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 eight teams spanning different age groups, from U11 to U20, within a three pod structure.
- Foundation (U13, U12, U11 teams)
- Pre-formation (U16, U15, U14 teams)
- Formation (U20, U17 teams)
All teams play their home games at KIA Training Ground.
The U20 squads play in the League1 Ontario, the third tier of the Canadian soccer pyramid. League1 Ontario was introduced by the Ontario Soccer Association in 2014. Since December 2016, the League1 Academy team has been known as Toronto FC III. The U-17 team competes in the OSL Elite division and the other teams are playing in the Ontario Player Development Leauge.
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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. Three weeks following the Henry signing Toronto's first team signed forward Nicholas Lindsay becoming the second academy signing in history.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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. 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. The new facilities include a permanent seating area with room for expansion and a new artificial playing surface.(FIFA Grade 2)
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KIA TFC training ground
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, 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.
Coaching staff
- Bill Manning President
- Tim Bezbatchenko General Manager
- Laurent Guyot Academy Director
- Corey Wray Director, Team Operations
- Jaime McMillan Director, Administration and Operations
- Marin Scannell Coordinator, Academy Operations
- Leslie Williamson Coordinator, Soccer Administration
- Danny Dichio Head Coach, Toronto FC III
- Gianni Cimini Head Coach, U17
- Anthony Capotosto Head Coach, U16
- Michael Stefano Head Coach, U15
- Terry Dunfield Head Coach, U14
- Jonathon Mondino Head Coach, U13
- Marco Casalinuovo Head Coach, U12
- Luciano Lombardi Head Coach, U11
- Dino Lopez Assistant Coach, Pod 2
- Phil Boerger Goalkeeper Coach, Toronto FC II & Pod 1 TFC Academy
- Michael Rabasca Director, High Performance
- Casey Goodall Coordinator, High Performance
- Sue McMillan Manager, Education
- Jim Liston Director, Athlete Performance
- Samra Habtom Athletic Therapist
- Kevin Halford Athletic Therapist
- Mark Cruz Equipment Manager
- Adam Krueger Community Manager
- Elaine Flamenco Head Chef
Year-by-year
U20 (Toronto FC III) Roster
As of September 1, 2017
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. The U-16 team competed Liga MX International tournament on August, 2017.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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