With former Toronto FC captain Torsten Frings retiring before the season, central defender Darren O’Dea will take on a bigger leadership role.

The 26-year-old Irish international, who signed with TFC last Aug. 3, recently sat down with the Star. Here’s an edited version of the conversation.

Q: What’s been the biggest adjustment to Toronto?

A: “Just moving your family (wife and young daughter) is the toughest thing. My family’s all based in Ireland and my wife’s family is all based in Scotland, so moving was very tough, especially when you have children involved. But I couldn’t ask for a nicer city to move to and hopefully I can build a bigger family here.”

Q: What’s been the biggest adjustment to Major League Soccer?

A: “To be honest with you, it’s quite similar to the Championship in England. It’s a very fast-paced league and there’s some obviously very talented players and some very physically strong players. I haven’t struggled too much to adapt to it.

Q: What about the grind of the travel?

A: “Again, time will tell. We’re looked after so well that it’s a small part of it, a sacrifice maybe when you’re away from your family for days and weeks at a time. But I think there’s no better job. I’ve grown up a football fan my whole life, so to be able to play I don’t really complain too much about it. Travelling, you’re going to places like New York, L.A., Seattle, Portland, places I’d have never seen or had the opportunity to see. So, I embrace it rather than find it a problem.”

Q: After all the off-season changes, how is the side coming together?

A: It’s been tough because it’s not just the playing staff, it’s the backroom staff, everything has kind of changed. But the people who have come in know exactly what they want to do with the club and they’ve got a way.

I think it’s very important that the club gets that now, everyone pulling in the same direction. And, if you’re not pulling in the same direction, you leave. It’s as simple as that.

I think the people at the top, and right the way filtered through, are all on the same page. Now it’s up to the players to put their ideas onto the pitch, and I think their ideas will make this a successful club.

Q: After conceding a club record number of goals last year, do you feel a rapport is being developed with Danny Califf and others on the backline?

A: Yes. That’s one of the most important things in pre-season. There’s obviously the fitness part but also to gel the team together. It certainly has done. We’ve got a good bunch of lads that want to play for each other and help each other out when things go wrong.

Certainly Danny’s at the front of the cue for that. He’s a leader and obviously a very good player as well. But young Gale (Agbossoumonde) has come in as well and been fantastic. He’s really pushing. Everyone had him earmarked as a sub and a backup, but the way he’s played and trained, he may merit a start as well.

It’s good to have that competition. With the manager, no stone is left unturned with him. He knows exactly the way we want to defend and we’ve improved dramatically since he’s come in but we need to keep improving.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Q: Last year, you were coached by a renowned striker (Paul Mariner) and this year you’re coached by renowned central defender (Ryan Nelsen). Do you see a difference in their approach to the game?

A: You get different types. But certainly Paul was a fantastic manager, and players wanted to play and work for him, and it’s easier said than done to bring that quality out of players. “The new manager is more into the tactical side of the game. Everyone’s embraced it. There’s no way you can’t because he’s played at the top level until only a few weeks ago, so everything he says is right, basically, and there’s no doubting it. It’s been fantastic. Especially for me, as a defender, to learn off somebody like that is going to be brilliant.”

Q: You were critical last year of the team’s lack of mental toughness, especially at the critical time in matches. Do you have a sense of whether that’s improved?

A: I’ve been involved in football a long time. When things are going right, it’s the easiest thing in the world to be patting each other on the back and be all upbeat. But it’s when things go wrong, and that might just be a five- or 10-minute spell in a game, or the last 10 minutes of a game when you need to dig in. That’s when you find out who’s really tough and who’s strong in their head.

And, yeah, I maybe spoke a little bit too much last year. That’s something else I’ll have to get used to, having the press in the dressing room straight after the game.

But, certainly we weren’t mentally tough and that’s shown. I’m not too into statistics, but conceding as many goals in the last 15 minutes of games as we did is not ability, because I’ve seen the ability of the players. It’s a mental toughness. Certainly, we’ve addressed that. And the manager’s addressed that and won’t accept anything less, which is fantastic.

Q: With the departure of Torsten Frings, you, among others, are obviously going to be asked to take on more of a leadership role. Is that something you’re prepared to do?

A: Whether I have an armband on or not, I don’t think I’d change. I’m naturally loud, I like to speak and organize. It’s obviously a fantastic honour to be captain of any club, and especially a club like this. But, I’ll not play any differently or act any differently. There are plenty of leaders in our dressing room now, and that’s important because it’s not going to be down to one person. I’m young. I still need to learn, and it’s fantastic I have people like the manager here now, and Danny Califf.

Q: What will you consider a successful season?

A: It’s hard to put your finger on it. I’ve thought about it myself. I was always taught as a kid if you can look back at the end of the year and say I’ve improved, I suppose you could maybe say that’s a successful season.

I think you can talk about playoffs but, truthfully, it’s going to be a long season. There’s no point in talking about the end just yet. It’s a new team and where we can go is down to ourselves and how hard we want to work.

At the minute, everything looks positive. I think if we can look back at the end of the season and say the club is further forward, that’ll be a successful season.

Q: Any message to the fans about the year ahead?

A: Believe me, this is one of the better clubs for support and loyalty to the club. I’ve been at Celtic, where the fans are incredible, but they demand success instantly and if they don’t get it, you know about it. I’ve dealt with the pressures of fans and here it’s been fantastic. It’s a fantastic city with lovely people and loyal supporters. You can’t just keep asking fans to give and keep coming and paying their hard-earned money. We need to start performing.