After being away, Robin Fraser comes 'home' to Toronto FC
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Just ask Robin Fraser.
Fraser was officially hired as Toronto FC’s 15th head coach last week, succeeding John Herdman who stepped down after last season. While Toronto didn’t rush through the process and interviewed several candidates, it decided to go with Fraser, someone who has a deep connection to the city and its MLS team.
Fraser, 58, was Greg Vanney’s right-hand man as his top assistant during TFC’s glory years. Vanney rightly gets a lot of credit for the team's success during that period, but Fraser, a former two-time MLS defender of the year, also played a pivotal role in helping the Reds become one of the superpowers in the league.
Fraser's original tenure with Toronto was highlighted by the 2017 treble campaign when it won the MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield and the Canadian Championship. During Fraser's time as an assistant, TFC also won three consecutive Canadian Championships (2016-2018), qualified for the playoffs three times and reached two MLS Cup finals.