. ^ "TFC high on new facility | Soccer | Sports". Toronto Sun. May 29, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  19. ^ "New TFC facility by the numbers". www.thestar.com. May 30, 2012.
  20. ^ January 31, 2014 1:21 AM EST Facebook Twitter RSS (May 30, 2012). "New TFC facility by the numbers | Toronto Star". Thestar.com. Retrieved January 31, 2014. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "Nick Dasovic Named Head Coach". torontofc.ca. Sep 14, 2010.
  22. ^ "October 5th, 2008 CSL League Standings Week 21 Final". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  23. ^ "September 21st, 2009 CSL League Standings Week 19 End of Regular Season". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  24. ^ "October 13th, 2010--Canadian Soccer League First Division Week 23". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  25. ^ "October 10, 2011 CSL--Week 23 Standings (from CSL web site)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  26. ^ "October 11, 2012 CSL--Week 23 Standings [end of Regular season] (from CSL web site)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  27. ^ "Kia Toronto FC Academy Senior Squad". Torontofc.ca. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  28. ^ "Academy Update - August 21–27". Toronto FC. 2017-08-28. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  29. ^ "Dallas Cup Draw Announced". Retrieved March 8, 2018.
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