Robin Fraser touts Toronto FC youngsters Stefanovic, Pearlman
But whether the teenaged centre backs can break through in MLS with TFC this season remains to be seen.
Officially named Toronto FC’s new head coach on Jan. 10, Robin Fraser began working with the team last week when he put the players through their paces at the club’s training facility in North York.
Among the players who caught Fraser’s eye during TFC’s first week of training camp were young centre backs Lazar Stefanovic and Adam Pearlman, who he described as “really interesting” prospects.
Fraser, a two-time MLS defender of the year during his playing days, was impressed with how Stefanovic, an 18-year-old from Oakville, Ont., looked so confident on the ball despite his tender age and lack of first-team experience.
“As a young player among older professionals, you generally want to be very safe and not take any chances. And really quite early on, Laz opened up and showed he can hit the ball across the field with confidence. I was like, ‘How old are you?’ He’s so far ahead of me when I was 18, I can't even tell you,” Fraser said.
