MLSE boss says 'everything is on the table' at Toronto FC, including the Italians

Keith Pelley, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, sits in his office in Toronto, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Change is coming at Toronto FC.

And while Toronto (11-19-4) was just eliminated from playoff contention, work has been underway for months on what's needed to revive the ailing Major League Soccer franchise.

“TFC is a complete rebuild … Everything is on the table,” said Keith Pelley, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. 

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“We don't have a club identity, a club ethos, currently right now for TFC … I kind of realized that pretty quickly that it's kind of lost its way,” added Pelley, who took charge of MLSE in April.

To help get the team back on track, Pelley has engaged former Bayern Munich technical director Marco Neppe, who has been conducting a "full organizational review" of TFC for 2 1/2 months.

The study, in tandem with GM Jason Hernandez, covered everything at the club from the academy on up.

“We started the process,” said Pelley. "That's the only positive currently right now about not making the playoffs — is we can start the rebuild quicker."

Neppe, 38, left Bayern in April after 10 successful years with the German powerhouse. At the time of his departure Bayern CE0 Jan-Christian Dreesen noted how, under Neppe, Bayern, had "discovered outstanding talents such as Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala, who have matured into world-class players in Munich.

"He was an important factor in squad planning and, not least because of his excellent network, also in the completion of many transfers."

Neppe started as a scout with Bayern in 2014, was put in charge of the department three years later and appointed technical director in December 2021. During his time with the club, Bayern won nine Bundesliga titles, the DFB Cup three times and the German Supercup six times.

And in 2020, Bayern won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

In contrast, TFC has gone 30-75-31 in league play since its last playoff appearance in 2020 when it was dispatched in the first round by expansion Nashville. Toronto has been outscored 252-154 over that time.

It's not the first time TFC has turned to a German consultant. In 2010, the club hired Juergen Klinsmann, a former star player and coach with the German national team, and his company SoccerSolutions for help after a 9-13-8 season.

While Toronto has made strides this season under John Herdman in his first full campaign as coach — the team finished in the league basement last season at 4-20-10 — he did it with a largely inherited side while Hernandez worked to clear up salary cap logjams.

Italian designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, whose combined salaries this season total US$21.7 million, have been polarizing figures with just 12 goals between them in 2024.

New York City FC has got 12 goals from Santi Rodriguez, at a salary of US$1.3 million, with a game to go.

Bernardeschi won kudos for his work ethics, switching to wingback at Herdman's request. But after recording eight goals and five assists in nine league outings from April 27 to June 29, his output fizzled in an 18-game goal drought.

His self-control was also lacking. With playoffs on the line, he was shown a red card in TFC's penultimate game against the Red Bulls and missed the season finale against Inter Miami through suspension.

Bernardeschi was sent off three times this season and missed two more games due to yellow-card accumulation.

Insigne's body broke down during the season, limiting him to four goals in 23 league appearances, including 17 starts. His on-field body language was awful at times, the former Napoli captain coming across as a picture of discontent.

“I think with TFC we have to look at everything at this particular time — including Lorenzo Insigne and how he fits into the plans in this team long-term,” said Pelley.

With both Italians under contract through 2026 (Insigne's deal expires in June and Bernardeschi's at the end of the year), any part of the ways will not come cheaply, even if the player is motivated to move on.

The MLSE boss clearly admires captain Jonathan Osorio and fullback/wingback Richie Laryea, the homegrown heart of the team.

"You have the start of it but it, again, comes down to what kind of football do we want to play? And that affects everything that you're going to do."

Herdman and his staff have been putting in long hours trying to turn the team around.

“I’ve never seen a work ethic like (his) … He’s a machine,” Osorio said of Herdman.

“He cares,” he added. “We need people that care.”

Osorio and Herdman both took time to speak to disgruntled fans in the south stand after recent losses.

“They want to see action,” Herdman, speaking after the season-ending Miami defeat, said of the supporters. "I think they've seen some elements of action this year. But not enough. Not enough to fully get a picture of what this club could be in the future."

The losing has taken its toll. While Toronto ranks eighth in the league in attendance, averaging 25,681 this season, Pelley says the show rate for ticket-holders was down to 75 percent.

That was due in part to congestion getting to the stadium and evening kickoff times.

“I think if we sat here a year from now, TFC would be different — on the field and off the field,” said Pelley, who has already talked to MLS about shifting more home games to afternoon starts.

Progress is "critical" with the 2026 World Cup just around the corner.

The soccer showcase will see changes to BMO Field including temporary seats (just for the tournament) plus permanent suites and room for another 1,000 in a standing area in the north end.

“It's an enhanced version of what the Blue Jays did with their outfield which I applaud them for,” said Pelley, referring to party zone-like renovated areas at Rogers Centre.

The existing BMO Field scoreboard will be replaced by video screens in each corner. The audio system will also be replaced.

Pelley is no stranger to football. In May 2023, he was part of American entrepreneur Tom Wagner's successful bid to buy England's Birmingham City.

And he knows what he likes

Pelley was instrumental in bringing former TFC star striker Sebastian Giovinco back into the fold as a special adviser and club ambassador.

"I'd never met him before but I met him for one hour and I said 'Why don't you come join us?' And he said 'Am I allowed to?' I said 'What do you mean?' and he goes 'Well, I haven't really been allowed to be part of the team.' I said 'Well you are now.'"  

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2024