Toronto FC captain Jim Brennan is reported to be stepping down as a player to become the club’s assistant general manager behind director of soccer Mo Johnston, according to a report Tuesday by The Score Television Network.
Kristian Jack of the Toronto-based all-sports network reported in his blog that the defender didn’t train on Tuesday after coach Preki earlier informed the team that Brennan had become Johnston’s right-hand man.
The sudden move comes only one game into the season and fulfills a plan in the works for quite some time to have Brennan move upstairs into soccer operations.
Neither Brennan nor Johnston were available for comment.
Speculation was rampant in the off-season that Brennan may retire, but the 32-year-old Toronto native signed a one-year deal at a reduced salary.
The former Canadian international and Toronto native was the first player signed by the franchise and quickly became the club’s poster boy from the time he appeared on city billboards advertising the team’s debut in MLS in 2007.
Brennan played in 84 games, starting 83, recording four goals and four assists. He played in the 2008 MLS All-Star game in Toronto and was the team’s defender of the year and co-MVP in its inaugural season.
Prior to MLS, Brennan spent his entire pro career in England playing for Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Norwich City and Southampton between 1996 and 2006.
