Chris Pozniak named Toronto FC II assistant coach
Toronto FC II announced Tuesday the club’s plans for preseason as camp officially opened yesterday at the Kia Training Grounds in Toronto. In addition, the club has hired Chris Pozniak as an assistant coach. Stuart Neely will remain in his current role as the head coach of the Senior Kia Toronto FC Academy team.
“Bringing back a former player and Canadian international with Chris’ experience will help our academy and drafted college players transition up to the first team, which is one of our primary objectives of TFC II,” said Toronto FC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko.
The club will host friendly matches against York University and Ottawa Fury FC before departing for Vancouver on Wednesday, March 2. The Young Reds will train and play friendlies against Simon Fraser University, Whitecaps FC 2 and Seattle Sounders FC 2. The team will return to Toronto concluding preseason with a friendly against defending USL Champions Rochester Rhinos.
“This preseason will be a good opportunity to see how far our young group has progressed throughout the offseason. Scheduling friendly matches against top clubs will give us good competition heading into the USL season,” said Toronto FC II Head Coach Jason Bent. “We are also pleased to add Chris to the TFC II coaching staff. Along with his playing career, Chris brings valuable experience and success coaching young footballers.”
Pozniak, 35, spent the past season as the head coach of Kitchener-Waterloo United Football Club (K-W United FC) of the USL Premier Development League (PDL). With K-W United FC, Pozniak led the club to a second place finish in the Great Lakes Division (11-2-1) and captured the 2015 PDL North American Championship during the playoffs. He was also an assistant coach with the York University Lions. Pozniak holds a USSF “A” Coaching License.
Born in Kraków, Poland, Pozniak began his professional playing career with the Toronto Lynx at the age of 18, spending three seasons with the club. Following his time with the Lynx, he joined Örebro Sportklubb of the Allsvenskan in Sweden (2001-04) and later moved to FK Haugesund of the Norwegian Second division (2004-06). Pozniak signed for Toronto FC on November 22, 2006 ahead of the club’s inaugural season, and spent the entire 2007 season with the Reds. On November 21, 2007 he was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes during the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft, later getting traded to Chivas USA on March 28, 2008. Pozniak moved to the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 2008 for a brief stint before returning to Europe in July 2008. He signed with Dundee Football Club of the Scottish Premiership and remained with the club for one season, before rejoining the Whitecaps for the remainder of the 2009-10 season. He spent two seasons in Norway (2010-12) with FK Haugesund and Bryne FK before retiring. Pozniak also earned 24 caps for the Canadian National team.
Friendly match dates, opponents and times are subject to change and will be updated on www.tfc2.ca and on the club’s twitter account @TorontoFCII.
Toronto FC II 2016 preseason and friendly match schedule
February 1 –First Day of Training
Saturday, February 20 – York University @ Kia Training Grounds, 1:00 p.m. ET
Friday, February 26 – Ottawa Fury @ Kia Training Grounds, 3:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, March 2 – Depart to Vancouver
Friday, March 4 – Simon Fraser University @ SFU, 10 p.m. ET
Sunday, March 6 – Whitecaps FC 2 @ SFU, 1:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, March 9 – Seattle Sounders FC 2 @ Starfire Sportsplex, 9:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, March 10 – Return to Toronto
Saturday, March 19 – Rochester Rhinos @ Kia Training Grounds, 3:00 p.m. ET
Join MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco and the rest of Toronto FC at BMO Field this season. 2016 Toronto FC Season Seats are on sale from $608 and up. In addition to Toronto FC Season Tickets, the Reds are currently on sale with TFC II Season Seats at $75.00 for TFC Season Seat Holders & $120.00 for non-TFC season seat holders. For More information head to TorontoFC.ca/tickets
