Page 73 - Soccer360 Issue 105

providing them with the opportunity to win a historic treble. Once again, TFC would find themselves playing the MLS Cup Final on home soil against the Seattle Sounders. This time would be different though. With Bradley leading the way, TFC were finally able to lift the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy as MLS Cup Champions.
Giovinco would be the first of the trio to leave, departing the club in 2019. The club did reach the MLS Cup Final that season despite the Italian leaving, but they fell short against the Seattle Sounders for the second time in four seasons. Altidore would remain with the club until he signed with the New England Revolution prior to the start of the 2022 season.
Bradley though, played with the Reds until he called it quits on his playing career.
Not only did he finish with a total of 308 appearances for the club - second only to current captain Jonathon Osorio - he won a total of seven trophies during that span. “For the last 10 years I have spilled my blood, sweat and tears trying to help this club be the best it could be,” Bradley said
in a statement announcing his retirement. “There were some incredible days - moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life - and some bad ones too. But I never stopped giving everything I had. “Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and everyone inside the club. Thank you to the fans for the unforgettable nights at BMO Field. This city and this club will always be home.”
Bradley will forever be remembered as a locker room leader who helped change the culture of a franchise that had been the laughingstock of the league prior to his arrival. One of the greatest Americans to ever play the sport chose to come to Canada during the prime of his career and call Toronto home for 10 seasons.
TORONTO’S TROUBLED STARS
CONTINUED
proved the Reds were willing to spend big to get back to the glory days. After all, it couldn’t have worked out any better the first time they opted to sign an Italian international as Sebastian Giovinco flourished, what could go wrong this time?
Well, apparently, everything.
The team has been a complete disaster since the arrivals of Bernardeschi and Insigne, having failed to even make
the play-offs despite having one of the highest squad salaries in the league. Even worse, the Reds finished the 2023 MLS campaign with the least number of points in all of MLS. The duo will also be playing under their third different head coach during their time in Toronto, with John Herdman taking over the reigns. There had been rumours running rampant that both wanted out, but neither could find a club in Europe that suited their needs, and the duo are likely staying in MLS for at least another year. Fans have lost patience with the Italian superstars, and it’ll be interesting to see how they respond in 2024 but experienced former Canada men’s and women’s national team boss Herdman certainly has his work cut out for him.
SOCCER360 73
LEFT:
Michael Bradley led what many consider to be the greatest MLS team in history
to a historic treble
in 2017 after Toronto FC won the Canadian Championship, Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.
RIGHT:
Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi
BELOW:
Sebastian Giovinco in his prime with Toronto FC.