AFC Toronto

Last updated

AFC Toronto
AFC Toronto.svg
Full nameAssociation Football Club Toronto
FoundedApril 26, 2023;21 months ago (April 26, 2023)
Stadium
Capacity4,000
CEOHelena Ruken
Head Coach Marko Milanović
League Northern Super League
Website afctoronto.ca
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Association Football Club Toronto is a professional women's soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario that competes in the Northern Super League, a league at the top of the Canadian soccer pyramid.

Contents

History

In April 2023, AFC Toronto was established by a group of local soccer community members, including Helena Ruken, Brenda Ha, Jill Burgin, Billy Wilson, Mike Ruthard, Kamal Sandhu, and Shamez Mangalji. [1] They became the third club to enter as a founding member of the Northern Super League, which will launch its inaugural season in 2025. [2] [3] Although several of the founders held a connection with the North Toronto Nitros, including Ruken who serves as the Nitros President, AFC Toronto will operate as a separate entity. [4] In January 2024, Canadian Olympic sprinter Andre De Grasse joined the club as an investor. [5] [6] In June 2024, the club unveiled their official branding, maroon and vermillion serving as the team's colours, and their crest, which features a letter T at the centre symbolizing Toronto and mirrored 7s on either side representing the team’s original seven founding members, as well as the city’s original six boroughs plus the GTA. [7] [8] It was announced that the team would play at York Lions Stadium as their home venue for the 2025 season, sharing the venue with Canadian Premier League club York United FC and MLS Next Pro side Toronto FC II. [9] [10] In October 2024, Jade Kovacevic was unveiled as the club and league's first ever player signing. [11]

Players and Staff

Players

As of February 24, 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
— FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Shaina Ashouri
— MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Colby Barnett
— DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Ashley Cathro
— GK Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Sierra Cota-Yarde ( [A] )
— DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Kaela Hansen
— FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Kaylee Hunter
— DF Flag of South Korea.svg  KOR Hong Hye-ji
— FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Mya Jones (on loan from San Diego Wave )
— MF Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Aoi Kizaki
— FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Jade Kovacevic
— DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN April Lantaigne
No.Pos.NationPlayer
— GK Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Sofia Manner
— FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Esther Okoronkwo
— FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Leah Pais
— MF Flag of the Philippines.svg  PHI Ivymae Perez ( [A] )
— MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Victoria Pickett (on loan from North Carolina Courage )
— DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Emma Regan
— DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Sarah Rollins
— MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Nikayla Small
— DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Croix Soto
— MF Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  SKN Cloey Uddenberg ( [A] )
  1. ^
    Counts as a domestic player as she also holds Canadian nationality

Current staff

As of August 7, 2024 [12]
Executive
Chief Executive OfficerHelena Ruken
Chief Operating OfficerKamal Sandhu
Vice-President, Brand and PartnershipsKathleen Hegarty
Sporting DirectorBilly Wilson
Coaching staff
Head coach Marko Milanović
Assistant coach Sylvia Forbes
Goalkeeping coachRasih Pala
Head Athletic TherapistKarla Leong
Sports Science & Performance coachMariana Gonzalez Moreno
Athletic therapistKia Halsall

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dichter, Myles (April 26, 2023). "Toronto named 3rd franchise in Canadian women's pro soccer league set to start in 2025". CBC Sports .
  2. ↑ Molinaro, John (April 26, 2023). "'Breaking through is possible': Matheson thrilled Toronto joining pro women's league". Sportsnet .
  3. ↑ Davidson, Neil (April 26, 2023). "AFC Toronto City becomes 3rd team to sign on to Canadian women's pro soccer league". Global News .
  4. ↑ "Toronto 'an untapped pool' of women's soccer talent: AFC Toronto City CEO Helena Ruken". Canadian Soccer Daily. April 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Star sprinter De Grasse invests in AFC Toronto City women's soccer team". CBC Sports . January 17, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Sprinting to kickoff in Canadian pro women's soccer: Andre De Grasse invests in Project 8's AFC Toronto". Canadian Soccer Daily. January 18, 2024.
  7. ↑ Ngabo, Gilbert (June 3, 2024). "Toronto's pro women's soccer team unveils its crest, with kickoff set for next year". Toronto Star .
  8. ↑ Nightingale, Tom (June 3, 2024). "Northern Super League's AFC Toronto unveil branding ahead of inaugural NSL season". Canadian Soccer Daily.
  9. ↑ Jacques, John (August 28, 2024). "AFC Toronto To Play From York Lions Stadium Next Year". Northern Tribune.
  10. ↑ "Northern Super League's AFC Toronto will share York Lions Stadium with CPL side York United". Canadian Soccer Daily. August 28, 2024.
  11. ↑ Molinaro, John (October 21, 2024). "Jade Kovacevic excited to live dream as AFC Toronto's first-ever signing". Sportsnet .
  12. ↑ "AFC Toronto Welcomes Marko Milanovic and Sylvia Forbes as New Coaching Team". AFC Toronto. August 7, 2024.
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