President of Major League Soccer’s Canadian side Toronto FC is optimistic about the MLS still charging ahead this year, and playing through its 2020 season.
Bill Manning, one of the most appreciated and seasoned MLS executives has previously been president of Western Conference Real Salt Lake between 2008 and 2015, and he was then appointed president of Toronto FC where he still serves today. Manning has won twice the MLS Executive of the Year Award.
Keeping Up the COVID-19 Routine
Like many around the world, Manning and his family are staying at home, where he works remotely during the Major League Soccer suspension due to the Pandemic, now in light of the MLS marking its 25th anniversary this week. “We’ve found our routines to be good,” said Manning. “We’re playing some video games and doing some of those things teenagers do.”
But Manning, who is president of MLS Toronto FC as well as Canadian Football club Argonauts does these days a lot more than playing video games. Although adjusting to the new reality and doing things from home, he’s also busy doing what a Major League Soccer club president needs to do.
And beyond his own family and home routine, Manning and his staff also built a regiment to keep Toronto FC connected during the MLS suspension after only two games played this season before the league went into lockdown.
“Just Staying Connected” Says Manning
Manning and his staff set up meal deliveries for the TFC players, virtual workouts and more for every one of his soccer players to keep with the daily grind, and try to maintain some sort of mental and physical fitness levels until the MLS season kicks off again.
“My feeling is to let the guys have this time to recalibrate,” he said. “Because as nice as it is to be with your family, you can go stir-crazy as well.” Manning also connects with his players regularly through video chats. “It’s just making sure they are in a good place and don’t fall into the rut without the social interaction.”
TFC Captain Michael Bradley Coming Along
One MLS player that is probably putting this league break to good use is Toronto’s midfielder Michael Bradley. Bradley, who joined Toronto FC in 2014, and since then became an icon and one of the clubs leaders on and off the field is the team’s captain, as well as captain of the US National team.
In January, Bradley went into surgery for an ankle injury he sustained during the MLS Cup Final of last season. He was expected to be out of commission for four months after surgery, but instead watching his teammates play this season without him, Bradley is now expected to be fit to play around when the season is predicted to start again.
“We may come through this with him missing two games…he’s really coming along” said Manning, and went on to commend Bradley’s hard work: “There’s no one certainly that’s going to work harder than him to get back.”
Being Realistic About the MLS 2020 Season
Manning is realistic and practical, and admits he doesn’t know when and if the team can start training again, or whether the MLS 2020 Season will even resume. But if asking for his views, Manning is bullish about the 2020 season, and he believes that Major League Soccer, which had its fair share of struggles in its first years of operation, will come out of the COVID-19 a lot stronger.
In any interview to the Toronto Sun, Manning said: “I am (optimistic), and I hope that we can play, and play a full season. How that will look like…I don’t know.” He added: “So I am trying to stay optimistic, but I’m also realistic that we don’t know the answer.”
And Manning sure has reasons to feel optimistic. In 2019, Forbes ranked Toronto FC as the fifth most-valuable team in Major League Soccer, worth $395 million, with revenues of $43 million.
“Sports are a luxury, but with that said, sports is also massively important to a lot of people and is a huge part of their daily routines, I can’t tell you how many text and emails I’ve gotten from people saying, I miss my TFC and Sports.” Manning said. “When that happens (sports are back), that will be really good for the public.”
