TORONTO – Few athletes in the history of Toronto sports divide opinion quite like Dwayne De Rosario.
Regarded as one of the best players in the history of Major League Soccer, the Toronto native was one of the few bright spots on a terrible TFC side when he played for the Reds from 2009 to 2011.
But he also angered and infuriated the team’s loyal fan base with his infamous “cheque signing” celebration, making public his ugly contract dispute with management, and paving the way for his exit.
After a three-year absence, the prodigal son returns. On Thursday, Toronto FC officially announced the signing of De Rosario, 35, to a contract after selecting the Canadian midfielder in last month’s MLS re-entry draft.
Unveiled as TFC’s newest signing on Thursday afternoon, De Rosario became available in the re-entry draft when D.C. United opted not to pick up his option at the end of the 2013 campaign. He scored three goals in 24 games while playing for D.C., who finished in last place in MLS last season.
“It’s surreal to be back here. I have some unfinished business,” De Rosario said during Thursday’s introductory press conference.
Indeed.
Despite a somewhat lacklustre 2013 season, De Rosario still boasts an impressive resume and should help a Toronto side that bagged just 30 goals last season, tied for the second-worst offensive record in MLS. The Canadian international is the TFC’s all-time leading scorer with 32 goals in all competitions and ranks sixth on the all-time MLS scoring list with 103 goals.
After the cheque signing incident, he was traded to New York in 2011 for midfielder Tony Tchani, defender Danleigh Borman and a first-round pick. He was dealt to D.C. United later that same season, and went on to win the Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer and was named league MVP.
He has been selected to the league’s Best XI six times during his career and won the MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003 with San Jose and 2006 and 2007 with Houston, earning MLS Cup MVP honours in 2001 and 2007.
Soccer Central podcast: SPORTSNET.CA’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by John Molinaro and James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE.
So, De Ro has a track record of success and a history as a game-changer in a league where they are few and far between. But this isn’t the same Toronto FC side that De Rosario is returning to.
In fact, it’s quite different.
A new regime has swept through the hallowed halls of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and major changes have taken place both on the sidelines (in the form of sophomore coach Ryan Nelsen) and on the pitch (with the pending arrivals of designated players Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley).
Even though he wasn’t the team’s highest-paid player, De Rosario was the focal point of the franchise when he was here before. Julian de Guzman earned more money, but there was no doubt that this was De Ro’s team, and that the club’s fortunes were directly tied to his form.
Fast forward to 2014. De Rosario is but one small piece to the TFC puzzle. Defoe and Brazilian forward Gilberto, signed to a DP contract in December, will be expected to supply the goals. Jonathan Osorio, Alvaro Rey, and Bradley will serve as the chief midfield creators. No doubt De Rosario will see playing time, but it’s clear that he won’t be the fulcrum of the attack like he was during his first stint with the club.
In fact, there’s a question as to whether or not De Rosario will even be a regular starter for TFC, especially in Nelsen’s preferred 4-4-2 formation which stresses defensive organization. De Ro is many things, but a player with a strong defensive mindset, he isn’t.
Will he be able to adjust to life as a member of TFC where a) he isn’t the “go-to guy” and b) his strengths don’t perfectly compliment Nelsen’s playing philosophy? The Canadian has always been a player who knows his value and has not been shy about voicing his views on how his team should play, so it’ll be interesting to see how he gets along in this new setting.
Maybe he’ll thrive. All eyes won’t be on him like they were before here or during his time with D.C. With the attention likely to focus on Defoe and Bradley, De Rosario won’t have the same pressure resting on his shoulders and will be free to concentrate on his game. And maybe with a stronger supporting cast, the Canadian international will be able to win back the respect of so many TFC fans he alienated and can win a place in their hearts again.
De Rosario has a second chance at greatness, and how he plays and conducts himself during what will surely be his last pro contract before hanging up his boots will go a long way in defining his legacy.
John Molinaro is Sportsnet’s chief soccer reporter. Follow him on Twitter.