Academy director Laurent Guyot to also coach Toronto FC 2 this season

Toronto FC academy director Laurent Guyot is adding the role of Toronto FC 2 coach to his responsibilities with the MLS club while former midfielder Benoit Cheyrou will take over the franchise’s under-17 side.

Jason Bent had been coach of TFC’s United Soccer League squad but is returning to the first team as an assistant to coach Greg Vanney. Anthony Capotosto, an academy coach since 2009, has been promoted to assistant academy director.

“Laurent’s extensive experience as a player, coach and academy director both in France and the past three years at Toronto FC as academy director makes him a great fit for what we are trying to accomplish with our club, to be consistent contenders and continue to develop homegrown Canadian talent,” Toronto GM Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement.

Cheyrou, who retired in the off-season, will also assist head coach Danny Dichio with TFC 3, the senior academy side. The 36-year-old Frenchman spent three seasons with Toronto after a distinguished 16-season career in France with Lille, Auxerre and Olympique de Marseille.

Guyot joined TFC in June 2015 after serving as head coach of the French national under-16 and under-17 teams. He also served as an instructor with the French Football Federation.

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Guyot began his coaching career in July 2002 as a youth coach with FC Nantes. In 2009 he was named head coach of French Ligue 1 club US Boulogne in July 2009, moving to CS Sedan Ardennes in July 2011. He joined the French Federation in 2013.

Capotosto, who is entering his eighth season with the academy, previously coached both the U-15 and U-16 teams as well as assisting with other age groups.

The other academy head coaches are: Gianni Cimini (U-16), Michael Stefano (U-15), Terry Dunfield (U-14), Marco Casalinuovo (U-13), Luciano Lombardi (U-12) and Jon Mondino (U-10 & U-11).

Toronto also announced Friday that TFC 2 would play four USL regular-season games at Capelli Sport Stadium in Rochester, N.Y., this summer.

The Rhinos, Rochester’s longtime soccer team, are on hiatus in 2018.

“Rochester is a city with great soccer history,” said Toronto FC president Bill Manning. “We are happy that we can give the fans four USL games to attend this season as the Rhinos prepare for their return to action in 2019.”

Toronto FC II will play the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on May 5, Indy Eleven on June 16, Nashville SC on July 28 and Bethlehem Steel FC on Aug. 16.

TFC 2 will play its other home games at BMO Field and Lamport Stadium.

The Canadian Press