Toronto FC: Could Victor Vazquez be a future coach?
Victor Vazquez wants to come back to Toronto FC. As a player, it may not make a lot of sense. But as a coach? That is a very intriguing prospect indeed.
Last week, Victor Vazquez appeared on Footy Talks with Steven Caldwell, Kristian Jack, and Luke Wileman. During the interview and discussion, Vazquez got people talking with a simple little statement that a sports craving city jumped on. In summary, he said he wasn’t happy in Qatar, wanted to come back to Toronto FC, and was talking to people in the organization about a potential return.
You’d think that would be great, but not necessarily, at least according to a lot in the Toronto FC fanbase. This thought process makes sense when you consider that he’s 33, has dealt with his fair share of injuries, and plays the same role as current Designated Player Alejandro Pozuelo. However, there is so much to love about him.
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First of all, he says that he is healthy, so that issue will hopefully be a non-factor if he were to return. Another aspect of his game you cannot ignore is his leadership and vision. He is superb at seeing the game and was a great leader when he was with Toronto FC. He also has a very good relationship with manager Greg Vanney and would add even more depth and leadership to a midfield that is stocked full of it. As a super-sub and leader in the locker room, he would be spectacular.
But for all the positives, the issues extend beyond age and injury. First of all, money. From the interview, it sounds as though the salary would not be a factor in his decision to return. With that being said, Toronto FC sold Vazquez for north of $500,000. This means that he goes back into the allocation order requiring Toronto to move up from their current spot of 25th. That won’t be easy. The club could risk letting him fall to them, but that’s incredibly risky. So, the only serious option the club has is to trade for the first spot in the allocation order, and that’s going to cost the club. Just ask the LA Galaxy.
But could there be a happy medium in all of this? One theory that has been thrown out there is to bring Vazquez in as a coach. That would force Vazquez to retire, which doesn’t feel very likely or fair, but it would avoid all of the other factors that were listed above.
For Vazquez, if he was willing to abandon his playing dreams, it would bring him back to a place he and his family love and reunite him with Vanney, someone who he praised hugely and would be a positive influence on Vazquez’s potential coaching career. He could be a mentor for young up and comers like Jaydon Nelson, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, and the other young talents poised for a shot on TFC2 and in the club’s academy. He’s even joked about becoming the head coach on Toronto with Vanney as an assistant.
Of course, this all hinges on Vazquez being willing to hang up the boots, which he has given no intention of. Marriage is possible between Toronto FC and Vazquez, then. The fit as a coach and club could be very enticing, but the talent and timeframe aren’t there anymore for Toronto to give up so much to bring him back.
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He was a fantastic player but he could be an even better coach. If there is a will, there will be a way for this deal to happen. But Vazquez’s desire to play might trump all else.