TFC Academy
 | |||
| Full name | Toronto Football Club Academy | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | TFC, Reds | ||
| Founded | 2008 | ||
| Ground | KIA Toronto FC Training Ground and Academy | ||
| Manager |
Danny Dichio (Senior) Anthony Capotosto (Junior) Michael Stefano (U16) Rick Titus (U14) Gianni Cimini (U12) | ||
| League | Ontario Soccer League | ||
| 2012 |
Regular season: 7th Playoffs: Quarter-finals | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
| |||
Toronto FC (TFC) Academy are the youth academy and development system of Canadian Major League Soccer club, Toronto FC. The academy currently consists of multiple teams spanning different age groups, from U18 and U17 to U12. The Academy squads compete in the Ontario Soccer League, the fifth tier of the Canadian soccer pyramid and plays their home games at KIA Training Ground.[1] For sponsorship purposes, the Academy teams are referred to as the KIA Toronto FC Academy, with the title sponsor being Kia Motors Canada.
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 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.[2] Three weeks following the Henry signing Toronto's first team signed forward Nicholas Lindsay becoming the second academy signing in history.[3]
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 is underway for the creation of a third academy team.[4] 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.[5]
In addition to TFC Academy's U-18 squad playing in the Canadian Soccer League, the U-16 squad competes in the CSL Reserve Division as TFC Academy II.
On January 6, 2012 the unofficial ties between Toronto FC and Ajax Amsterdam were further strengthened with the signing of former Ajax player Thomas Rongen as the director of the academy.
After the CSA de-sanctioned the CSL, it was announced on the league's website that TFC Academy would not compete in the CSL anymore.[6]
On June 27, 2013 Canada announced its 23-man squad for the upcoming 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the squad included Ashtone Morgan, Doneil Henry and Jonathan Osorio which was the first time TFC academy graduates had made a senior international tournament roster.[7]
Coaching staff
-
Thomas Rongen Academy Director -
Jaime McMillan Player Development Manager -
Danny Dichio Senior Team Head Coach - Anthony Capotosto Junior Team Head Coach
- Michael Stefano U16 Head Coach
- Rick Titus U14 Head Coach
- Gianni Cimini U12 Head Coach
- Paolo Ceccarelli Goalkeeper Coach
- Domenic Ientile Goalkeeper Coach
- Ryan Young Head Equipment Manager
- Carlo Di Nardo Head Physiotherapist
- Sebastian Buitrago Assistant Athletic Therapist
- Paul Gallo Assistant Physiotherapist
- Kosta Poulos Head Strength & Conditioning
Year-by-year
| The Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 | CSL | 6th, National | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 3 | CSL | 4th, National | Quarterfinals |
| 2010 | 3 | CSL | 6th | Quarterfinals |
| 2011 | 3 | CSL | 10th | Did not qualify |
| 2012 | 3 | CSL | 7th | Quarterfinals |
Current U18 roster
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As of January 25, 2014[8]
| No. | Position | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Goalkeeper | Cavalluzzo, AngeloAngelo Cavalluzzo | Canada
|
| — | Goalkeeper | Rose, DeonDeon Rose | Canada
|
| — | Defender | Almeida, StephenStephen Almeida | Canada
|
| — | Defender | Bradshaw, AdamAdam Bradshaw | Canada
|
| — | Defender | Pasher, TylerTyler Pasher | Canada
|
| — | Defender | Paunic, NikolaNikola Paunic | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Camargo, SergioSergio Camargo | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Campanella, ChristianChristian Campanella | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Mannella, ChrisChris Mannella | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Orestano, MarioMario Orestano | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Sciacchitano, RyanRyan Sciacchitano | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Wagenknecht, MichaelMichael Wagenknecht | Canada
|
| — | Forward | Kovacevic, MarioMario Kovacevic | Canada
|
| — | Forward | Al-Muhandis, AbdullaAbdulla Al-Muhandis | Canada
|
| — | Forward | Morris, OmariOmari Morris | Canada
|
| — | Di Biaggio, DanielDaniel Di Biaggio | Canada
| |
| — | Galle, RobertoRoberto Galle | Canada
| |
| — | Ingham, NathanNathan Ingham | Canada
| |
| — | James, RyanRyan James | Canada
| |
| — | Murrell, JordanJordan Murrell | Canada
| |
| — | Reid, BoydBoyd Reid | Canada
| |
| — | Thomas, SkylarSkylar Thomas | Canada
| |
| — | Stamotopoulos, JamesJames Stamotopoulos | Canada
|
Current U17 roster
As of July 22, 2012[9]
| No. | Position | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Goalkeeper | Cater, BradBrad Cater | Canada
|
| — | Goalkeeper | Rogal, MarkMark Rogal | Canada
|
| — | Defender | Black, KevonKevon Black | Canada
|
| — | Defender | Lee, DuranDuran Lee | Canada
|
| — | Defender | Roubos, EliEli Roubos | Canada
|
| — | Defender | Sargeant, AlainAlain Sargeant | Canada
|
| — | Defender | Serjeant, MarkMark Serjeant | Canada
|
| — | Defender | Topp-Nguyen, NamNam Topp-Nguyen | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Aparicio, ManuelManuel Aparicio | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Penello, JoshJosh Penello | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Piliotis, StephenStephen Piliotis | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Sacramento, DylanDylan Sacramento | Canada
|
| — | Midfielder | Sequeira, DerekDerek Sequeira | Canada
|
| — | Forward | Hamilton, JordanJordan Hamilton | Canada
|
| — | Forward | Jodah, DanielDaniel Jodah | Canada
|
| — | Forward | Wadid, MarkMark Wadid | Canada
|
| — | Forward | Woodfull, BrendanBrendan Woodfull | Canada
|
Notable former Academy
Players who have signed for Toronto FC's first team or other professional teams:
- Keven Aleman — Valladolid
- Dylan Carreiro — Queens Park Rangers
- Oscar Cordon — Toronto FC
- Doneil Henry — Toronto FC
- Josh Janniere — Colorado Rapids
- Nicholas Lindsay — Toronto FC
- Keith Makubuya — Toronto FC
- Ashtone Morgan — Toronto FC
- Jonathan Osorio — Toronto FC
- Quillan Roberts — Toronto FC
- Matt Stinson — Toronto FC
- Russell Teibert — Vancouver Whitecaps
Amadou Sanyang — Charleston Battery- Michael Petrasso — Queens Park Rangers
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.
References
- ↑ "Ajax wants a foothold in the U.S.". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
- ↑ First Academy Player To Sign Pro Contract. Torontofc.ca (2010-08-26). Retrieved on 2010-09-16.
- ↑ Toronto FC Signs Academy Forward Nicholas Lindsay. Goal.com (2010-09-15). Retrieved on 2010-09-16.
- ↑ Toronto plan big push with academy. MLS Soccer (2011-01-24). Retrieved on 2011-01-24.
- ↑ "Morgan's call-up and the dreams of Canadian kids". Canadian Soccer News. September 29, 2011.
- ↑ http://canadiansoccerleague.com/newsnet/templates/?a=690&z=5
- ↑ "Canada Finalize roster for Gold Cup, announces friendly". Canada Soccer. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ↑ "Kia Toronto FC Academy Senior Squad". Torontofc.ca. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
- ↑ "Roster U17 | Toronto FC". Torontofc.ca. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
External links
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