Former Chivas USA Coach Preki to coach Toronto FC

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Preki, the only player to be twice named Major League Soccer’s most valuable player and to twice win the league scoring title, today was named coach of Toronto FC.

The move reunites the former Chivas USA mentor with Mo Johnston, Toronto’s director of soccer. Preki and Johnston played together with the Kansas City Wizards and, before that, for Everton in the English Premier League.

Preki, 46, spent three years as coach of Chivas USA, taking the team to the MLS playoffs each season but failing to advance beyond the first round. He and the team parted company ‘by mutual agreement’ last week.

‘Preki has everything we are looking for, and we feel he will be a perfect fit with our club,’ Johnston said. ‘I think as a coach he is going to bring stability, discipline and his work ethic.’

Preki has a 40-29-21 regular-season record as an MLS coach and an 0-3-3 mark in the playoffs. He was named the league’s coach of the year in 2007. He signed a three-year contract with Toronto, financial details of which were not announced.

‘I had a great ride at Chivas USA,’ Preki said at his introductory press conference this morning. ‘That was a great experience for me as a new coach. Now it’s a new chapter in my life.’

He said the ‘passion’ of Toronto’s fans was one factor in his decision to move north. The club has sold out every one of its games during its three-year MLS history but has yet to qualify for the playoffs.

Chivas USA has not yet named a successor.

-- Grahame L. Jones