Toronto FC captain Jim Brennan announced his retirement earlier this week. (Rene Johnston/Canadian Press)

Toronto FC is about to find out what life is like without Jim Brennan.

TFC visits the New England Revolution Saturday night in its second game of the young Major League Soccer season, but it'll be the first for the Reds since veteran defender and captain Brennan announced his retirement this past Wednesday.

Brennan, who turns 33 next month, became the first player to join Toronto FC when he signed with the Canadian club prior to its inaugural MLS season in 2007.

He went on to represent the club with distinction for three seasons, before announcing he was walking away from the game to become the club's assistant general manager and work under Mo Johnston.

The timing of the retirement announcement came as a bit of surprise, as Brennan signed a new deal in the off-season, participated in a two-month training camp and started at his left-back position in Toronto's season-opening 2-0 loss to the Columbus Crew on March 27.

"I came to a point where I didn't feel right [physically] and it was time to retire. Fortunately, I had this opportunity to go upstairs and work in the office alongside Mo. For me, it was a no-brainer," Brennan told CBC Sports.

Brennan contemplated finishing out the season, admitting he asked himself whether he could play another year, but in the end he decided "the time was right" to retire.

So, out goes Brennan as team captain. In comes Dwayne De Rosario, like Brennan, a hometown player who is thrilled to wear the captain's armband.

"I'm very humbled by it, it's a lot on my shoulders, [but] the kind of pressure I'm looking for," De Rosario said on TFC's website.

Coach Preki lauded De Rosario's leadership skills, both on and off the field.

"Dwayne is an experienced player in MLS. He knows what it takes to win and will be a good leader for this team," said Preki.

Brennan's retirement means Preki will have to make defensive adjustments, with newcomer Raivis Hscanovics expected to start at left-back.

Aside from that, the Toronto coach will have to find a way to inspire his team to score. The Reds were shut out in their season opener and had trouble scoring in the pre-season, so expect De Rosario to try to force the issue and lead the attack Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

History, though, is not on Toronto's side, as it is winless (three losses and a draw) in four visits to New England since entering the league three years ago. Making matters even worse for TFC is the fact that veteran midfielder Shalrie Joseph, could make his season debut for New England after missing the first two games with a hip injury.

Toronto hosts the Philadelphia Union on April 15 in its home opener of the campaign.