Tim Leiweke’s fingerprints are all over the current regime at Toronto FC, but the former president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment isn’t taking credit for the Reds’ success this season.

“We did good things,” Leiweke, who left last fall after about 2 1/2 years in Toronto, told the Star over the phone from California this past week. “(Current TFC president) Bill Manning came in here and did better things.”

General manager Tim Bezbatchenko was hired under Leiweke, now founder and CEO of the Los Angeles-based Oak View Group. Together, the two Tims dove into Major League Soccer’s designated player game, signing striker Jermain Defoe and current captain Michael Bradley — a $100-million package sold to the public as a Bloody Big Deal — before bringing in strikers Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco in the wake of the flop that was Defoe’s tenure.

Coach Greg Vanney also started under Leiweke, as did the major renovation of BMO Field.

“He really thrust this team into the spotlight, and I think if we go on to be a championship team, certainly he gets some credit for that, without a doubt,” Manning said before the season began.

Still, it was Manning, brought in by MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum last October, who made the Reds better with crucial finishing touches, Leiweke said. They brought in defenders Drew Moor and Steven Beitashour, goalkeeper Clint Irwin and midfielder Will Johnson — players who thrive under pressure.

“It’s the one thing we didn’t have last year, so I’m really a huge fan,” Leiweke said. “I think the very reason that Toronto’s (in the Eastern Conference final) is because Bill and Tim went out and found those four MLS veterans, the real character guys that came in and taught that organization how to win this year.”

Winning was never something Leiweke shied away from during his time in Toronto. Within a month of taking over, the St. Louis native was already —famously — talking about the route the Stanley Cup parade would take when the Toronto Maple Leafs were crowned champions. There is hope for the future now, as the Leafs rebuild under president Brendan Shanahan, also brought in by Leiweke in April of 2014. And the Toronto Raptors won a seven-game playoff series for the first time last spring under president Masai Ujiri — yet another Leiweke hire.

He says it’s for others to judge his track record, and credits MLSE’s board for approving the big moves.

“None of that would have happened if the board wasn’t prepared to spend the money they’ve spent,” Leiweke said. “None of that would have happened if we wouldn’t have been able to go out and convince Brendan Shanahan to come back to Toronto. None of that would have happened if we weren’t able to go out and get Masai Ujiri to move to Toronto, and none of that would have happened if we weren’t able to get Tim, Greg, Robin (Fraser, TFC assistant coach) and then Bill.”

One major turning point, he added, came after the Defoe “experiment” blew up. Instead of losing faith, Tanenbaum and MLSE’s executive committee invested in Altidore, who has been a pillar for Toronto FC down the stretch.

“I think that was a really key moment where we did not hide, we admitted our mistakes and we moved on. We went out and brought in another designated player. I think the fact that Larry and the board didn’t blink there, I think that was a real major moment — not just for that team, but for MLSE. It showed that this board and Larry, they wanted to win.”

Defoe didn’t take well to Toronto, Leiweke said. The fact that Bradley, Altidore and Giovinco thrive on the pitch and love the city is special.

“Toronto’s a really unique, special place and right now if you look at it, they’re arguably, within Major League Soccer, they’re the talk of the league,” he said, adding TFC’s devoted fans had waited long enough for a chance to celebrate.

And with the Montreal Impact up next in the Eastern final starting Nov. 22, Leiweke believes the story is about to get even better.

“A lot of people would argue not having a U.S. team in the Eastern Conference finals would hurt the league,” he said. “I’d argue this is the best thing to ever happen, because people don’t understand the competitiveness, the animosity, the rivalry between Toronto and Montreal.”

While he said he’s caught as many Reds games as he could on TV, and stopped in to see the team after last Sunday’s 5-0 win over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium, Leiweke has yet to make it back for a game at BMO Field this season. That could change on Nov. 30, when he’s hoping to be in Toronto for the decisive second leg of the Eastern final.

He did get a taste of The Six recently, when he was reunited with Drake for one of the 6 God’s tour dates in California. It was Leiweke who brought in the hometown sensation as the Raptors’ global ambassador. The team’s fourth Drake night is Wednesday, when the Golden State Warriors visit the Air Canada Centre.

The two have remained friends. Leiweke said the rapper added three shows at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., at his request.

“He loves Toronto and he loves all of these teams,” he said of Drake.

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

If he makes it to BMO Field for the finale, Leiweke seems content to stay out of the spotlight.

“You sit here and look at what’s going on and you kind of wish you were a part of it, but the fact is, I get the benefit of being a part of it because Larry was kind enough to invite me back.

“They’re my friends, so I will celebrate for them. That’s good enough for me.”

Read more about: