Canadian Press: Nelsen to become Toronto coach

(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

TORONTO (AP) Ryan Nelsen will replace Paul Mariner as coach of Toronto FC, according to the Canadian Press.

CP said the hiring will be announced at a news conference Tuesday.

Nelsen, a 35-year-old from New Zealand who captained his national team at the 2010 World Cup, has played in 19 games for Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League this season after spending the second half of last season at Tottenham.

"He has been fantastic," Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said. "I took him to Tottenham last year from Blackburn. He's one of the best pros I've ever met in my life, a fantastic player, a great trainer, a leader. He is a massive part of your team (but) he wants to be a manager and it is a chance for him to manage a club."

Nelsen, who played against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, spent 2001-04 with Major League Soccer's D.C. United. Kevin Payne left D.C. United in November to become Toronto's president and general manager.

Updated January 7, 2013