Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney "very close" to new contract with club

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Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney said Tuesday that he is "very close" to signing a contract extension with the 2017 MLS Cup winners.


Since the departure of Ben Olsen from D.C. United, Vanney is now tied with Philadelphia Union’s Jim Curtin as second-longest tenured head coach in MLS (though technically Vanney has the slight edge, having moved into the role in August 2014 vs. Curtin’s November 2014 hiring).


Toronto signed Vanney to a multi-year contract extension in 2017, with the deal set to expire at the end of the 2020 season.


When asked about any discussion around a contract extension, Vanney said in a press conference on Tuesday that “dialogue is ongoing and it's been good, but my focus is we're in a good way and the team is moving in a very positive way. So all of that for me is kind of side discussion and it's going on and hopefully we can get that all figured out. We're very close.”


Over the course of his time in charge since 2014, Toronto FC have compiled a 85W-65L-47D regular season record, appearing in the MLS Cup final in three of the last four seasons and winning the treble in 2017 (MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and Canadian Championship). That 2017 Canadian Championship was one of three in Vanney's tenure (2016, 2017, 2018). Toronto also made it to the Concacaf Champions League final for the first time in club history in 2018, ultimately losing to Liga MX’s Chivas de Guadalajara in a penalty shoot-out.


The club is on course for another successful season in 2020. After their 1-0 win against FC Cincinnati in Week 17, Toronto became the first team to clinch a playoff spot and currently sit at the top of the Supporters' Shield standings with 37 points.


Toronto FC will host the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday (7:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info).