By Canadian Press

FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund makes first trip back to Toronto

Jul 26, 2019 | 9:47 AM

TORONTO — Nick Hagglund spent five seasons with Toronto FC, won the MLS Cup and became a father here.

Traded to his hometown of Cincinnati in January, the 26-year-old defender still has a special place in his heart for Toronto. Sixteen-month-old daughter Eloise is “a little Canuck” who celebrated Canada Day south of the border, he noted.

Hagglund returns to Toronto for the first time since the trade on Saturday when FC Cincinnati visits.

“So many good memories,” Hagglund said. “It’ll be fun to be back there.”

Popular among players and fans, he will no doubt be warmly received at BMO Field.

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“Really one of the best human beings that we’ve ever had around here,” said Toronto coach Greg Vanney. “Just a nice guy. Loads of energy. Fantastic with the (academy) kids, with everybody.

“Every day he laid his heart out for the team … You could always count on Nick to make people smile, but also to work and compete.”

“A great teammate,” echoed Toronto midfielder Jonathan Osorio.

Also a team player. Hagglund had no complaints when his No. 17 was given to Jozy Altidore when the star striker joined Toronto in January 2015.

And while he did not score that often, the six-foot-one Hagglund could be a force in the air and notched some memorable goals. His header in the wild second leg of the 2016 Eastern Conference final against Montreal tied the aggregate at 5-5 as Toronto launched a memorable 7-5 comeback.

He scored twice in a 4-4 tie with D.C. United in June 2018, heading in the tying goal in stoppage time.

Toronto traded up to take Hagglund 10th overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and he went on to make 23 starts as a rookie. That number dropped subsequently, but he left Toronto having made more than 100 appearances in all competitions.

This season he has appeared in 17 games (16 starts) for Cincinnati, sharing centre back duties with veterans Kendall Waston and Justin Hoyte.

Both teams could use a victory.

Cincinnati is coming off losses to New England and D.C. United but recorded victories over Houston and Chicago prior to that. Still, it is just 2-9-1 on the road.

Toronto saw a two-game win streak snapped in a 3-1 loss to visiting Houston.

Cincinnati has been a success at the gate, however. It is averaging 27,750 at home games, ranking third in the league behind Atlanta (51,662) and Seattle (39,839). Toronto is fifth at 24,839.

The expansion team’s other numbers are less impressive.

The team ranks 24th and last in the league in defence, having conceded a total of 51 goals or 2.32 a game. It stands 23rd on offence, averaging 0.95 goals a game for a total of 21.

Earlier this season, Cincinnati went 528 minutes without scoring. That came during a miserable 1-12-1 run that saw head coach Alan Koch fired.

Osorio, pointing to TFC’s upset loss to Houston, is not taking the Ohio team lightly.

“In this league there’s no easy games, no matter what. If you don’t show up for the game, you’ll most likely lose,” he said.

Hagglund, who attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, says expansion teams come with obvious challenges. “Sometimes there are more lumps than there are ups.”

But he has no regrets about the move. 

“Being home with family and friends has been a really specially experience, to be able to play in front of them,” he said. “It was inconceivable for me growing up here that there’d be an MLS team here. For the stars to align while I’m here, to be able to play in the first season has been truly a blessing.”

While he loved his time in Toronto, Hagglund said he suspected his time might be up here when the team acquired veteran Belgian centre back Laurent Ciman last December.

“I was just looking for a bigger role in a team. I felt like something was going to budge at some point,” he said.

FC CINCINNATI (5-15-2) AT TORONTO FC (8-9-5)

Saturday, BMO Field

WHO’S HOT: Toronto’s Jozy Altidore has scored in his last three games, upping his season total to eight.

SHOOTING SHOES: Despite losing 2-0 to New England last time out, Cincinnati matched a club record with seven shots on goal.

NEW FACES: Dutch centre back Maikel van der Werff, formerly of Vitesse, is expected to make his Cincinnati debut. But winger Erickson Gallardo’s TFC debut may have to wait. The Venezuelan, who celebrated his 23rd birthday Friday, is listed as questionable.

REMATCH: The teams meet again Sept. 7 at Nippert Stadium.

Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press