TORONTO FC SIGN TWO DESIGNATED PLAYERS
Toronto FC sign Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans
Toronto FC announced Wednesday that they have signed German international midfielder Torsten Frings and Dutch international forward Danny Koevermans as Designated Players. Both players, who have each signed multi-year contracts, will begin playing for Toronto FC after July 15 when Major League Soccer’s transfer window opens. As per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.
"We have added two very important players with significant experience and technical ability,” said Toronto FC Head Coach and Technical Director Aron Winter. “Torsten and Danny will make an immediate impact at our club. Signing Torsten and Danny is a very important step in building a team that our fans are proud to support.”
A native of Würselen, Germany, Frings, 34, has earned 79 caps for Germany in his career and has played in two World Cups including Germany’s run to the 2002 Finals. Frings also was part of Germany’s second place finish at Euro 2008. His club career spans 14 seasons in the German Bundesliga, starting and finishing at Werder Bremen along with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. His club career achievements include the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal (domestic cup) and the DFB-Ligapokal with Bayern Munich during the 2004-2005 season. At Werder Bremen, Frings was part of the 2007-2008 side that finished second in the Bundesliga and runners up in the 2009 UEFA Cup, and two DFB-Pokal’s and one DFB-Ligapokal.
Koevermans, 32, has spent the past 11 seasons in the Dutch Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie, most recently with PSV Eindhoven. The native of Schiedam, Netherlands, began his professional career in 2000 with Sparta Rotterdam scoring 71 goals in 110 appearances for the club. Following the 2005 campaign, he moved to AZ Alkmaar where he continued his scoring ways collecting 31 goals in 52 appearances. In 2007, he moved to PSV Eindhoven and has spent the past four seasons with the club. Koevermans has earned four caps for the Dutch National Team and scored the winning goal over Luxembourg during a 2008 Euro Cup qualifying match.
“Torsten and Danny are excellent leaders both on-and-off-the-pitch,” said Paul Mariner, Director of Player Development for Toronto FC. “We know our current roster and young Academy players will learn and benefit from their arrival in Toronto.”
Both players will be eligible to play their first match on Wednesday July 20 against FC Dallas.
Torsten Frings #22
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’11
Weight: 176 pds.
Birthdate: November 22, 1976
Birth Place/Hometown: Würselen, Germany
Nationality: German
Last Club: Werder Bremen
How Acquired: Signed on June 29, 2011
Pronunciation: “Tor-stin Frings”
Danny Koevermans #14
Position: Forward
Height: 6’3
Weight: 170 pds.
Birthdate: November 1, 1978
Birth Place/Hometown: Schiedam, Netherlands
Nationality: Dutch
Last Club: PSV Eindhoven
How Acquired: Signed on June 29, 2011
Pronunciation: “Koo-ver-mens”
Tyler Green says: I like the two DP signings from TFC. In Frings they get a hard working, ball winner and someone who will take up a leadership role. One has to wonder where it leaves Julian de Guzman though as he and Frings play in a similar role. Will he get traded or given a free role on the field or released? It'll be interesting to play out. As for Koevermans, I need to reserve judgement until I see him play. He has scored previously in Holland, but as we have seen with many DP's before him, scoring elsewhere doesn't necessarily mean he'll be able to score in Major League Soccer.
