Reports vary on who will fill which role, but several outlets are reporting that Toronto FC is poised to announce Aron Winter and Paul Mariner as their new technical director-head coach combination. Just based on what we know of these two men, it would seem that Winter is probably the better fit as head coach and Mariner would make a lot of sense as technical director.
Aron Winter, Paul Mariner Set To Fill Toronto FC Front Office Vacancies
Winter is a product of Ajax and made 84 appearances with the Netherlands from 1987-2000. More recently, he’s been coaching for the lower-level Ajax teams. Ajax is renowned for being one of the top talent developers in the world and would likely bring a more attractive form of soccer than we generally see in MLS.
Mariner was most recently with Plymouth Argyle, currently in England's League One after starting off in the Championship his first season there. Mariner brings considerable MLS experience, though, having been an assistant coach with the New England Revolution from 2004-09. During Mariner's time at New England, the Revolution went to three straight MLS Cup finals (2005-07), won a U.S. Open Cup (2007) and made the playoffs every year.
Regardless of which man feels which role, this is the first real imprint Jurgen Klinsmann has had on Toronto FC. The German legend was hired in November and has, presumably, been looking for the right men to lead TFC since then. Current interim technical director Earl Cochrane had been rumored to be hired full time, but this moves would indicate a much more ambitious way forward.
Both Mariner and Winter and known commodities worldwide and their twin hirings would seem to herald better days for the only MLS franchise to go more than three years without a playoff appearance. Toronto FC and the Philadelphia Union are the only two current teams that have never made the postseason.
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