Every now and then we find something abroad that provides an outsiders look in on MLS. It's a reminder of the growth of the league these past few years and also shows how far the 'brand' has gone. Today's article comes from series in a Danish newspaper, where readers or journalists tell about their allegiance to a certain foreign team. The original editors chose the headline: 'Losing team has plenty of passionate fans.'
So, while its obviously written with a Danish audience in mind - they have a pretty good beat on it But the writer has provided us with an English translation to run here today. He's been to Canada only a few times and has no immediate family here but has adopted Toronto FC as his own. He tells us why.
By: Henrik Høgholt Lønne
Toronto FC has been my club since a warm October evening in 2007. I have had a fascination and interest for Major League Soccer, since I saw the US get to the quarter final at the 2002 World Cup, and in 2007 when I was travelling in North America I finally got an opportunity to attend my first MLS-match in Toronto. There, I fell in love, and I have been following them ever since.
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Toronto FC is something special. With their entry in 2007 they became the first Canadian team in the hitherto entirely American Major League Soccer, and at the same time contributed with a passionate fan culture of an unprecedented size and helped set new standards for this in MLS.
Unfortunately, Toronto FC has had a poor management. We are now in the sixth season, and we are yet to reach the playoffs. A couple of coaches has been fired, and there has not been a common thread.
I was on exchange in Toronto in the fall and had the chance, to experience the fan culture both at the stadium and at the local bar for the away games. As a fan of a league, that gets minimal attention in Europe, one is deeply dependant on the internet and especially social media, to keep the passion going. But when I was in Toronto in the Fall, I got proof, that the hassle was worth it.
The best player on the team right now is Torsten Frings, who since his arrival last summer, has emerged as an important support for the Red’s weak defense.
The most important player in club history so far is Danny Dichio, who was brought in for the first season. He came in from the Championship and was in no way a highly gifted soccer player, but he fought hard and scored the first goal ever for Toronto against the Chicago Fire.
What the team needs right now is one or two central defenders. In an offensive game system, we have often been weakened by a poor defense, and Frings is often forced to play a sweeper role to avoid too many goals.
To name the best coach of all time, I find difficult with the sheer bad seasons. The most visionary is probably the current Dutch coach Aron Winter, who is set out to introduce a total football in the MLS. His first season in 2011 was a mixed bag, with a strong conclusion, despite the lack of playoffs. Many expected, it would be better this season, where he could put his own stamp on the team. Instead, it has been to seven defeats in seven matches, which equals the league record.
It will be another tough season, and already there are rumours that he will be fired and replaced with a coach who knows the MLS and all its special rules with its draft, salary cap and other differences from European football.
The best match I have seen, was the first one I attended. October 4th 2007. The match was in Toronto and was between the local team Toronto FC and the guests from New York Red Bulls. Toronto had not won in 12 matches and had just been mathematically excluded from the playoffs. Nevertheless, all 20.000 people in the stadium were excited and there was singing, dancing and cheering on the local boys.
Toronto won 2-1 and I was in love. The passion that I saw was wilder than 7,000 quiet Jutlanders in Herning, where I grew up, or 72,000 suits and tourists at Old Trafford against FC Copenhagen.
In the next match we face DC United at home. Many fans are angry, and even though one thinks that the defeats can not continue, we encounter a strong team with an explosive offense led by Canadian Dwayne De Rosario, who left Toronto after disagreements on salary. It is difficult, but if you do not support the team in adversity, you are not a real fan there.