Toronto FC forward Danny Koevermans (left) and Real Salt Lake defender Aaron Maund battle for the ball during first half MLS action in Toronto on Saturday June 29, 2013. Koevermans has Dec. 14 circled on his calendar. That's when the big forward takes his family back to the Netherlands. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO - Danny Koevermans has Dec. 14 circled on his calendar. That's when the big forward takes his family back to the Netherlands.

Koevermans doesn't want to go. In fact he desperately wants to stay at Toronto FC to take care of unfinished business.

"I owe the franchise something. I owe the fans something," he said emotionally. "But it just didn't work out the way I wanted."

The die has been cast. Let down by his left leg, the star striker is history here.

After working 11 months to return from knee surgery, Koevermans has managed to play just 78 minutes this season.

The knee has been fine. But he has been betrayed by a recurring calf injury.

"It's not been what I've expected," he said.

The bottom line for No. 14 in two-and-a-half seasons in Toronto?

Seventeen goals on 43 shots on goal. He played in just 30 MLS games (22 starts) at a cost of something north of US$4 million.

The team's record when he played was 7-12-11.

And no one feels worse about it than Koevermans, who has said little publicly in recent weeks.

In an extensive interview this week with The Canadian Press, a classy Koevermans was alternately proud, sad, happy and full of regret in discussing his time with Toronto.

He hopes to play one more year in the Netherlands, keeping his fingers crossed that his body doesn't break down again.

He knows time is against him. While he looks lean and buff, he turns 35 on Nov. 1.

The injuries have been tearing him up. After yet another injury breakdown, he turned off his phone and left the training ground.

"I was a mess," he said.

Despite being "abandoned" by his left calf muscle, he has since tried to find some inner peace.

"What can I do. I've done everything to come back — here," he said.

On the record, club officials say all the right things about Koevermans' valiant efforts to return. But they have moved on.

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Koevermans, along with former German international Torsten Frings, was introduced June 29, 2011, by Toronto FC.

"A massive step,'' Paul Mariner, then Toronto's director of player development, said at the time.

Due to red tape, the two new designated players had to wait until July 20 to make their debut in a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas at BMO Field.

Twenty-seven months later, only Koevermans, defender Doneil Henry and goalie Stefan Frei remain from Toronto's 18-man matchday squad that day. And Frei, whose contract is expiring like Koevermans', is also headed out the Toronto door.

Frings, Danleigh Borman, Dan Gargan, Ty Harden, Andy Iro, Milos Kocic, Joao Plata, Ryan Johnson, Maicon Santos, Nick Soolsma, Matt Stinson, Nathan Sturgis, Eddy Viator, Mikael Yourassowsky and Gianluca Zavarise have all moved on.

Koevermans initially said no when then-manager Aron Winter approached him in January 2011 about coming to MLS. A young Koevermans had played with Winter, then an aging star, a decade previously at Sparta Rotterdam.

Winter called again in May, at the end of his season. Koevermans thought he had a deal with a club in Europe but it fell through. So he said yes to MLS.

"Basically within nine days, it was done," he recalled.

The contract was so lucrative even Koevermans was surprised when he finally saw it. It allowed him to hold onto the house he owned in the Netherlands, the home he is now returning to.

Koevermans didn't even know what a designated player was until he heard he was one at the introductory news conference.

While their relationship cooled in the wake of Winter's firing in 2012, Koevermans remains grateful to his fellow Dutchman for bringing him to Toronto.

The striker also makes a point of thanking former assistant coach Bob de Klerk, (then MLSE COO) Tom Anselmi and Mariner, who followed Winter as coach. And he is quick to thank Toronto's training staff of Carmelo Lobue, Shawn Jeffers, Marcelo Casal and Nick Milonas for all the hours they invested in him.

"We worked so many hours together. And in the end it just didn't work."

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Koevermans' job description in Toronto was simple from Day 1.

"I'm here to score goals," he said.

He potted eight in 10 games in his debut 2011 season, scoring goals from all angles and with every part of his body.

Rather than a artist who ranked each goal by beauty, Koevermans was a production-line scorer. Having scored one, he looked for another.

"I came here to prove something and to play soccer and to give this franchise something," he said. "And I started off great the first year. Awesome.

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