Toronto FC’s Greg Vanney named MLS coach of the year after record-breaking season
TORONTO — Greg Vanney’s arrival at Toronto FC as assistant general manager and academy director went almost unnoticed in December 2013.
It was a transaction largely lost in a week that saw the MLS club acquire Brazilians Gilberto and Jackson, reward goalkeeper Joe Bendik with a new deal and trade away the rights to ‘keeper Stefan Frei and midfielder Bobby Convey.
But Vanney moved front and centre on Aug. 31, 2014, when GM Tim Bezbatchenko fired coach Ryan Nelsen and gave the keys to the struggling team to the former U.S. international defender.
Fifty-one regular-season wins later — more than the franchise’s first seven coaches combined — and with Toronto one victory away from a second straight MLS Cup appearance, the 43-year-old Vanney has been named MLS coach of the year.