TORONTO FC NAMES PREKI NEW HEAD COACH

As we told you on the show on Sunday night. Preki is the new coach of TFC. Toronto FC made the official announcement today.

Here's the official release:

Toronto FC announced Thursday, that Predrag “Preki” Radosavlijevic has been named the team’s fourth head coach in its history, signing a three year deal. The 46 year old Yugoslavian-born American joins Toronto after spending three seasons as the head coach at Chivas USA. As per league and team policy, financial details were not released.

“We are very excited to make this announcement today,” said director of soccer Mo Johnston. “Preki has everything we were looking for, and we feel he will be a perfect fit with our club. His resume with Chivas is impressive – having made it to the playoffs in every season he was there. His experience is what we need to take this club to the next level, and we can’t wait to get started.”

Radosavlijevic’s contract with Chivas USA expired at the end of this past MLS season leaving him open to explore new opportunities. He posted a career record of 40-29-21 (W-L-T) and a winning percentage of .561, the top mark in Chivas club history. He guided his team to top spot in the Western Conference in the 2007 regular season, with a 15-7-8 record, missing out on the Supporters Shield by only two points.

Named the Coach of the Year by MLS in 2007, he has also guided some the league’s top players including goalkeeper Brad Guzan, Sacha Kljestan and Zach Thornton (the 2009 Goalkeeper of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year).

As a player, Preki has a wealth of experience. He served a short stint with Red Star Belgrade in the old Yugoslav First League and from there went on to play indoor soccer in the U.S. for Tacoma Stars and St. Louis Storm before being bought by English Premier League side Everton in the summer of 1992. He spent two seasons with the Liverpool based club where he played with current Toronto FC director of soccer Mo Johnston. After a move to Portsmouth in July of 1994, Preki joined MLS in 1996 when he became a member of the Kansas City Wizards. He played every season in Kansas except for one year with the Miami Fusion in 2001. The Wizards brought him back the next season and it was there he won an MLS Cup in 2000, along with teammate Mo Johnston.

Preki is the only player to be awarded the MLS MVP Award and the MLS Scoring Champion twice, winning both in 1997 and 2003. He still holds the record for all-time league leader in points scored (270 on 79 goals and 112 assists, plus an additional 25 points on 10 goals and 5 assists in the playoffs). He played his last competitive game at the age of 42.

Internationally, he wore the colors of the U.S after obtaining citizenship in 1996. He played a total of 28 games, scoring four goals – one of the most memorable was a goal in the 1998 Gold Cup which beat Brazil.

Preki will travel to MLS Cup with Toronto FC director of soccer Mo Johnston later today.

KEVIN HARMSE OFF TO CHIVAS

Kevin Harmse was shipped off to Chivas USA today for allocation money coming back to Toronto. Here is the official release:

Toronto FC announced Wednesday that they have acquired allocation money from Chivas USA. In exchange, Chivas receives midfielder Kevin Harmse.

“The entire staff wants to wish Kevin all the best,” said manager, director of soccer Mo Johnston. “Kevin requested a move back to the U.S. We tried very hard to hang on to him, but this move is what’s best for Kevin right now.”

Harmse, 24, was acquired February 29, 2008 from the Los Angeles Galaxy. The midfielder leaves Toronto having played a total of 30 games played, 21 of those as a starter. He compiled 1,882 minutes over two seasons and scored once this season in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship match at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 6.

Two ways of looking at this. Kevin was considered surplus and TFC have plans to bring in a more capable defender in his place or already have with Nick Garcia. Or, Harmse was the only Canadian to accept the invitation to go play for the Canadian National Team at the Gold Cup. Could this be Mo Johnston's way of saying that this is not acceptable and that he should have put club before country.

I haven't spoken to Kevin, but I'm curious why he would want a move back to the U.S. when the best part of his career has been with TFC. We'll try and get to the bottom of it.

What do you think of this move? Do you think it's because of the first or the second possible reason?

GREG SUTTON HAS BEEN RELEASED / GERBA RIGHTS TO TORONTO

Toronto FC have announced today that they have released goalkeeper Greg Sutton after making trading a 3rd round draft pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft with San Jose for defender Nick Garcia. The release of Sutton was done to make room on the roster for Garcia.

“First and foremost we want to thank Greg for everything he has done for this club,” said manager, director of soccer Mo Johnston. “Greg has always been the consummate professional, he was the first goalkeeper signed by this club, and this was a difficult decision to make. We wish him all the best.”

Along with the move to trade for Garcia, TFC also picks up the Discovery Rights to Canadian forward Ali Gerba. Gerba played for MK Dons this past season, but was released in May.

The rest of the Release from TFC:

Toronto FC announced Tuesday that they have acquired defender Nick Garcia from the San Jose Earthquakes, along with the Discovery Rights to Canadian forward Ali Gerba. In exchange, San Jose receives Toronto’s 3rd round selection in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. As per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. To make room on the roster for Garcia, Toronto FC goalkeeper Greg Sutton has been released.

Garcia, 30, is currently playing in his 10th season in Major League Soccer. As one of the league’s most experienced defenders, he joined San Jose in their expansion season making his debut with the team on April 3, 2008 and helped the team post the fourth-best goals against average in the league. Starting in all 24 games he appeared in last season, he logged 2,151 minutes and added two assists.

“We are very happy to bring in a defender with Nick’s experience,” said Johnston. “We tried to bring him in before and finally we were able to get a deal done. He plays 90 minutes every game, he’s quick, and he knows this league inside and out. On Ali Gerba, he’s another one that’s been on our radar, and we look forward to sitting down with him and getting a contract signed as soon as we can.”

Prior to joining the Earthquakes, Garcia began his MLS career in 2000 with the Kansas City Wizards. It was a stand-out season for the rookie after he played every minute of the Wizards seven postseason matches to help them on to victory in the MLS Cup final over the Chicago Fire. That year the team was captained by current Toronto FC manager, director of soccer Mo Johnston.

In 2003, Garcia made his 100th career MLS start, becoming the 100th player in MLS history to reach that mark and also the youngest to start in 100 games.

Internationally, the defender has six caps with the U.S. National Team making his last appearance for the Americans on January 18, 2004 against Denmark. He was a member of both the 1997 U.S. U-17 World Championship team, and the U-20 World Cup team where he finished with 20 career caps and 46 appearances.

Garcia will arrive in Toronto this week and be available for comment after Toronto FC training on Thursday. Media should arrive no later than 11:15 a.m. Manager, director of soccer Mo Johnston will also be available for comment on these moves during training on Thursday.



Nick Garcia #6

Position: Defender

Height: 5-10

Weight: 175 lbs.

Born: April 9, 1979 in Plano, Texas

Hometown: Plano, Texas

Last Club: Kansas City Wizards (MLS)

College: Indiana

Citizenship: USA