Whether you’ve been watching since 2017 or 2007, one has to admit it has been a wild ride seeing Toronto FC get the recognition and attention it deserves in the MLS and in football talk across the country. Players of recent years have become household names worthy of living room framing and online fandom worship; from Seba the ever-return-rumored atomic ant to Jozy the lab cook, from Pozuelo and his panenkas to Michael Bradley and his consistent captain-like leadership on and off the pitch.

We made history in the last few years with our treble win, but what about the history before then?

In 2007, we played our first regular season at BMO Field, becoming runner up for the Carolina Challenge Cup (thanks to a 2-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo) and garnering the third highest attendance average that year vs. #1 LAG and #2 D.C.

Here are 5 starting season players who helped to lay the foundation for what our club would become, and where they are now.

Maurice Edu

Our second-best goal scorer of that season (3 in 25 appearances), Defensive Midfielder Maurice (middle) had won Rookie of the Year during his time with Toronto FC. In mid-August of 2018, he signed a 5-year contract with the Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.

By 2012, he’d signed with Premier League’s Stoke City on a 3-year but only made one single appearance as an 80th substitute. Edu had also made appearances for Bursaspor, Philaedelphia Union, Bethlehem Steel and USMNT.

In March of 2019, he announced his retirement from playing football and transitioned to a life of TV soccer analysis.

Srdjan Djekanović

Hailing from Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Goalkeeper Srdjan had joined Toronto FC after winning the USL First Division Championship with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2006. He left with a team best goals against average of 1.28 and returned to the Whitecaps, winning a national championship. By 2009, he was signed to the Montreal Impact, the first player to sign to all 3 Canadian teams. Montreal won the USL First Division Championship that year.

Today, he can be found in British Columbia teaching and acting as Head Coach for teams under Surrey United.

Jim Brennan

Defender Jimmy Brennan returned to his hometown of Toronto in 2006 from Southampton to become the first player AND captain signed to Toronto FC, as well as their first Canadian goal scorer. Known as their Iron Man for playing with severe injury, he went on to represent MLS at the 2008 All-Star Game right at BMO Field vs. West Ham United, with the MLS squad winning 3-2.

Jimmy retired from playing the pitch in 2010, becoming Toronto FC’s Assistant General Manager.

Today, you can spot Jimmy pitchside at York Lions Stadium as Head Coach of York9 FC.

Carl Robinson

Wales’ own Carl Robinson had made his way from Norwich City to Toronto FC after being signed during a loan to NC from Sunderland. The Midfielder was voted MVP in his first and second year with TFC, remaining on the squad until 2010 when he was traded to the New York Red Bulls. His first goal with NYRB turned out to be vs. Toronto FC right at BMO Field with his former team becoming defeated 4-1.

By 2012, Robinson retired and went on to coach the Vancouver Whitecaps until 2018. He’s since hinted at wanting to continue coaching but has also noted enjoying his much-needed break as he spends what was missed time with his now teenaged children.

Danny Dichio



Can you really make a list like this and not include Danny Dichio? (No)

The name you hear sung about at 23:13 every home match at BMO, London, England’s Danny Dichio scored Toronto FC’s first goal ever in May of 2007, and attained their first red card ever later during the same match. He was our top goal scorer of the season, appeared in both the Canadian Championship and the CONCACAF Champions league during his time with Toronto and ended his playing career with the team in 2009, the same year he became a permanent Canadian resident.

Danny now spends his time coaching at the Toronto FC Academy and talking football on Footy Prime: The Podcast.



He’s got no hair, but we don’t care. He’s Danny Dichio.

Photo Credits: MLSE, Wiki, Toronto FC via Getty, Wiki and MLS Soccer via Reuters.

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Casey Wolfgang Copywriter, photographer, bookworm and consumer of far too much pasta; Casey is a nursing school dropout turned marketing grad with current/previous roles and learning experiences including, but not limited to, motorcycle marketing and events with Harley-Davidson, sports entertainment with the Ontario Hockey League, merching/publicity/photographic projects in the Canadian music industry and agency-level copywriting for major local, national and international brands. Catch her at a local football match, camera in hand, or most often on Twitter.

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