TORONTO – Victor Vazquez took little time in establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in Major League Soccer when he debuted for Toronto FC in 2017.
The Spanish playmaker finished second in the league in assists (16) last season, and he led MLS with six game-winning assists. He was also named to the league’s end-of-year all-star team, known as the Best XI, and played a pivotal role in helping TFC win its first MLS Cup, including scoring in the Reds’ 2-0 win over Seattle in the final.
A product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia youth academy, Vazquez made 39 combined appearances in 2017, scoring 10 goals and tallying 20 assists in all competitions (MLS regular season, MLS Cup playoffs and Canadian Championship).
So, it hardly came as a surprise when the Reds announced Wednesday they have re-signed the influential midfielder to a multi-year contract extension.
What is a little surprising is Vazquez, 31, has committed his immediate future to MLS after previously dropping hints he was considering a return to Spain once his contract with TFC expired. Vazquez was in the second year of a three-year deal.
But the Spaniard stated Wednesday he never gave serious thought about returning to his homeland, and that there was never any doubt he would ink a new deal with TFC. In fact, it sounds like he wants to finish his playing career in Toronto.
“I’m really happy here. I want to be here for as many years as possible, even if I can maybe finish my career here. I feel like I’m at home,” Vazquez told reporters.
“I’m feeling very comfortable [in Toronto], and I hope I can maybe re-sign again in couple of years because I still have many years to play and my family is happy here – that’s the most important thing for me. I say it always, when they are happy, I am happy.”
Toronto coach Greg Vanney called the club’s decision to give Vazquez a contract extension “a no-brainer.”
“He was, for me, of the new players who came into the league last year, he was at the top of the charts. … It’s good to get him settled in and looking beyond this year, and into the future,” Vanney said.
Locking up a key starter such as Vazquez is a major coup for TFC’s front office, something it has proven to be quite skilled at in recent months, having successfully extended defenders Chris Mavinga and Drew Moor, and fullback Justin Morrow before their contracts ran out.
It’s clear that Vanney and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko are playing the long-game here. They’re not just planning for the current campaign – they’re looking ahead to two or three seasons down the road – and keeping players such as Vazquez in tow are central to their ambitious plans.
“We want to be able to look beyond just this year, and look at pieces we want to continue to build with, and continue to build around. Getting those guys solidified and looking at this place as somewhere they’re going to be for a little while is important to us,” Vaney stated.
Vazquez earned $700,000 in 2017, according to the MLS Players Association website, making him the fourth-highest paid player on TFC behind designated players Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Sebastian Giovinco.
For the longest time, TFC searched for a creator of Vazquez’s calibre – someone who would serve as the key midfield link who could provide quick and quality service to the forwards. When TFC signed Vazquez prior to last season, the hope was that he would put the team over the top and help lead them to glory after the club fell short in the 2016 MLS Cup final.
The Spaniard proved to be the last piece of the puzzle for TFC in 2017, playing a starring role in a historic treble campaign that saw the Reds win the MLS Cup, the Canadian Championship and the Supporters’ Shield, as well as set the record for most points (69) in a regular season.
Vazquez has won plaudits from MLS pundits and fans for his elite passing ability and vision during his brief time in the league, something teammate Marky Delgado noticed on the very first day of training camp last year.
“His positioning is great, his head’s always moving, he’s seeing everything. You could tell right away he’s a world-class player,” Delgado told Sportsnet last season. “His ability to see things before they even come up at the moment is incredible. You’ll think he’s going one way and then he’s passing it the other way.”
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