Music: {allcanada} REPORT: TORONTO FC TO HIRE KLINSMANN AS CONSULTANT

Friday, October 29, 2010

{allcanada} REPORT: TORONTO FC TO HIRE KLINSMANN AS CONSULTANT

It appears as though Toronto FC have found their man.

According to a report in the Globe and Mail, Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment are in the final stages of negotiating a consulting role for German soccer legend Juergen Klinsmann and his California-based company Soccer Solutions.

The Globe is reporting that Klinsmann will be given free reign to rebuild the franchise as he sees fit. While he will not assume the role of general manager or coach, he will choose the permanent replacements for Mo Johnston and Preki, who were fired mid-season.

In their fourth season in Major League Soccer, Toronto FC disappointed fans as they missed the playoffs once again and angered supporters by raising season ticket prices despite the team under-performing on the field.

The Globe goes further in saying that Klinsmann and his company will analyze the club from the ground up, including infrastructure, the TFC Academy, and the team's scouting system.

Klinsmann will instantly bring credibility to a club that has been languishing despite tremendous fan interest. During his playing career, Klinsmann helped West Germany capture the World Cup in 1990. He served as Germany's captain between 1995 and his retirement in 1998, helping his nation claim the European Championship in 1996. He had 47 goals in 108 appearances with the German national team.

He also had an illustrious club career that included a pair of UEFA Cup titles in 1991 with Inter Milan and 1996 with Bayern Munich and a pair of Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich.

He also holds some Major League Soccer experience, as he was hired as a technical adviser by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2004. He continues to live in California.

Klinsmann has also reportedly recently turned down offers to take over the United States National program, as well as English club Liverpool.