Four Toronto FC II players have returned from a training stint with Danish side HB Køge. Liam Fraser, Malik Johnson, Luca Uccello, and Aidan Daniels were all with the club from November 7th to 19th.
"As part of the professional player pathway here at Toronto FC, we feel it is vital for our youth players to experience other professional environments along the way,” said Toronto FC’s Assistant General Manager, Team operations and Strategy Corey Wray. “This opportunity not only allows them to challenge themselves in a soccer sense, but discovery and travel also grows them as individuals as well.”
HB Køge currently competes in the Danish 1st Division, second on the Danish pyramid, and competed in the top tier Superliga as recently as the 2011-12 season. The Swans currently sit in 6th place in the 1st Division with a 7-6-5 record. HB Køge has consistently fielded the youngest team in the top two Danish divisions and currently have the second most homegrown players in their squad.
“We were honoured in welcoming these talented players from Toronto FC. These boys impressed us here. They have a very professional approach and are gifted players,” said HB Køge Sporting Director Per Rud, “The style of play and principles of daily practice is different from what they are used to but they adapted quickly.”
The club is based out of the town of Køge, about 40 minutes outside of Copenhagen. Founded in 2009, the club has developed a number of players, the most notable being Danish International Simon Makienok. Last year the club sold players to Premier League side Newcastle United, Brentford F.C. in the English Championship, and FC Union Berlin in the 2. Bundesliga.
“We were delighted to find a partner in HB Køge for this opportunity, and pleased to have found a club with such an aligned philosophy on player development,” remarked Wray.
TFC fans may remember HB Køge from the 2015 preseason where the Reds defeated the Danish side 1-0 on a Jonathan Osorio goal.
