TORONTOāHopes are already high in Toronto for newly acquired goalkeeper Clint Irwin.
How high? TFC feel theyāve just landed an MLS All-Star caliber ākeeper who can help push them to greater heights than last year's inaugural playoff appearance.
āWe're delighted to acquire an experienced goalkeeper, an MLS All-Star, that knows the league,ā said TFC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko, on a Tuesday conference call. āIt's one of the last remaining pieces of the puzzle to take our club from an MLS playoff qualifier to a contender.ā
Irwin joins Drew Moor, Steven Beitashour and Will Johnson as major additions for the upcoming season, addressing several of TFC's perceived weaknesses along the backline. A true starting ākeeper was considered the final question mark.
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āWe explored a number of options, both in MLS and in Europe,ā Bezbatchenko said. ā[We] felt that Clint fit on the field, and also culturally and with our fans.
āHe's going into the prime of his career. With his experience in Canada, we think it will be a quick transition process.ā
The move heralds a return to Canada for Irwin, a Charlotte, North Carolina native who spent the 2011 season with Ottawa's now defunct Canadian Soccer League side, Capital City FC. Irwin said his time in Ottawa was a learning experience.
āThere's a lot of things that you learn ā¦ perseverance and hard work," Irwin said. "Playing on a field in London, Ontario, 10 people watching, you're thinking, 'How am I ever going to make it to MLS?' And then a couple years later you're playing in front of 40,000 in Seattle. It's surreal. It grounds you. It's one of those experiences that I will always remember.ā
The sudden trade ā after three seasons and 90 appearances with the Rapids ā did come as a surprise, however.
āThere was no indication, and I certainly didn't ask for anything,ā Irwin said. āOver the past week, there was speculation, and I realized it could be a possibility.ā
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Irwin reunites with former Colorado teammate Moor; the pair had stayed in touch since he signed a free-agent contract with Toronto in December.
āHe was one of my favorite teammates in Colorado, so I was disappointed when he left, but to be reunited is awesome,ā Irwin said. āIt'll help make that transition smoother.ā
After all, getting the mix right was the plan.
āWe needed to change the chemistry of the backline,ā said Bezbatchenko. āSomething was off last year, collectively as a unit. We needed a fresh start. [Clint] is one of the top ākeepers in the league, and we feel that with the players in front of him, we can help him be an All-Star every year."