1-on-1 with Danny Koevermans: Love and regret define Toronto FC tenure

In May 2012, a brace from reigning MVP Dwayne De Rosario helped D.C. United to a 3-1 win over Toronto FC - the team that decided he wasn't Designated Player material - and consigned the visitor to a record ninth straight loss to start the MLS season.

The dour period in TFC's short history had clearly gotten to the scorer of its consolation tally in Washington, Danny Koevermans, who dubbed his side "the worst team in the world."

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The Dutchman bagged eight goals in 10 MLS appearances after his midterm arrival in the previous campaign, and helped the Reds to a quarterfinal berth in the Champions League. After such promise, the slump was as unexpected as it was dire, but Koevermans regrets calling out his team in that fashion.

"It was horrific. It was terrible. It was atrocious. We didn't even play so bad, we just couldn't get any points," he told theScore.

"(But) it was a pretty shitty comment that I said. It was a mistake, and I've learned from that."

Koevermans arrived in Canada awash in experience. In 11 seasons in the Netherlands, he played like an old English No. 9 - a player of great strength, and one who had the knack of always getting some part of his anatomy on the end of early crosses. He earned international recognition alongside the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Clarence Seedorf, Arjen Robben, and Edwin van der Sar, and scored the winner in a European Championship qualifier in 2007.

After being a stalwart at the top level of the Dutch game for some time, going to an outfit like TFC - then-goalkeeper Milos Kocic told The Globe and Mail's Neil Davidson that some players didn't care when they lost - must have been a bit of a shock.

"No," said Koevermans when asked if he noticed a drop in professionalism. "We lost a lot of games but I can't remember people laughing and making jokes.

"I always went back home, got some rest, and ate some food for the next game. I don't know what the other guys did - maybe they went into town, I don't know - but I can't say I agree with what Milos said."

Following Koevermans' criticism at the RFK Stadium, he said he was subject to some boos from the Reds faithful when he lined up the following week against the Philadelphia Union at BMO Field. He responded the only way a goal poacher can: with the 88th-minute winner.

The team's form picked up for a few weeks until disaster struck. Koevermans was forced off 40 minutes into a 1-0 away win at New England Revolution in July with an ACL tear.

He's never completed 90 minutes again. His last professional appearance came Feb. 15, 2014 back in the Netherlands as a 74th-minute substitute for Juan Agudelo in Utrecht's 1-1 draw at AZ Alkmaar.

(Courtesy: Soccer News)

"My time in Toronto ... I loved it. It was my team, my city - it was perfect," he explained.

"Still a little sad that I got this massive injury because I would've loved it if I could've stayed in Toronto for the rest of my life. We all feel we had to leave because of the injury. If I hadn't got injured, then we probably would still be living in Toronto."

If a coaching job came up in The 6, Koevermans says he'd jump at the opportunity. In the meantime, the retired striker - proudly taking time off to spend time with his wife, kids and Netflix - deems himself TFC's biggest fan across the Atlantic, catching the highlights every morning after matches. Since his day, the club's fortunes have drastically improved.

"All the pieces of the puzzle have come together," Koevermans told theScore, clearly excited by the upcoming two-legged Eastern Conference final against the Montreal Impact. "(Sebastian) Giovinco's fit, (Jozy) Altidore's scoring like crazy, Drew Moor was a good signing at the start of the season and he's a guy who knows MLS like (Steven) Beitashour, who had a lot of games under his belt.

"When you get into the playoffs, anything can happen. The guys are in perfect shape and are playing so good. I predicted a BMO final on Dec. 10 against the Seattle Sounders, so I'm still in the race."