Toronto FC have fired manager Ryan Nelsen and replaced him with assistant general manager Greg Vanney. TFC have opted against an interim coach and Vanney has been given the permanent post. Toronto are still putting together the rest of the coaching staff, with one of Nelsen's assistants offered a job to stay on, but Vanney will have to fill out the rest of the crew.
Toronto FC fire manager Ryan Nelsen, hire Greg Vanney
TFC have sacked the embattled Ryan Nelsen and will hope that Greg Vanney can take them to the playoffs for the first time ever.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nelsen’s dismissal isn’t a surprise considering the criticism surrounding him as a manager. He was hired prior to last season with no coaching experience and struggled. Many thought he was on the hot seat this season, especially with the club having made a slew of expensive signings, and while the team was improved, it wasn’t one of the league’s best as expected.
Saturday's 3-0 loss to the New England Revolution may have sealed Nelsen's fate, but he made sure he wouldn't be staying on as manager when he had some hard words for general manager Tim Bezbatchenko after the match. Nelsen said that Bezbatchenko's statements before the match about the team needing to "take it up a notch" were not helpful, criticizing his decision to take things public instead of keeping his thoughts inside the club.
Bezbatchenko didn't hire Nelsen, having joined the club before this season with Nelsen already in place, so it's unlikely that he had much loyalty to the manager. That the team has just three wins since the World Cup break probably didn't help Nelsen's standing either. Vanney has no managerial experience, but he did spend two years as an assistant coach at Chivas USA after his retirement as a player.
Toronto currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, but just two points from falling out of a playoff spot. They still havetop end stars in Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe, although Bradley has struggled of late and Defoe is injured. But with ownership spending roughly $100 million to bring the pair in before the season and join a squad that is significantly more talented than TFC has ever had before, the expectation is not just to make the playoffs for the first time in club history, but to make a run at MLS Cup.
Right now, the focus is on just getting into the playoffs, but it will not be Nelsen doing it. The man who joined the club as a surprise hire is now gone, and Vanney has been brought in to guide the team into the postseason for the first time.
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