On Saturday, Toronto FC clinched their first-ever Supporters' Shield with a win over the New York Red Bulls.
“It was a goal of ours,” said TFC head coach Greg Vanney on Thursday. “The Supporters’ Shield [signifies] who was the best team over the course of the long haul, able to be consistent, endure, work together, get the most results. We take pride in that.” Said General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko last week: “It's symbolic of the approach this team has taken. They don't take a day off; don't take a game off. Whether at BMO Field or on the road, [they] treat every game as three points. That's really all you can ask of a team.”
Awarded to the team with the best record in the regular season, as determined by points, the trophy is presented by the Supporters’ Shield Foundation, composed of members of the Independent Supporters Council.
According to a history of the Shield, written by Sam Pierron, one of those involved in its creation, the trophy was born of the North American Soccer mailing list as “an award for the winner of the regular season, created and donated by the supporters.” Originally proposed by Tampa Bay Mutiny supporter Nick Lawrus in 1997, the initial attempt, which termed it the 'Supporters’ Scudetto', did not materialize, but the concept was revived early the following season and donations to fund the project were sought.
Phil Schoen, now of beINSports, an early supporter, provided a needed boost, and ahead of the 1998 MLS Cup the first MLS Supporters' Summit was organized where the concept was put forward to MLS as a “gift to the league” from the supporters.
Completed in 1999, the first Shield was presented to the Los Angeles Galaxy for their 1998 championship with previous winners Tampa Bay Mutiny and D.C. United honoured on the trophy and presented plaques. From that season's Supporters' Summit on, the Shield has been “symbolically (and physically) passed from one team’s supporters’ club representatives to the new winners.”
By 2009, it was recognized that a new Shield was needed.
Here, TFC supporters, notably Connie Zimmer of the Red Patch Boys, and Toronto itself—the trophy was designed (by Kyle Stewart) and made (by Award Co.) in the city—played a significant role.
Weighing in at 35 pounds, made of sterling silver and stainless steel, the new Supporters Shield’ was first awarded to the 2013 champions, the New York Red Bulls. The original is reportedly “on display in the Members Club at Sporting Park until there is a Soccer Hall of Fame to curate the trophy,” according to a statement on the Vancouver Southsiders site.
With such a US Soccer Hall of Fame set to open in October of 2018 in FC Dallas' Toyota Stadium, presumably it will reside there in the future.
“The Supporters’ Shield is a unique and wonderful statement about MLS supporters, their connection to the game, their symbiotic relationship with both their teams and the league, and to the game worldwide,” said Pierron in his history. “The new Shield is an evolutionary step that signifies the ever-larger place that the supporters’ culture plays in the [North] American game, and in MLS in particular.”
TFC become the 12th club to have won the Supporters Shield. D.C. and Los Angeles share the honour of most titles, with four each, while Columbus Crew SC have three. The Red Bulls and San Jose Earthquakes each have two, rounding out the list of multiple winners.
Though results in a calendar year determine the winners, Toronto's ascension is the result of the years-long process of building the club, each season advancing upon the success of the previous. TFC finished 13th in the Supporters Shield Standings in 2014, 12th in 2015, and 5th in 2016, before winning the award in 2017.
“There are two seasons in MLS,” said Bezbatchenko. “The regular season, that stands alone, positions you for the playoffs. Anywhere else around the world, that would [determine] the champion. But in MLS, it's about the playoffs. We understand that; we want MLS Cup.”
Six Supporters’ Shield champions have gone on to win MLS Cup; most recently the Galaxy in 2011.
Toronto FC want to be the next to do so.
“We put it on our goal list at the start of the season. It means a lot to us,” said Drew Moor of the prospect of winning the Shield on Thursday.
“Fans in Toronto want MLS Cup though. That's the trophy they want, the ultimate goal for us,” added Moor. “[The] Supporters’ Shield is very important to us, but we want to win this city an MLS Cup.”
