

Posted by

Steve Bottjer ,

January 8, 2015 Email

Steve Bottjer

On Twitter:

@BottjerRNO

With Toronto FC officially announcing on Thursday that the club has hired Robin Fraser as an assistant coach, the Reds have made a much needed upgrade to the team’s coaching staff.



“We are very excited to have Robin on board. His experience in Major League Soccer and respect in our league will be of great benefit to Toronto FC,” said Toronto FC Head Coach Greg Vanney via press release. “Robin will be a great asset both on-and-off the field for our club.”



Fraser, 48, spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the New York Red Bulls and brings significant MLS experience as both a coach and player to Toronto FC. With the Red Bulls, Fraser was part of the club’s Supporters Shield winning side in 2013, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2014.



Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Fraser began his coaching career as the head coach of the RSL Arizona U-17 and Director of Coaching for the Arizona Futbol Club. In 2007, he was hired as an assistant coach with Real Salt Lake. In four seasons with RSL, Fraser was part of the club’s MLS Cup winning side (2009), MLS Supporter Shield Runners-Up (2010), and went on a then-record 29 home match unbeaten streak. Following a successful run at RSL, Fraser was named head coach of Chivas USA on January 4, 2011 and spent two seasons at the club.



Fraser began his professional playing career in 1989 with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers of the American Soccer League. He moved to the Colorado Foxes where he remained until joining Major League Soccer. Fraser was drafted fourth overall by the LA Galaxy in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. During his career in MLS, Fraser spent time with the Galaxy (1996-2000), Colorado Rapids (2001-03), and Columbus Crew (2004-05).



He was a two-time MLS Cup runner-up (1996, 1999), two-time Supporters Shield winner (1998, 2004), two-time Supporters Shield runner-up (1996, 1999), CONCACAF Champions Cup winner (2000), CONCACAF Champions Cup runner-up (1997), two-time Playoff Conference Champion (1996, 1999) and a four-time Regular Season Conference Champion (1996, 1998, 1999, 2004). Fraser was also a two-time MLS Defender of the Year (1999, 2004), named to the MLS Best XI five times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004), and was also a five-time MLS All-Star. In addition to a successful club career, Fraser also earned 27 caps for the United States national team.



While some Reds supporters are likely getting antsy as they look for Toronto to upgrade their team’s roster as ahead of the 2015 MLS season, the importance of the addition of an assistant coach with the pedigree of Fraser should not be understated.



Compare the CV and experience that Fraser brings to the Reds with the background of last year’s lead assistant coach Fran O'Leary and it is not a stretch to highlight the differences as night and day. Furthermore, one major criticism that Toronto FC were immediately faced with when they fired Ryan Nelsen and replaced him with Greg Vanney was that the team had essentially replaced one inexperienced head coach with another.



The experience and MLS background that Fraser will bring to the Reds should temper Vanney’s relative inexperience as a Head Coach somewhat. Lastly, Vanney and Fraser have a previous relationship and have worked together. Toronto FC supporters will likely hope that relationship will see the two MLS veterans function on the same page, which is something that has often been lacking with previous iterations of the team’s leadership structures.