Former head coach Robin Fraser returns to Toronto FC as head coach.

Toronto FC has chosen a familiar face when it appoints Robin Fraser as its new manager.

The former elite defender was a key assistant coach under Greg Vanney during Toronto’s glory days, including the treble-winning season in 2017, before leaving in August 2019 to take the job as head coach of the Colorado Rapids.

Frazier was fired in September 2023 as injury-plagued Colorado languished in the Major League Soccer basement at 3-13-10 (Chris Armas, who was fired by Toronto in July 2021, eventually replaced him as Rapids coach). inherited). Most recently, Fraser was the Chief Sports Advisor for CT United FC, an expansion team in the second-tier MLS Next Pro League.

“Robin has one of the most outstanding careers in MLS, combining diverse experience as a player and coach,” Toronto GM Jason Hernández said in a statement. “As a person he embodies our club’s values ​​at the highest level and as a manager we are confident in his ability to succeed in the sport.

“Robin’s dedication to winning has brought him trophies in both the Eastern and Western Conferences and we look forward to the work ahead to build TFC into the annual contender our ownership and supporters deserve.”

Hernández played two seasons (2017-18) under Frazier in Toronto.

Frazier, 58, who is under contract through the 2027 season, becomes TFC’s 15th head coach.

Friday’s announcement comes nearly 10 years to the day Frazier first joined Toronto (January 7, 2015).

TFC, which finished 11th in the Eastern Conference at 11-19-4 and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season, has been without a coach since John Herdman resigned on Nov. 29 after just over a season at the helm.

In hiring Fraser, a close friend and confidant of Barney who led the Los Angeles Galaxy to the MLS Cup in December, TFC are clearly hoping he can help revive the club’s former identity as a winner.

“Rebuilding this club with MLS experience, TFC pedigree and championship pedigree provides unique strengths to the team,” MLSE coach Keith Pelley said in a letter to Toronto season ticket holders on Friday. “With Robin as manager, TFC’s leadership structure is well-positioned for the club’s ‘glory hunt’ going forward.”

Last October, Pelly promised a “complete rebuild”, saying the club had lost its way and identity.

Fraser is also known for his work with young players, an area where TFC has had mixed results recently.

Nonetheless, he has his work cut out for him in a franchise that has been struggling since he was last part of the organization.

Since last reaching the playoffs in 2020, when the club fell at its first postseason hurdle, Toronto has posted a 30-75-31 record in MLS play and finished 26th, 27th, 29th and 22nd in the Supporters’ Shield standings.

TFC ranked 22nd in defense last season, giving up 1.79 goals per game. And despite being tied for 25th in the league in scoring (averaging 1.18 goals per game), Toronto decided not to re-sign leading scorer Prince Owusu (nine goals).

There are question marks over the future of expensive Italian star Lorenzo Insigne as the players submit their medical reports at the weekend. And Toronto probably needs help at every position except goalie.

“We have to improve everywhere,” captain Jonathan Osorio said at MLS media day in Miami on Thursday. “It’s as simple as that.”

Outside of the MLS SuperDraft, the only offseason addition was Brazilian winger Thiago Andrade, acquired from New York City FC via San Diego FC in a draft day deal. The 24-year-old has spent the last two seasons on loan. He was first loaned out to Athletico Paranaense in Brazil and then to Shenzhen Peng City FC in China last season.

Frazier began his professional career in the United States Soccer League with the Colorado Foxes before joining MLS for its inaugural season in 1996. After being selected fourth in the 1996 MLS Draft, he played for the Los Angeles Galaxy (1996-2000), Colorado Rapids (2001-03), and Columbus Crew (2004-05).

As a player, Fraser won the Supporters’ Shield twice and the CONCACAF Champions Cup. A five-time MLS All-Star, he was twice named MLS Defender of the Year.

In December 2010, Fraser was named one of the 25 greatest LS players of all time by a panel of approximately 200 MLS experts (former Toronto FC players Dwayne De Rosario and Sebastian Giovinco were also included on the list).

On the international stage, Frazier played in 27 games for the U.S. men’s national team.

In introducing Frazier as Colorado coach in 2019, then-GM (now president) Padraig Smith called Frazier “one of the most decorated figures in the history of MLS soccer.”

A deep connection with Vanney

Frasier and Barney have a deep connection.

Vanney, Fraser and Dan Calichman, another former TFC assistant coach who is now part of Vanney’s staff in LA, all followed Calichman as skipper, with Vanney captaining the Galaxy alongside Fraser after wearing the armband after Fraser in the absence of Cobi Jones. Yes. Fraser and Barney played on the same Galaxy backline in the 1996 and 1999 MLS Cup.

Frazier was the head coach at the now-defunct Chivas USA (2011-2012) and had Vanney on his coaching staff. Before joining Toronto in 2015, Frazier also served as an assistant coach with Real Salt Lake (2007-2010) and New York Red Bulls (2013-2014).

His record at the helm of Colorado was 47-48-34, including first place in the Western Conference (club-record 61 points) in 2021, when he was runner-up for MLS Coach of the Year.

Fraser won MLS Cups as an assistant coach with Real Salt Lake (2009) and Toronto (2017).

Toronto’s hiring makes the Vancouver Whitecaps the only MLS team capable of filling a coaching vacancy.