TORONTO—Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney called it a calculated risk to trade for Eriq Zavaleta, and if anybody should know, it’s him.

That risk is starting to pay off for TFC, as Zavaleta has moved up the depth chart and emerged as a reliable starter this season—after patiently waiting for his chance—and has forged what looks to be a promising partnership with Drew Moor in the centre of defence.

Why was it a risk for TFC to acquire Zavaleta in a trade with the Seattle Sounders last January for a second-round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft?

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Well, for starters, Zavaleta, who turns 24 next week, didn’t play much in Seattle after being drafted in 2013, and twice went out on loan to the now-defunct Chivas USA and the San Antonio Scorpions of the second-tier NASL. Second, there were questions as to what exactly was his best position after he enjoyed a standout NCAA career as a forward, helping Indiana win a national title in 2012

But Vanney, who also just happens to be Zavaleta’s uncle, had inside information that others didn’t—he saw his nephew play in defence as a kid—and firmly believed the youngster had a future as a defender in Major League Soccer.

“I think he came into the league with people not quite sure is he a forward or a centre back,” Vanney said. “Obviously, I knew him before [Indiana] and knew him as centre back. I always thought [he had the] ability to read the game and deal with players who are short and quick, deal with players who are big and strong; he was always able to make that adjustment.”

Zavaleta floated in and out of the line-up last year, playing in 18 games (11 as a starter) in his debut campaign for the Reds. He’s only made six appearances (six as a starter) through the first 20 games of the current campaign. But he’s firmly established himself as a starter over the last month, and the Reds had enough faith in him to the point where they parted ways with veteran centre back Damien Perquis.

After biding his time for chance to prove himself and earning his starting role, Zavaleta doesn’t plan on relinquishing it any time soon. As far as he’s concerned, it’s his job.

“Especially with how deep we are [in central defence] you really had to earn it. I got my chance in the Canadian Cup and we obviously had a really good run there. It’s been my job to lose this spot since,” Zavaleta said. “Drew and I will continue to build on the relationship we have, and if we continue to concede few goals I think it’ll be mine down the stretch.”

How did he leapfrog over the more experienced Perquis and Josh Williams in the pecking order to become a starter? One word: Consistency.

“I think consistency is the key to being a good centre back in any league,” Vanney enthused. “Consistency, specifically in his defensive reads and making good decision for himself and for the group, and I think he’s proven over this stretch in one-on-one situations he’s probably as good as anyone in the league.

“Between him and Drew, they see things pretty similarly over the course of the game, and their reading of each other is good.”

Zavaleta credits Moor, a veteran who is playing in his 13th MLS season, for helping him along the way.

“He’s a guy who knows the league… He’s a guy who knows the game and knows the position really well. He’s helped me in raining sessions; helping me on weaknesses that I need to work on, but also in games [by] talking me through my positioning,” Zavaleta said.

There’s also a mutual admiration between the two, with the veteran Moor thinking of the youngster as an equal, another reason why the partnership has looked so sound.

“What I like a lot about Drew is that he has respect for me as well, and he’ll listen to me. Some [veteran] guys don’t necessarily do that,” Zavaleta said.

Curiously, Moor said he learned that from Vanney when the two played together briefly in Dallas.

“When you work as a defender, it’s not about you and it’s not about me,” Vanney said. “For me when I was the veteran centre back and Drew was young and Clarence Goodson was young, for me it was ‘This is what I see in the situation; what do you guys see?’ We made sure to read things together.”

He later added: “[Being a centre back] requires humility, and open-mindedness and communication… Collaboration is the key to having a good team. It’s not a dictatorship.”

And lest you think there’s any nepotism at play, both uncle and nephew go to great lengths to keep it professional between them at all times.

“To be honest with you, I have more conversations with the other coaches than I do with Greg,” Zavaleta admitted. “Many guys wouldn’t even know [he was my uncle] if they saw it. We do a good job of maintaining a good relationship, as coach to player.”

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