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Major League Soccer all-star coach Steve Nicol has named Toronto FC captain and Canadian international defender Jim Brennan to his final 18-man roster for the July 24 All-Star Game against English Premiership side West Ham at Toronto's BMO Field.
"I found out I was selected from the coaching staff and am delighted to be involved in the game," Brennan said yesterday. "It carries special meaning for me representing the home team in our own stadium."
Brennan, 31, has represented Canada's national team 46 times and scored six goals playing both as a midfielder and defender throughout his career.
Before becoming Toronto FC's first player, signing in July 2006, Brennan had a lengthy professional career in England beginning with Bristol City in 1996.
Toronto FC's Jim Brennan, left, battles the New England Revolution's Sainey Nyassi in the first half of an MLS soccer game on June 28 in Foxborough, Mass. (Michael Dwyer/AP)
Two of Brennan's former Norwich teammates, striker Dean Ashton and goalkeeper Robert Green, are part of the West Ham team which will be making the trip to Toronto.
"It will just be good to see them again and be able to catch up with them," Brennan said.
Despite an injury plagued season in 2007, Brennan was named Toronto defender of the year last season and shared team most valuable player honours with midfielder Carl Robinson.
A Toronto native, Brennan joins fellow Canadian national team members midfielder Dwayne De Rosario of Toronto and goalkeeper Pat Onstad of Vancouver on the MLS squad.
