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| Toronto Croatia |
 |
| Full name |
Toronto Croatia |
| Nickname(s) |
The Croats |
| Founded |
1956 |
| Ground |
Streetsville Memorial Park |
| Capacity |
|
| Chairman |
Josip Cvitanović |
| Manager |
Velemir Crljen |
| League |
Canadian Soccer League |
| 2006 |
2nd, Playoff Semi Final |
|
|
Toronto Croatia (Croatian National Sports Club Toronto Croatia) are a Canadian soccer team, founded in 1956. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the highest professional soccer league in Canada, and play in the International Division.
The Croatians currently play their home games at Streetsville Memorial Park in the city of Mississauga, Ontario, around 12 miles east of downtown Toronto. The team's colors are red, white and blue, similar those of the Croatian national football team.
[edit] History
The team has had a very storied history, considering it was formed by such a small diaspora group. The team played in the Canadian National Soccer League until 1975 when they joined with the Toronto Metros of the North American Soccer League to form Toronto Metros-Croatia. During this period they attracted many soccer stars, such as Eusébio, and were successful enough that club were NASL champions in 1976.
However, in 1978, the team split, leaving the Toronto Blizzard in the NASL, while Toronto Croatia returned to the CNSL. In 1994, Toronto Croatia joined the Canadian International Soccer League. In 1997, a new league was formed, the Canadian Professional Soccer League, which Toronto Croatia joined in 1998. The club's successes despite the instabilities it found in each of the leagues in which it has played is a testament to what a small ethnic group could accomplish in North American sport.
Toronto Croatia is a regular participant in the Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament.
In 2006, the club celebrated its 50th anniversary. To commemorate this, the team went on a tour of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Toronto Croatia played the Dinamo Zagreb B team at Maksimir Stadium before the Croatian Supercup, NK Široki Brijeg and NK Primorac Biograd.
[edit] Current squad
| No. |
|
Position |
Player |
| 1 |
 |
GK |
George Azccura |
| 2 |
|
DF |
Robert Fran |
| 4 |
 |
DF |
Domagoj Sain |
| 5 |
|
MF |
Antonijo Zupan |
| 6 |
|
DF |
Mario Kulis |
| 7 |
|
MF |
Caswain Mason |
| 8 |
|
MF |
Hayden Fitzwilliams |
| 9 |
|
FW |
Peter Curic |
| 10 |
|
FW |
Leo Laurito |
| 11 |
|
MF |
Velemir Crljen |
|
|
| No. |
|
Position |
Player |
| 12 |
|
GK |
Mate Jurkin |
| 13 |
|
MF |
Zvjezdan Kresic |
| 15 |
|
MF |
Jure Pavic |
| 16 |
|
DF |
Halburto Harris |
| 17 |
|
DF |
Goran Grubesic |
| 19 |
|
FW |
Boris Maric |
| 20 |
|
FW |
Tommy Ples |
| 21 |
|
FW |
Rudy Spajic |
| 22 |
|
MF |
Boris Tomac |
| 30 |
|
DF |
Tom Granic |
|
[edit] Year-by-year
| Year |
Division |
League |
Regular Season |
Playoffs |
| 1997 |
"1" |
NSL |
2nd |
Quarter Final |
| 1998 |
"1" |
CPSL |
8th |
Did not qualify |
| 1999 |
"1" |
CPSL |
2nd |
Final |
| 2000 |
"1" |
CPSL |
2nd |
Champions |
| 2001 |
"1" |
CPSL |
6th |
Did not qualify |
| 2002 |
"1" |
CPSL |
1st, Western |
Semi Final |
| 2003 |
"1" |
CPSL |
3rd, Western |
Semi Final |
| 2004 |
"1" |
CPSL |
2nd, Western |
Champions |
| 2005 |
"1" |
CPSL |
2nd, Eastern |
Semi Final |
| 2006 |
"1" |
CSL |
2nd, International |
Semi Final |
[edit] Honours
- Canadian National Soccer League: 1956, 1970, 1971 1972, 1973, 1974, 1992
- North American Soccer League: 1976
- Canadian International Soccer League: 1995, 1996
- Canadian Professional Soccer League: 2004
- Rogers Cup: 2000, 2004
[edit] Notable former players
[edit] External links
