Toronto Croatia

 ( Official Website ) 

However, the NASL was never comfortable with the Croatia link (an obvious ethnic connection). League executives lobbied CBS to ensure they were only referred to as "Toronto" in the televised coverage of Soccer Bowl. In 1978, the team was bought out, leaving the Toronto Blizzard in the NASL, while Toronto Croatia returned to the NSL. The club's successes, despite the instabilities it found in each of the leagues in which it had played, showed what a small ethnic group could accomplish in the North American sport. The 1976 team was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame as its 2010 Team of Distinction.

Towards the late 1980s, many players and coaches were brought over from Croatia to help elevate the team and its youth programs. Some of the notable players and managers arriving at that time were Drago Šantić (Sibenik), Velimir Crljen (Zadar), Dubravko Ledić (Mostar), and Mišo Smajlović.

The early 1990s saw the team rise to prominence in the community once again as the Croatian War of Independence had begun in the homeland. This activity culminated in a trip to Croatia sponsored by the Croatian Ministry of Sports and Culture, featuring Toronto against Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, Osijek, Rijeka, Varazdin, and Tomislavgrad. As in the early 1970s, the team became a symbol for the Croatian diaspora community in coming together and campaigning for official recognition for the homeland. At this time, the NSL was beginning to see an elevated level of play, and the attendance at all league games was beginning to rise. Toronto Croatia consistently had the largest attendance of all teams in the league during this era (1990–1995).

With numerous players brought in from Croatia including Josip Lukacevic, Ivan Simic, Goran Pavlic, Mate Stanic, Robert Rupcic and the local youth system providing young talent (Joe Buntic, Frank Delisimunovic, Rob Milek, Anton Granic), the team won the NSL SuperCup and Croatian North American Soccer tournament. Following these successes were PUMA League Championship wins in 1992 and 1995. During both of those seasons, Toronto Croatia won both the League and Croatian National Tournament for North America. During the PUMA league era, Velimir Crljen, Goran Grubesic, Frank Delisimunovic and Anton Granic were voted to the All Star team).

In 1995, Toronto Croatia departed from the CNSL after a dispute with Toronto Italia over alleged debts owned to the club. As a result Toronto Croatia joined the newly formed Canadian International Soccer League, which had sponsorship from Puma. Though the Puma League was a short-lived experiment Toronto Croatia managed to win the league in two consecutive seasons. After the Puma League folded Toronto Croatia, along with Kosova Albanians and Hamilton White Eagles, rejoined the CNSL in 1997. The club continued its tradition of recruiting high-profile Croatian managers from abroad by assigning coaching duties to Zlatko Haramincic. In their return season to the CNSL they finished as runners up in the regular season, which subsequently secured the team a postseason berth. They were eliminated in the preliminary round of the playoffs after 8–1 defeat on goals on aggregate to Toronto Supra.

In 1999 changes were made in Toronto Croatia's managerial department with the appointment of Bruno Pilaš as head coach. Pilaš was able to challenge the Toronto Olympians for the league championship, finishing the season as runners up with the third-highest offensive and defensive record. The club also had a solid Canada Cup tournament, losing the finals 3–0 to the Olympians. In the preliminary round of the postseason Toronto defeated Glen Shields 5–2. In the CPSL Championship final they lost again to the Olympians, who achieved a treble that season. At the conclusion of the season George Azcurra was named the Goalkeeper of the Year.

From 2000 season Velimir Crljen became head coach and Milodrag Akmadzic Backo assistant coach and player. After that in next 15 years (with small breaks) they won many trophies. It was the most successful part of the history. Since 2006 president of the club is Josip Pavicic, also having successful entrepreneurial career. Since 2010 manager is Ivan Kulis. With home players they brought some players from Croatian first and second division. Though Toronto failed in repeating their previous season performance they achieved a postseason berth by finishing third in the standings with the league's second-best offensive and defensive records. Toronto Croatia won their Canada Cup tournament group and advanced to the semifinals, where they were defeated by the Olympians in a 3–2 penalty shootout. Their playoff run began with a 3–1 victory over St. Catharines, advancing to the CPSL Championship final where they again faced the Toronto Olympians. This time Croatia avenged their previous defeats with the Draganic brothers producing goals for a 2–1 championship victory which denied the Olympians back-to-back trebles.

Bruno Pilaš returned as head coach for the 2001 season, when the club relocated to Streetsville, Mississauga to play at Memorial Park, where Mayor Hazel McCallion performed the ceremonial kickoff. Toronto Croatia finished three points shy of a postseason berth and was unable to defend the championship. They likewise failed to advance past their group stage at the Canada Cup tournament. Though the season was an overall failure for Toronto, it was the final occasion as a member of the CPSL that the club would fail to qualify for the postseason. On a positive note George Azcurra received his second Goalkeeper of the Year award.

In 2002, as a result of an increase in teams, the CPSL split the league with Croatia placed in the Western Conference. Zarko Brala managed the squad for the majority of the 2002 season, competing with the Mississauga Olympians for the Conference title, but was discharged on September 9. His dismissal came following the team's defeat in the annual Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament, in which he placed his son, back-up goalkeeper Anthony Brala, into the starting line-up instead of George Azcurra. This brought a negative reaction from the Croatian community, which prompted team president Mario Skara to relive him of his duties. Brala's immediate replacement was former head coach Drago Santic, who had helped the team capture the Puma League title in 1996. Under the guidance of Santic the team won the Western Conference title and achieved a six-game undefeated streak. The team also finished second in the Canada Cup tournament, losing 1–0 to the Ottawa Wizards. However they performed poorly in the playoffs, with a defeat to the North York Astros in the preliminary round. Toronto Croatia had the second-best defensive record in the league, with Azcurra recognized as Goalkeeper of the Year and Domagoj Sain as Defender of the Year.

Toronto Croatia began the 2003 season with a devastating streak of five defeats and an early departure from the Open Canada Cup with a 4–2 loss to Toronto Supra. As a result Santic was relieved from his coaching duties and Velemir Crljen returned in his previous capacity as player-coach. To improve the team's situation, Crljen used the club's overseas connections to bring in players including Josip Juric, Antonijo Zupan, Jure Pavic, Ivica Raguz, and Ante Pavlovic. These additions helped the team recover and finish third in their conference, gaining a postseason berth. In the first round of the playoffs they defeated the Brampton Hitmen 4–3 in a penalty shootout. However this result was overturned by the league after Brampton filed a protest that two suspended Croatian officials had overseen the match. At the conclusion of the season Domagoj Sain received his second Defender of the Year award.

Aldo Krajcar served as head coach for the 2004 season in which the club won another CPSL Championship. They achieved a second-place finish in the Western Conference followed by a 5–0 victory over the Windsor Border Stars in the first round of the postseason. The club was required to play a wildcard match against the Brampton Hitmen, avenging their previous playoff encounter with a score of 3–1. Croatia defeated Western Conference champions Hamilton Thunder 2–0, and in the finals beat the Vaughan Shooters 4–0 with Marasovic, Marko Milicevic, and Zupan scoring the goals.

Crljen returned for his third term as head coach in 2005, with the team acquiring Caribbean talent Hayden Fitzwilliams, Caswain Mason, and Halburto Harris. Toronto Croatia was transferred to the Eastern Conference, over which they battled with Vaughan for supremacy, with Vaughan finishing as champions. In the first round of the postseason they beat Laval Dynamites with Leo Laurito scoring the winning goal. Croatia faced North York Astros in a wildcard round, where player-coach Crljen secured the match 1–0 with an overtime goal. In the second round they lost to Vaughan Shooters, 4–0, failing to defend their championship.