TORONTO

The first 18 months of ex-MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke’s time in charge of Toronto FC was an unmitigated disaster.

Despite dropping untold sums of cash on Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe entering 2014, the Reds finished outside the MLS playoffs for the eighth season in a row.

It was announced shortly thereafter the Toronto Argonauts would be calling BMO Field home — a decision that saw a faction of TFC supporters turn against a man they’d later credit with turning their team into a model club.

“Even in our darkest moment, (the fans) would politely tell me I sucked,” Leiweke told the Toronto Sun this week from his home in Vail, Colo.

Then he laughed, adding: “They were very kind in how they expressed disappointment in the team.”

Then came the start of the 2015 season: The Reds were a disappointing 3-5-1.

A supporters group had organized a “blackout” to mourn a perceived loss of their stadium to a beleaguered CFL team.

Nobody was happy.

Two years later, Leiweke likely cracked a smile as he walked his dogs Tuesday afternoon in the Rockies, where he told the Sun he was trying keep his smallest pet from being “eaten by coyotes” as he reflected back on his time in Toronto.

“My favourite line I hear now (when I’m in Toronto): ‘You’re not as crazy as I thought you were,’” Leiweke said.

The same man who once called TFC’s spending spree — for a stadium, players and staff — “financial suicide” knows years later the Reds are reaping the rewards.

“What TFC has done hasn’t just changed the image of a club,” Leiweke explained. “It changed the image of an entire organization people thought was incapable or unwanting to win ... I always thought the soccer team would help set the culture for the other teams.”

It’s why Leiweke remains slightly amused when he reflects back on those who denigrated MLSE for the dump truck full of cash it emptied at Michael Bradley’s feet.

In other words, he was right. They were wrong. The standings don’t lie at this point in the season.

“What they didn’t get is that Michael is a fierce competitor and a character guy — probably the most character athlete I’ve ever been around,” Leiweke said of TFC’s captain.

“We understood we needed a guy that would imprint his character on the culture of the organization. You have to have one of those ... He’s the guy who makes everyone keep a work ethic.”

He’s also one of just two starters (Justin Morrow) who remain from 2014, when the Reds began their transition to becoming one of the best teams in MLS history, a side chasing Leiweke’s 2011 L.A. Galaxy.

If TFC wins four of its final seven regular-season games this season it will finish with a record 68 points — one more than the Galaxy finished with during an equivalent 34-game schedule six years ago.

“That Galaxy team was built in kind of the same way,” Leiweke said. “There are a huge amount of comparables between (ex-Galaxy coach) Bruce Arena and Greg Vanney ... That team was built around a core nucleus.”

Which brings us to general manager Tim Bezbatchenko, the 30-something-year-old “Soccer Wonk” Leiweke hired three years ago with the idea he’d fix a TFC salary-cap situation that was nothing short of a disaster.

“There were some around the league that kind of agreed with what we were doing but there were some who disagreed and thought (Tim) was too young and inexperienced,” Leiweke said, adding MLSE talked to other potential GM candidates.

“Larry (Tannenbaum) understood it. He knew we were finding a genius when it came to managing the cap. We knew how to get DPs. Tim was brilliant at putting together a roster and using the resources available. (President Bill Manning) has been a good influence and a good balance.”

Supporter “blackouts” have since turned to, well, red-outs at BMO Field.

The Reds are attracting near capacity crowds every other weekend to a venue many believed would be far too big for MLS after capacity expanded to 30,000 seats two seasons ago.

“It’s a phenomenal sports market,” Leiweke added. “I’m not sure there’s a better sports market right now in North America.

“Raptors: Sold out. Leafs: Sold out. Toronto FC is pretty much sold out. It’s pretty amazing and says a lot about that city.”

But what’s missing is a title — something Leiweke says could come down to the overwhelming support TFC is bound to get come playoff time.

“The pressure is on TFC now, but MLS playoffs are a funny place,” Leiweke said. “Toronto was the best team last year and didn’t win it. That’s the funkiness of the parity you see in Major League Soccer.

“The best thing about the Supporters’ Shield isn’t the Supporters’ Shield," he added. "That home field at BMO is going to make a difference. Those fans are loud and will give TFC a huge advantage.”

Leiweke refers to Toronto as “his team” now.

You can be damn sure he’ll be back at BMO Field in the end this season, too.

Leiweke to @TheTorontoSun - "Even in our darkest moments, the fans at BMO Field would politely tell me I sucked." https://t.co/Qp85GhqGx3pic.twitter.com/0hEl2eZeh3 — Kurtis Larson (@KurtLarSUN) August 30, 2017

TORONTO FC AT 27-GAME MARK SINCE 2014

2014

9-11-7 (34 points)

*Missed MLS playoffs

2015

11-12-4 (37 points)

*First-round of MLS playoffs

2016

12-8-7 (43 points)

*MLS Cup finalist

2017