Toronto FC II

Last updated

Toronto FC II
Toronto FC II crest.svg
Nickname(s)Young Reds
Short nameTFCII
FoundedNovember 20, 2014(10 years ago) (November 20, 2014)
Stadium York Lions Stadium
Owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
President Bill Manning
Head coach Gianni Cimini
League MLS Next Pro
2024 12th, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: DNQ
Website www.torontofc.ca/tfc2/
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Toronto FC II is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, who play in MLS Next Pro, a third tier league of the United States soccer league system. It is the reserve team and minor league affiliate of Toronto FC as well as in partnership with Toronto FC Academy.

Contents

History

Pre-history

Upon their entrance into Major League Soccer, Toronto FC fielded their reserves in the MLS Reserve League from 2007 to 2013. In 2014, Toronto FC entered into a one-year partnership with the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL to serve as their affiliate, with whom they would loan players to. [1]

Formation

On November 20, 2014, Toronto FC announced the creation of a reserve team that would play in the third-tier United Soccer League under the name Toronto FC II. [2] [3] [4] The team began play in March 2015, playing at the then-newly constructed 3,500-seat stadium at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan, just north-northwest of Toronto. [5] They played their first match on June 27, 2015, against Wilmington Hammerheads. [6] From 2017, the USL was sanctioned as a second-tier league. [7]

On July 2, 2018, the team announced they would move down from the United Soccer League to USL League One for the league's first season in 2019. [8] TFC II played in Saskatoon for the first SK Summer Soccer Series, which was hosted by the Saskatchewan Selects. [9] The Selects defeated TFC II 2–0. [10]

In July 2020, the team withdrew from the 2020 USL League One season, due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [11] They returned to the league in 2021, beginning the season at the Grande Sports World training facility in Casa Grande, Arizona, due to continued travel restrictions caused by the continuing pandemic. [12] After playing their first three home games there, following three home games were played at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida. Toronto FC II ultimately resumed playing their home games in Toronto on July 30, 2021, when they hosted Greenville Triumph SC at the BMO Training Ground. [13]

MLS Next Pro

The club announced on December 6, 2021, that it was joining the 21-team MLS Next Pro for the inaugural 2022 season. [14] In their debut season, they qualified for their first-ever playoff berth, after winning the Northeast Division. [15] After defeating Philadelphia Union 2 in the Conference semi-finals, they were defeated by Columbus Crew 2 in extra time in the Conference finals. [16]

Players and staff

Roster

As of September 21, 2024 [17]


Technical staff

As of March 30, 2022 [18]
Coaching staff
Head coach Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Gianni Cimini
Assistant coach Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marco Casalinuovo
Goalkeeping coach Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Monsalve

Record

SeasonTierLeagueRecordRankPlayoffsRef
2015 3 USL 6–5–1611th, Easterndid not qualify [19]
2016 6–5–1713th, Easterndid not qualify
2017 26–7–1915th, Easterndid not qualify
2018 4–6–2416th, Easterndid not qualify
2019 3 USL League One 9–9–107thdid not qualify
2020 Withdrew due to COVID-19 restrictions
2021 10–8–107thdid not qualify
2022 3 MLS Next Pro 12–3–9 [note 1] 2nd, EasternConference Final
2023 6–8–14 [note 2] 11th, Easterndid not qualify
2024 10–6–12 [note 3] 12th, Easterndid not qualify
  1. ↑ MLS Next Pro teams played shootouts to earn an extra point after ties. Of the three ties in 2022, Toronto FC had two Shootout wins and one Shootout loss for a total record of 12-2-1-9
  2. ↑ MLS Next Pro teams played shootouts to earn an extra point after ties. Of the eight ties in 2023, Toronto FC had three Shootout wins and five Shootout losses for a total record of 6-3-5-14
  3. ↑ MLS Next Pro teams played shootouts to earn an extra point after ties. Of the six ties in 2024, Toronto FC had one Shootout win and five Shootout losses for a total record of 10-1-5-12

Coach History

Stadium

The expansion Toronto FC II hosted their games at a new stadium constructed at the Ontario Soccer Centre beginning with the first season in 2015. However, after the planned expansion of the OSC to 5,000 seats, which is a minimum requirement set by the United States Soccer Federation for the USL to be sanctioned as a division 2 league, did not materialize, the club announced that it would move its home games to BMO Field and Lamport Stadium beginning with the 2018 season. [20]

In 2018, the team used Monarch Park Stadium for one game in May, relocated one game to Charlotte, and relocated another four games to Rochester's Marina Auto Stadium, while waiting on availability at Lamport Stadium.[ citation needed ]

With their drop to the division 3 USL League One for the 2019 season, the team moved their home games to BMO Training Ground. [21]

On April 4, 2022, after the team left USL League One to join the newly formed MLS Next Pro, Toronto FC II announced that York Lions Stadium would serve as their new home stadium, [22] while also playing 2 home games at BMO Field as a second match of a double header with their parent club, Toronto FC.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMO Field</span> Stadium in Toronto

BMO Field is an outdoor stadium located at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Constructed on the former Exhibition Stadium site and first opened in 2007, it is the home field of Toronto FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). BMO Field is owned by the City of Toronto and managed by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns both Toronto FC and the Argonauts. The stadium's naming rights are held by the Bank of Montreal, which is commonly branded as "BMO". It is one of two Canadian stadiums which will host matches of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. An expansion for the tournament will bring the stadium's capacity to 45,736 seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto FC</span> Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto

Toronto Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matches at BMO Field, located at Exhibition Place on Toronto's shoreline west of Downtown Toronto. Toronto FC joined MLS in 2007 as an expansion team and was the first Canadian-based franchise in the league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamport Stadium</span> Rugby league stadium in Toronto, Canada

Allan A. Lamport Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium on King Street West in the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the practice facility for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. It is also partial home for Canada national rugby league team. The playing surface of the 9,600 seating capacity stadium is also dually marked for soccer and field hockey. The stadium was named for long-time Toronto politician Allan Lamport, who was associated with sporting activities in the city.

The Zanchin Automotive Soccer Centre, also known as the Soccer Centre, is a Canadian competition, training and education facility, focusing on growing the game of soccer. It is located in Vaughan, Ontario, 20 km north-west of downtown Toronto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto FC Academy</span> Canadian soccer team

Toronto FC Academy, also known as TFC Academy, is the youth academy and development system of Canadian Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, which competes in MLS Next.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL Championship</span> Professional soccer league in the United States

The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began play in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) as a Division II league since 2017, placing it under Major League Soccer in the hierarchy. The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMO Training Ground</span>

BMO Training Ground is the practice facility of Toronto FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) and its minor league reserve team Toronto FC II of MLS Next Pro, and the home of the TFC Academy of MLS Next. The facility, which opened in 2012 and features a stadium with 1000 seats, is located at Downsview Park, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Classique</span> Soccer rivalry between Toronto FC and CF Montréal

The Canadian Classique, also known as the 401 Derby and the Two Solitudes Derby, is a soccer rivalry between Canadian clubs, Toronto FC and CF Montréal. The rivalry gets the "401" nickname from Ontario Highway 401, which forms most of the standard driving route between the two cities, as well as the Two Solitudes book and cultural phenomenon. It is a tense rivalry, stemming from other sporting rivalries between Toronto and Montreal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitecaps FC 2</span> Soccer club in Vancouver, British Columbia

Whitecaps FC 2 is a professional soccer team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that serves as the reserve team of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsubasa Endoh</span> Japanese footballer

Tsubasa Endoh is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward.

Reshon Shemar Phillip is a Canadian soccer player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gianluca Catalano</span> Canadian soccer player (born 2000)

Gianluca Catalano is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper.

Luca Allan Petrasso is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a left-back, most recently for Major League Soccer club Orlando City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Perruzza</span> Canadian soccer player

Jordan Loreto Perruzza is a Canadian soccer player who plays for the Real Monarchs in MLS Next Pro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Shaffelburg</span> Canadian soccer player

Jacob Everett Shaffelburg is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Nashville SC and the Canada national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Themi Antonoglou</span> Canadian soccer player

Themi Antonoglou is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Valour FC in the Canadian Premier League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Altobelli</span> Canadian soccer player

Julian Anthony Altobelli is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugo Mbongue</span> Canadian soccer player (born 2004)

Hugo-Hilaire Thomas Henry Mbongue Mbongue is a Canadian soccer player who plays for San Antonio FC in the USL Championship, on loan from Major League Soccer club Toronto FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reshaun Walkes</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1999)

Reshaun Walkes is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luka Gavran</span> Canadian soccer player

Luka Robert Gavran is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as an goalkeeper for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

References

  1. ↑ "Toronto FC Partners With Wilmington". Toronto FC. January 22, 2014. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014.
  2. ↑ Molinaro, John (January 20, 2015). "TFC's USL-Pro team to be called Toronto FC II". Sportsnet .
  3. ↑ "Toronto FC announces USL PRO team". Toronto FC . November 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Toronto FC Unveils USL PRO Details". USL Pro. January 21, 2015. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015.
  5. ↑ "OSA, Toronto FC and Vaughan partner in new stadium". Ontario Soccer Association. January 21, 2015. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015.
  6. ↑ Gallo, Anthony (June 27, 2015). "TFC II's New Journey Starts Tonight". Waking the Red.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Soccer Board of Directors Grants Provisional Division II Status to NASL and USL". U.S. Soccer. January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Toronto FC II joins USL Division III as Founding Member". Toronto FC. July 2, 2018. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018.
  9. ↑ Jacques, John (July 16, 2019). "SK Summer Soccer Series To Host Toronto FC II This August". Northern Tribune.
  10. ↑ Jacques, John (August 12, 2019). "SK Summer Soccer Series Finishes On A High Note For Football In Saskatchewan". Northern Tribune.
  11. ↑ Rhodes, Benedict (July 8, 2020). "Toronto FC II withdraw from 2020 USL League One season". Waking the Red.
  12. ↑ Singh, Michael (March 16, 2021). "Toronto FC II officially announces return to USL League One in 2021". Waking the Red.
  13. ↑ "Toronto FC II return to Canada to play first match at home on July 30". Toronto FC communications. July 29, 2021.
  14. ↑ "MLS NEXT Pro Unveils 21 Clubs for Inaugural Season". Toronto FC . December 6, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Toronto FC II win MLS NEXT Pro Northeast Division, clinch spot in 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs". Toronto FC . September 19, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Toronto FC II suffers heartbreaking loss to Columbus Crew II in MLS Next Pro playoffs". Toronto Star . October 2, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Toronto FC II Roster". MLS Next Pro .
  18. ↑ "Staff | Toronto FC". Toronto FC . Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Toronto FC II Statistics". Canadian Soccer History Archives.
  20. ↑ Kelly, Tim (August 29, 2017). "TFC II leaving Vaughan for Toronto after 3-season run; stadium size at issue". Vaughan Citizen. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Toronto FC II 2019 USL League One Regular Season Schedule Announced". Toronto FC. December 10, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Toronto FC II announce York Lions stadium as home field for 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season". Toronto FC II Communications. April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.