TFC's Greg Vanney wins MLS coach of the year

Greg Vanney's arrival at Toronto FC as assistant general manager and academy director went almost unnoticed in December 2013.

It was a transaction largely lost in a week that saw the MLS club acquire Brazilians Gilberto and Jackson, reward goalkeeper Joe Bendik with a new deal and trade away the rights to 'keeper Stefan Frei and midfielder Bobby Convey.

But Vanney moved front and centre on Aug. 31, 2014, when GM Tim Bezbatchenko fired coach Ryan Nelsen and gave the keys to the struggling team to the former U.S. international defender.

Fifty-one regular-season wins later — more than the franchise's first seven coaches combined — and with Toronto one victory away from a second straight MLS Cup appearance, the 43-year-old Vanney has been named MLS coach of the year.

Vanney received 37.07 per cent of votes by MLS team officials, players and media. Atlanta's Gerardo "Tata" Martino was second at 22.30 per cent and Chicago's Veljko Paunovic third at 11.17.

Vancouver's Carl Robinson was fifth at 6.07 per cent, behind New York City FC's Patrick Vieira (10.33 per cent).

Vanney, while proud of the honour, deflected the credit.

"I think this particular award goes to all of us who have been involved this year because it really came because of the success we had as a team this year," he said.

Vanney is the first coach of the year winner from a Canadian franchise (Canadian Frank Yallop won the award in 2001 and 2012 with San Jose).

Successful but challenging season

Vanney was rewarded for a record-breaking season that saw Toronto (20-5-9) earn a league-record 69 points, collecting the Voyageurs Cup as Canadian champion and Supporters' Shield for best regular-season record en route.

Toronto, the first team to clinch a spot in the playoffs this season, set franchise records for wins (20), goals scored (74), fewest goals allowed (37), shutouts (13), home wins (13), home points (42), road wins (7) and road points (27).

There were challenges, however.

Veteran defenceman Drew Moor missed time with a heart scare. Captain Michael Bradley and striker Jozy Altidore endured public humiliation via the failed U.S. World Cup qualifying campaign.

And mercurial Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco, an MVP candidate once again, had a roller-coaster year that featured tantrums, a poorly timed playoff suspension and some nagging injuries in addition to wonderful moments of skill.

"Far more teams would have caved than teams that would have persevered through this ... We still managed to persevere and get the results we need in difficult times," Vanney said.

Perhaps Vanney's biggest accomplishment has been successfully motivating a team that came within one kick of the MLS championship in 2016. He did it by setting goals and having discussions on the kind of attitude or character needed to achieve them.

"That to me is the most important discussion because the only way you achieve goals is if you have the right attitude every day when you go out to work," he said.

Triumph of the 'soccer nerd'

Vanney is the cool head running the show, a student of the game who is never far from a screen so he can do some more soccer homework. Former Los Angeles Galaxy teammate Ante Jazic calls him a "soccer nerd." Moor, who played with Vanney at FC Dallas in 2006, says he is a "soccer geek."

"He watches the best teams in the world to see how he can make TFC better," said Moor.

Under the cerebral Vanney, Toronto has become one of the more sophisticated teams in MLS with the ability to change tactics seamlessly on the fly. The club has also become quietly efficient, able to grind out wins in whatever fashion required.

His coaching staff, whose roots run deep, offers a unified approach.

Vanney, who worked in the Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake organizations after retiring, learns from mistakes. Recalling a Los Angeles Galaxy game as a player when a word of a tactical shift did not reach him, Vanney had substitute Tsubasa Endoh carry a note to show teammates of a formation switch when he entered a game in Montreal late last season.

He has also managed to keep his well-stocked, well-paid roster happy, at least from the outside. A measure of Vanney's deft touch is how he promoted goalkeeper Alex Bono over incumbent Clint Irwin with nary a ripple this year.

While Vanney is willing to put an arm around a player's shoulder, the father of four is no pushover. Players earn their playing time and a strong leadership group in the locker room ensures that no shortcuts are allowed.

Vanney lost his first two games as coach and finished the 2014 season 2-6-2. Of the 18 players who dressed for his debut (a 1-0 loss to Philadelphia) only four remain with the club — Bradley, Jonathan Osorio, Nick Hagglund and Ashtone Morgan.

"We need to act and build a culture of success and expectation on a daily basis and live up to those standards every day," Vanney told reporters at the end of that season.

Mission accomplished, no small feat for a franchise once known as the league doormat.​