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Nacional Latino was a soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario. The club played in the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1982 originally under the name Dinamo Latino. In 1985, the ownership of the Toronto Blizzard purchased Dinamo's franchise rights, and competed in the NSL until the 1986 season. In 1987, the Blizzard joined the Canadian Soccer League, and the previous ownership retained control of the club under the name Nacional Latino. The club's final season at the professional level lasted until the 1987 season.

The club originally played at Lamport Stadium, and later at Varsity Stadium when under the Toronto Blizzard/Dinamo name.

History

In 1981, Dinamo Latino was granted a franchise in the National Soccer League, and represented the Latin American community in the Greater Toronto Area. Artigas Cruz, a former professional soccer player from Uruguay, served as the inaugural head coach, and later was replaced by Pedro Kozak. The club's first successfully season occurred in the 1983 season where they faced Toronto Italia for the NSL Championship, but were defeated in a series of matches. The club ownership also secured an affiliation agreement with the Toronto Nationals of the Canadian Professional Soccer League during the off season. After the demise of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1984 the Toronto Blizzard joined the NSL by purchasing Dinamo Latino's franchise rights. As the transference of ownership occurred midway through the season the team competed under the name of Toronto Dinamo as the name change required the approval of the league's board of directors.

The change in ownership caused a reshuffling in management and in talent as Toronto recruited former Blizzard head coach Dave Turner. Turner managed to sign several of the Blizzard's veterans with NASL experience, and made an immediate impact in the NSL as Dinamo secured their first piece of silverware by winning the NSL Cup. The following season the team name was officially changed to the Toronto Blizzard and the club became an immediate powerhouse as Toronto managed to retain many of their NASL veterans. The 1986 season produced a treble for the organization as the club clinched the regular season title, and the NSL Cup. Toronto also faced Toronto Italia for the NSL Championship, but were defeated in the finals. On the national level the Blizzard defeated Vancouver Columbus Italia for the NSL Canadian Championship, and Luso Stars Mount Royal of the Quebec National Soccer League (LNSQ) for the NSL Canada Cup.

Though the Blizzard's time in the NSL produced a successful stint it served as a transitory period as Toronto awaited the creation of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL). The Blizzard was the only club accepted from the NSL to receive a franchise in the CSL in 1985. The club officially joined the CSL in 1987 as a charter member. After the departure of Toronto Blizzard to the CSL the previous ownership of Dinamo Latino were granted a franchise in the NSL and operated under the name of Nacional Latino for the 1987 season. The team was originally managed by Luis Caruso, but later was replaced with Luis Ridoutt. Nacional's performance throughout the season proved to be a disappointment, and finished at the bottom of the standings. The team representatives failed to appear at a league meeting around December, 1987, and were disbanded the following year.

Head Coach history

Seasons

References

1. "Estamos Listos para Jugar en la NSL Dicen Jugadores". El popular. December 16, 1981. p. 11.
2. "Dinamo Latino Quiere Ser un Club Completo". El Popular. January 20, 1982. p. 10.
3. "Rehabilitador Triunfo del Dinamo Latino Sobre London City 2-1". El Popular. July 21, 1982. p. 11.
4. ^ "Espero Triunfar en el Dinamo y la NSL". El Popular. April 21, 1982. p. 12.
5. "Positive thinking pays off for Italia". Toronto Star. October 3, 1983. p. B8.
6. "Notas del Futbol Latino". El Popular. April 6, 1983. p. 10.
7. "Nuevo Dueno Para el Dinamo Latino". El popular. June 14, 1985. p. 24.
8. Davidson, James (December 13, 1985). "Blizzard reborn as team in NSL". The Globe and Mail. p. D17.
9. Dellarocca, Stan (June 13, 1985). "Varsity gets soccer team, after all". The Globe and Mail. p. M10.
10. Koep, Bob (August 27, 1985). "Soccer win gives Dinamo big lift". Toronto Star. p. F3.
11. Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 117.
12. "NSL adds farm system, creates Quebec league". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. December 16, 1985. p. 31. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
13. "Blizzard claim 2nd soccer title". Toronto Star. September 20, 1986. p. D5.
14. Koep, Bob (September 25, 1986). "Italia blanks Blizzard for playoff cup". Toronto Star. p. D7.
15. Zwolinski, Mark (September 29, 1986). "Blizzard tops Vancouver to capture national title". Toronto Star. p. B6.
16. Meagher, John (October 6, 1986). "Suspended striker causes row after playing in semi-pro finale". Montreal Gazette. p. C5.
17. Davidson, James (November 19, 1985). "New loop to present pro soccer in May '87". The Globe and Mail. p. C3.
18. "Soccer league set, without Montreal". Montreal Gazette. October 7, 1986. p. E2.
19. Koep, Bob (May 15, 1987). "Enlarged soccer league to open with some plans on hold for now". Toronto Star. p. F10.
20. Mendez, Hugo Vera (February 18, 1987). "Notas Del Futbol Latino". El popular. pp. 12, 15.
21. "Once Equipos Competiran En Nuevo Torneo de la National Soccer League". El popular. May 15, 1987. pp. 13, 15.
22. ^ Vera Méndez, Hugo (July 22, 1987). "RIDPUT NUEVO ENTRENADOR". El Popular. p. 13.
23. Mendez, Hugo Vera (December 23, 1987). "Notas Del Futbol Latino". El popular. p. 10.
24. Da Costa, Norman (August 22, 1988). "Soccer's king seeking peace and order". Toronto Star. p. D8.
25. Caton, Mary (July 15, 1985). "Agostini brilliant in Roma's victory over Dinamo". Newspapers.com. Windsor Star. p. 23. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
26. "1982 NSL season" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
27. "El popular, September 28, 1983, page 11 | SFU Digitized Newspapers". newspapers.lib.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
28. "18 Sep 1986, 12 - The Windsor Star at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
29. "16 Sep 1987, 58 - The Windsor Star at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-11-28.

• 1981 establishments in Ontario
• Association football clubs established in 1981
• Association football clubs disestablished in 1988
• Defunct soccer clubs in Canada
• Canadian National Soccer League teams
• Latin American Canadian culture
• Diaspora sports clubs in Canada