Owen Hargreaves - Fitness Videos

Lots of rumours about Owen Hargreaves coming back to Canada to play in Major League Soccer can be found. We even posted some stories last week. And with Toronto FC signing two more designated players, and having three, it all but rules out TFC being a potential landing spot. So perhaps Vancouver could be the final destination. A lot of people have questioned whether or not he will be able to play in MLS and whether he is even fit enough. Well, he's answered those questions with the brand new Owen Hargreaves fitness videos. If he's not trying to get in shape for another season of soccer, prhaps he has a career in the fitness video industry. Below are some fine examples of his work.

If you can't get enough of the training sessions... you can find more by clicking here. It's his own personal YouTube page.

Frings and Koevermans sign with TFC

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.

Owen Hargreaves Potential Move to MLS

According to a report in the Daily Mail in the UK, Owen Hargreaves is reportedly being offered a chance to resurrect his career in North America with Toronto FC.

The report indicates that TFC is willing to offer the former Manchester United midfielder a contract and 30 year old is said to be weighing his options.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC have also reportedly shown interest but neither the ‘caps or the Toronto FC have commented publicly.

Newly promoted English Premier League side Queens Park Rangers are also said to be interested in the services of the Calgary born, English international, but in a “if the midfielder will entertain a pay-as-you-play deal.”

If Hargreaves does move to a Canadian MLS side, it could spark controversy with some of the most loyal supporters since Hargreaves decided not to play for Canada's national team, instead opting for England National team.

Whitecaps FC-Toronto FC Season Opener on TSN is the Most-Watched MLS Game Ever on Canadian television

Toronto, ON (March 21, 2011) – TSN scores a record audience in its inaugural game as the official broadcaster of Major League Soccer in Canada. The highly-anticipated Vancouver Whitecaps FC–Toronto FC season opening game on Saturday attracted an average audience of 289,000 viewers on TSN – making it the most watched MLS game ever on Canadian television.

The audience for the first-ever meeting between two Canadian MLS teams surpassed the previous MLS audience high set for a Toronto FC-Columbus Crew game in 2009 (261,000 viewers).

TSN’s audience for the historic game on Saturday was 53% higher than the Toronto FC’s broadcast debut on conventional television last season (April 25, 2010).

Overall, close to 1.4 million unique viewers tuned in at some point to TSN’s MLS coverage on a highly competitive day in sports broadcasting.

Playing in their first-ever MLS match, the Whitecaps FC defeated their Canadian rivals 4-2 in an entertaining game in front of a sold-out crowd at Empire Field in Vancouver.

TSN’s MLS coverage was led by play-by-play commentator Luke Wileman and colour analyst Jason deVos.

MLS ON TSN coverage continues with the Toronto FC home opener against the Portland Timbers on Saturday, March 26 at 1:30 p.m. ET live on TSN.

In total, TSN and TSN2 will broadcast 24 MLS regular season matches this year featuring Toronto FC and/or Vancouver Whitecaps FC, plus an additional 25 games showcasing non-Canadian clubs. TSN is also the official Canadian broadcaster of the MLS ALL-STAR GAME, MLS CUP playoff games and the highly-anticipated MLS CUP.

TORONTO FC BEATS RED STAR BELGRADE 1-0

Matt Stinson scored the only goal of the game as Toronto FC won 1-0 against Red Star Belgrade of Serbia in preseason action on Sunday. The TFC Academy midfielder’s 41st minute strike earned the Reds their first win of 2011 in the second game of their training camp in Antalya, Turkey.

“It was a good game against strong opponents,” said Toronto FC Head Coach and Technical Director Aron Winter. “I am satisfied because the players did everything that we asked of them and we are getting better with each game.”

“We want to play good football and keep the ball. We have to keep working on some things but we are only a week into training camp. We have another five weeks until our first game and I am sure we will be ready,” explained Winter.

Toronto FC opened training camp with a 1-1 tie against Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday, February 2. The Reds will play the final match of their training camp in Turkey on Thursday, February 10 against Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia.

Team Notes:

Ahead of the match, Toronto FC added two new trialists to their training camp roster, 32-year-old Dutch midfielder Elbekay Bouchiba and English defender Chris Hunter. Bouchiba was named in the starting lineup against Red Star Belgrade along with fellow trialists David Monsalve, Nick Soolsma and Javier Martina.

Toronto changed all 11 players for the second half and introduced four more trialists including Hunter. King Osei Gyan, Bas Ent and Gianluca Zavarise also came into the game.

Toronto captain Dwayne De Rosario was not available for the match as he left training camp Sunday to join up with Canada’s Men’s National Team ahead of their international friendly in Greece on Wednesday, February 9. Toronto defender Adrian Cann was a late call-up to Canada’s squad and will travel to Greece on Monday.

Scoring Summary:

Toronto FC: 41’ Matt Stinson

Red Star Belgrade: -

Toronto FC first half lineup:  David Monsalve, Demitrius Omphroy, Adrian Cann, Nana Attakora, Ashtone Morgan, Matt Stinson, Elbekay Bouchiba, Oscar Cordon, Nick Soolsma, Maicon Santos, Javier Martina

Toronto FC second half lineup: Milos Kocic, Dan Gargan, Ty Harden, Doneil Henry, Chris Hunter, Matt Gold, King Osei Gyan, Gianluca Zavarise, Bas Ent, Keith Makubuya, Joao Plata

TORONTO FC SELECTS FOUR AT MLS SUPERDRAFT AS CONWAY DEPARTS

Toronto FC selected four players at the 2011 MLS SuperDraft in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday. The team also traded veteran goalkeeper Jon Conway to Chicago Fire in exchange for a Third Round pick (49th overall).

With their first pick Toronto FC selected defender Demitrius Omphroy from the University of California in the Second Round, 26th overall.

Omphroy, 21, played in 70 games during his four seasons at California, scoring four goals and registering 12 assists. “I want quality defenders and that’s why I took him”, said Toronto FC Head Coach and Technical Director Aron Winter. “He is one of the players that I saw at the MLS Combine and he was on my ranking list so I am happy to get him.”

Joining Omphroy are Matt Gold (43rd overall), Junior Burgos (44th overall), and Joao Plata (49th overall). Gold is a 22 year old defender from Ohio State University who appeared in 87 games during his career with the Buckeyes. Burgos, 22, is a midfielder from California Polytechnic Institute, San Luis Obispo. He is a dual citizen of the United States and El Salvador and has been called up to the El Salvador National Team on three occasions, making one appearance against Peru in 2009. Joao Plata, 18, hails from Ecuador where he played for LDU Quito. In 2010 he appeared for the club’s First Team, Reserves and Under 18 team.

“We are very pleased with what we got today,” said Toronto FC Director of Player Development Paul Mariner. “We’ve done background checks on the character of the players and we’re hopeful they will respond very well.”

To acquire the 49th pick in the SuperDraft, Toronto traded Jon Conway to Chicago. The 33-year-old goalkeeper joined Toronto FC ahead of the 2010 MLS season and made his debut for the club against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship last May. Conway made one MLS appearance for Toronto, starting the final home game of the 2010 season against Columbus Crew.

Toronto FC 2011 MLS SuperDraft Selections

Demitrius Omphroy

Position: Defender

D.O.B.: May 30, 1989

Hometown: Alameda, California

Height: 5-10

Weight: 165

College: University of California

Citizenship: USA

Acquired: Selected by Toronto FC in the second round (26th overall) of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft

Matt Gold

Position: Midfielder

D.O.B.: June 14, 1988

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

Height: 5-9

Weight: 165

College: Ohio State University 

Citizenship: USA

Acquired: Selected by Toronto FC in the third round (43rd overall) of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft

Junior Burgos

Position: Midfielder

D.O.B.: August 14, 1988

Hometown: San Bruno, California

Height: 5-11

Weight: 167

College: California Polytechnic Institute, San Luis Obispo

Citizenship: El Salvador/USA

Acquired: Selected by Toronto FC in the third round (44th overall) of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft

Joao Plata

Position: Forward

D.O.B.: March 1, 1992

Hometown: Guayaquil, Ecuador

Height: 5-2

Weight: 140

College: LDU Quito (Ecuador) 

Citizenship: Ecuador

Acquired: Selected by Toronto FC in the third round (49th overall) of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft

TORONTO FC PREPARES FOR MLS SUPERDRAFT

Toronto FC Head Coach and Technical Director Aron Winter and his new management team will have the opportunity to add to their roster this week with the club currently holding three picks in the 2011 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

The MLS SuperDraft will take place on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at the Baltimore Convention Centre in Baltimore, Maryland. The draft is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. ET and the First Round will be broadcast live on GOLTV Canada and ESPN 2. The remainder of the event can be followed on the league’s official website, MLSSoccer.com.

Currently, Toronto FC has three picks in this year’s SuperDraft with the first pick coming in the Second Round, 26th overall. That is followed by two selections in the Third Round, 43rd overall and 44th overall.

Ahead of the MLS SuperDraft, Toronto FC’s management team spent the week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the MLS Player Combine. The annual combine featured over 70 prospects that will be available for selection in the SuperDraft.

“We are looking for players that we need for the way I want to play soccer, said Winter. “All of the players at the Combine have qualities, but the most important thing is if they are players that fit into our system.”

Following the SuperDraft, Toronto FC will begin preparing for a busy preseason schedule that starts with a training camp in Antalya, Turkey later this month.

During their time in Turkey, Toronto will play matches against top European opposition. They will kick off against Serbian side and 2010 UEFA Champions League Group Stage participant Partizan Belgrade on February 2nd and will also play Dynamo Zagreb of Croatia on February 10th.

The team’s preseason schedule will also include time in Florida and then South Carolina, where they will participate in the Carolina Challenge Cup against the host Charleston Battery, Chicago Fire, and D.C. United.

Toronto FC will open the 2011 Major League Soccer season on the road against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on March 19, 2011 at Empire Field.

Toronto FC's Nicholas Lindsay set for surgery

Toronto FC winger Nicholas Lindsay will undergo surgery on Wednesday after suffering a serious knee injury during the offseason.

Lindsay, 18, will require two different surgical procedures over the next few months and is expected to miss the 2011 season. The second surgery is set to take place in four to six months and it is hoped he will then recover in time for the 2012 season.

“Nicholas made huge strides in the short time he has been with the team and has a bright future ahead of him,” said Earl Cochrane, Toronto FC Director of Team and Player Operations. “We will support him with everything he needs to make a full recovery.”

Lindsay became the second Toronto FC Academy player to graduate to the senior team when he signed his first professional contract on September 15, 2010. He made his Major League Soccer debut on October 2, 2010 against Seattle Sounders F.C. and assisted on one of the team’s goals in the 3-2 defeat. He went on to make a total of four league appearances and register three assists.

Meanwhile, Toronto FC midfielder Julian de Guzman continues to recover from a routine operation to repair his meniscus that took place at the end of the 2010 season. He will be assessed by the medical team when he returns for preseason but is expected to be able to take part in training camp.

Toronto FC Announce New Management Team

Toronto FC announced Thursday that Aron Winter (pron. A-ron Vinter) has been named the club’s new Head Coach and Technical Director. Paul Mariner joins the team as Director of Player Development.

“We have been working over the past few months to build an integrated soccer system that will give us the best opportunity to succeed on the pitch,” said Tom Anselmi, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. “We wanted to establish a management team that is committed to the way the club wants to play, has an international perspective, knows Major League Soccer and believes in the potential of Toronto FC.”

“Aron will oversee our entire soccer operation and set the soccer direction of Toronto FC. Paul will be responsible for our club’s scouting, player acquisition, player development and our Academy,” added Anselmi.

Winter, 43, brings a wealth of international experience to Toronto as both a player and coach. He made 84 international appearances for the Netherlands and played in three FIFA World Cups and four European Championships. He started and ended his playing career in Amsterdam with Ajax (pron. I-axe) and also played in Italy for Lazio and Inter Milan, making over 400 career club appearances.

After announcing his retirement in 2003, Winter stayed with Ajax to begin his coaching career where he has worked with the club’s Academy and also as an assistant coach with the first team over the last seven years.

“I am extremely excited by the opportunity that has been given to me to lead Toronto FC,” said Winter. “The vision of this club matches my beliefs about how the game should be played, and I look forward to building a team that is capable of delivering long term success on and off the pitch.”

Mariner, 57, returns to Major League Soccer after 15 months coaching with Plymouth Argyle in England. He was hired by New England Revolution in 2004 as Assistant Coach and spent six seasons with the club, reaching the MLS Cup three consecutive years. The Revolution qualified for the MLS Playoffs in each of Mariner’s seasons with the team.

As a player, Mariner represented England at the 1982 FIFA World Cup and 1980 European Championship. He played over 500 games for Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town, Arsenal and Portsmouth.

Bob de Klerk joins Winter and Mariner as part of Toronto FC’s new management team in the role of First Assistant Coach. de Klerk worked alongside Winter at Ajax where he was a coach in the Dutch club’s world renowned youth academy.

After a spell as Interim General Manager, Earl Cochrane has been named Toronto FC’s Director of Team and Player Operations. Stuart Neely steps up to become Director of Toronto FC’s Academy. Jim Brennan, Nick Dasovic, Mike Toshack, Danny Dichio and Jason Bent will remain with the club. “We want to thank the existing team staff for their hard work and dedication to Toronto FC over the last few months,” said Anselmi. “This new structure gives on-going opportunities for them to play a big role in the future of the club.”


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