Toronto FC and general manager Ali Curtis have agreed to a contract extension, the club announced Tuesday.
Curtis joined Toronto ahead of the 2019 season and helped guide the club to the playoffs in both years. TFC made MLS Cup in 2019, falling against the Seattle Sounders, and to a second place finish in the Supporters' Shield race in 2020 despite Toronto spending the second half of the season playing their home games in the United States due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are thrilled to have Ali signed to a new contract,” TFC president Bill Manning said in a club statement. “I’m a big believer in stability and Ali has proved during his two seasons with the club that he’s a talented executive and a tireless worker. We have a great working relationship and I look forward to continuing our work to improve TFC in every way.”
During his time thus far, Curtis has helped the club to acquire numerous players, none more important than Alejandro Pozuelo. TFC signed the Spaniard from Belgian club KRC Genk and he's been an instant success, with two Best XI seasons as well as being named Landon Donovan MLS MVP in 2020.
The club still have an open Designated Player spot for 2021, alongside Pozuelo and Jozy Altidore.
“I am happy about extending my contract with Toronto FC,” Curtis said. “It’s a great club that resides in an incredible community. I am both honoured and appreciative of the support from ownership and MLSE Leadership and I can’t thank Bill Manning enough for his belief in me. I am excited about all of the work we have in front of us, in order to achieve our collective goals.”
Prior to taking over in Toronto, Curtis worked as sporting director of the New York Red Bulls for two seasons, in 2015 and 2016. Under his leadership, the club won the 2015 Supporters' Shield, created USL side New York Red Bulls II, which won both the 2016 USL Shield and USL Cup.
Curtis, a MAC Hermann trophy winner at Duke and an MLS player from 2001 to 2004, joined the Red Bulls from the MLS league office, where he served as senior director of player relations and competition. In his role with the league Curtis managed MLS club budgets, negotiated player contracts, supervised the MLS Homegrown Player program and participated in ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
