TFC Academy

Full name Toronto Football Club Academy
Nickname(s) TFC III
Founded 2008
Stadium KIA Toronto FC Training Ground and Academy, 2,000 capacity
Manager Laurent Guyot (Academy Director)
Danny Dichio (Toronto FC III)
Gianni Cimini (U17)
Anthony Capotosto (U16)
Michael Stefano (U15)
Terry Dunfield (U14)
Jonathon Mondino (U13)
Marco Casalinuovo (U12)
Luciano Lombardi (U11)
League League1 Ontario
Website Club website

Toronto FC (TFC) Academy is the youth academy and development system of Canadian Major League Soccer club, Toronto FC. For sponsorship purposes, the Academy teams are referred to as the KIA Toronto FC Academy, with the title sponsor being Kia Motors Canada.

KIA Toronto FC Academy adheres to the same vision and values as the Toronto FC first team. The vision is to create a club that is internationally recognized as: a leader in player development, a leading edge organization on innovative practices, and a consistent contender for championships in North America (MLS, Canadian Cup, CCL)

The academy currently consists of multiple teams spanning different age groups, from U11 to U20.

  1. Foundation (U13, U12, U11 teams)
  2. Pre-formation (U16, U15, U14 teams)
  3. Formation (U20, U17 teams)

All teams play their home games at KIA Training Ground.[1] KIA Toronto FC Academy operates eight full-time teams, within a three pod structure.

The senior squads play in the Premier Development League and the League1 Ontario, the third tier of the Canadian soccer pyramid.[2] League1 Ontario was introduced by the Ontario Soccer Association in 2014.[3] Since December 2016, the League1 Academy team has been known as Toronto FC III.[4]

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.[5] Three weeks following the Henry signing Toronto's first team signed forward Nicholas Lindsay becoming the second academy signing in history.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

In November 2014, Toronto FC announced the establishment of their own team to play in the minor professional USL Pro, which will serve as a reserve team for TFC and a bridge between the Academy.[11] Toronto FC became the sixth MLS club to own a USL Pro team. The team, which was named Toronto FC II, will begin play in 2015 at a new 5,000 seat stadium constructed at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan, just north of Toronto.[12][13] The new facilities include a permanent seating area with room for expansion and a new artificial playing surface.(FIFA Grade 2)[14]

KIA TFC training ground

Side view of the KIA training ground
Field at the KIA 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. In June 2012, TFC academy moved to their new KIA Training Ground (on 14 acres of land) in Downsview Park,[15] located in North York. Built at a cost of $21 million to MLSE, the facility has seven pitches: three full-sized grass pitches(two heated) and four artificial turfs with two capable of being bubbled for year-round use. The 36,000 square foot facility also contains first team facilities, locker rooms, gym, medical room, kitchen, cafeteria, video room, amphitheatre, classroom and team offices.[16]

Coaching staff

Year-by-year

The Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs
2008[17] 3 CSL 6th, National Did not qualify
2009[18] 3 CSL 4th, National Quarterfinals
2010[19] 3 CSL 6th Quarterfinals
2011[20] 3 CSL 10th Did not qualify
2012[21] 3 CSL 7th Quarterfinals
2013 OSL
2014 3 League1 Ontario 1st Champions
2015 4 PDL 4th, Great Lakes Did not qualify
2016 4 PDL 6th, Great Lakes Did not qualify

Toronto FC III League1 Ontario roster

TFC Academy senior team 2012

As of August 24, 2016[22]

No. Position Player Nation
1 Engbers, BroganBrogan Engbers  Canada
2 Ferrazzo, RileyRiley Ferrazzo  Canada
3 Gorgees, AframAfram Gorgees  Canada
4 Smith, MalikMalik Smith  Canada
5 Cela, KlaidiKlaidi Cela  Canada
7 Furlano, StevenSteven Furlano  Canada
8 Osorio, NicholasNicholas Osorio  Canada
10 Muenkat, GlennGlenn Muenkat  Canada
11 Ennin, RichieRichie Ennin  Canada
12 Catalano, GianlucaGianluca Catalano  Canada
14 Romeo, RoccoRocco Romeo  Canada
15 Rollocks, CyrusCyrus Rollocks  Canada
16 Kagramanyan, AndronAndron Kagramanyan  Canada
17 Campbell, DanteDante Campbell  Canada
18 Caracciolo, ArmandoArmando Caracciolo  Canada
20 Mandekic, MarkoMarko Mandekic  Canada

Notable former Academy players

Players who have signed for Toronto FC's first team:

Players who have signed for other professional clubs:

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

  1. ↑ "Ajax wants a foothold in the U.S.". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  2. ↑ "Leagues". Toronto FC. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
  3. ↑ "TFC Academy joins new Ontario semi-pro league - Goal.com". Goal.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  4. ↑ "Toronto FC announce rebrand of Senior Academy Team to Toronto FC III". Toronto FC. 2016-12-19. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
  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. ↑ Toronto plan big push with academy. MLS Soccer (2011-01-24). Retrieved on 2011-01-24.
  8. ↑ "Morgan's call-up and the dreams of Canadian kids". Canadian Soccer News. September 29, 2011.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ "Canada Finalize roster for Gold Cup, announces friendly". Canada Soccer. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  11. ↑ "Toronto FC announces USL PRO team". Toronto FC. 2014-11-20. Retrieved 2014-11-20.
  12. ↑ "Toronto FC Unveils USL PRO Details". USL Pro. 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2015-01-21.
  13. ↑ "OSA, Toronto FC and Vaughan partner in new stadium". Ontario Soccer Association. 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2015-01-21.
  14. ↑ "Ontario Soccer body unveils new playpen in Vaughan". www.yorkregion.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  15. ↑ "TFC high on new facility | Soccer | Sports". Toronto Sun. May 29, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "October 5th, 2008 CSL League Standings Week 21 Final". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  18. ↑ "September 21st, 2009 CSL League Standings Week 19 End of Regular Season". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  19. ↑ "October 13th, 2010--Canadian Soccer League First Division Week 23". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  20. ↑ "October 10, 2011 CSL--Week 23 Standings (from CSL web site)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  21. ↑ "October 11, 2012 CSL--Week 23 Standings [end of Regular season] (from CSL web site)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  22. ↑ "Kia Toronto FC Academy Senior Squad". Torontofc.ca. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
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