TORONTO – Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be any more cards under their proverbial sleeve, Toronto FC pulled out yet another ace in the form of Marseille midfielder Benoit Cheyrou.
The 33-year-old French defensive midfielder joins an ambitious TFC side that has already made several bold statements this offseason in the acquisitions of Jozy Altidore, Damien Perquis and Sebastian Giovinco. The club brass has been so busy that head coach Greg Vanney said he actually had to put the Cheyrou deal on the backburner for a little while. But, now signed and sealed, TFC expect Cheyrou to add proven quality to their midfield.
“We’re very, very happy that we managed to pull it off and get him,” Vanney told reporters at training Friday. “He’s an outstanding player who has won championships and has an immense amount of experience. He’s a leftie; I’m always a little partial to lefties, so he provides a lot for us in the midfield and a lot of options.
“You always have to deal with the fact that he has a range of passing that is second to none,” Vanney continued. “He hits the 30-, 40-yard ball across the field like it’s a 5-yard pass.”
Cheyrou has played for several teams in the French first division, including Auxerre and Marseille, but it was at Cheyrou’s first senior club, Lille, where Vanney first forged a connection, albeit not a direct one.
“I played against him when I was in France,” Vanney said. “He was at Lille at the time and his brother was actually at Marseille at that time as well. We have mutual friends and [former LA Galaxy midfielder] Laurent Courtois sent me a message saying that Benoit was interested in coming this way.”
Vanney says he sees Cheyrou as the perfect counterpart for Michael Bradley. Vanney also added that the signing gives his team options in midfield if Bradley is selected for the Gold Cup this summer.
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“Giovinco will be in front of those guys, but I think Michael and Benoit are a good combination,” Vanney said. "Left foot, right foot, they give us a lot of balance, experience and tactical savvy as well. I think they also have a lot of respect for each other and what they’ve been able to accomplish.”
It didn’t take much to convince Cheyrou to join Toronto FC. Vanney revealed the club’s method of recruitment, explaining that the club sent a recruitment video outlining its vision. And, after watching it, Cheyrou is already champing at the bit to get started, Vanney said.
“Honestly, I thought Benoit wasn’t going to go home,” Vanney said. “He was ready to train the other day. He signed the contract, [Club president] Tim Leiweke had a five-minute discussion with him and he said, ‘I’m ready to train, let’s go!’ That was at about 10-o-clock at night.”
