The Canadian side recorded a first victory under incoming coach Carver on Saturday with a pre-season 2-0 win over the Kansas City Wizards.Former Toon Coach Gets First Win As Manager!
The Canadian side recorded a first victory under incoming coach Carver on Saturday with a pre-season 2-0 win over the Kansas City Wizards.Toronto play again on Sunday with a friendly against the United States under-17 side.
Carver was born in Newcastle in 1965 and was the assistant manager to Bobby Robson at St James' Park.
Following Robson's sacking in September of 2004, Carver was appointed caretaker manager and guided the team to a 3-0 win against Blackburn Rovers.
Carver later dedicated the win to Bobby Robson. Despite the victory, Carver was not considered for the permanent job, that position going Graeme Souness who opted to bring in his own backroom staff.
In July 2005 Leeds United appointed Carver as a coach, replacing the departed Adrian Boothroyd who left the club to be the new manager of Watford. A mere three months after joining, Carver was linked with a move to Hearts, where he would again be assistant to Bobby Robson, who was hotly tipped to be appointed the clubs new manager. Robson was not appointed and the speculation passed over.
In June 2006 Carver was again linked with another club, this time Carlisle United who wanted Carver to be their new manager. However after much thought and deliberation, Carver decided to stay with Leeds, who rewarded him in July for his loyalty by promoting him to the position of assistant manager, which had been vacant following the exit of the previous assistant Sam Ellis in May 2006.
Carver became a caretaker manager for the second time in his career after Leeds United fired Kevin Blackwell following a disastrous start to the season.
Carver celebrated a win in his first game in charge after beating Birmingham City 3-2. However a series of heavy defeats, culminating in a 5-1 drubbing by Luton Town, led to Leeds Chairman Ken Bates opting instead to recruit the Swindon management team of Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet. Carver left Leeds United 23 October 2006.
Kevin Blackwell subsequently became the manager of Luton Town, and he recruited Carver as his assistant, along with another ex-Leeds coach Sam Ellis. With Luton going through major financial difficulties, including the adminstrator's decision to sell players from under the management's feet, Carver, along with Blackwell and Ellis made the joint decision to leave the club in January 2008.
On February 1, 2008 it was announced that he would take over and coach the Major League Soccer side Toronto FC, with previous coach Mo Johnston moving to a Director of Football role to handle player transfers.