The Vancouver Whitecaps, just like the Canucks in October, are on fire to start the season. After multiple seasons of very average performances and star players leaving, the Whitecaps are playing the best soccer they’ve played in recent years. That’s all thanks to head coach Vinni Sartini, star attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld, and on fire striker Brian White.
Sartini took over the position of head coach in an interim position on August 27th, 2021. His playstyle brought success to the team and later earned him the title as head coach in November of that year. Since then the Whitecaps have had a healthy mix of success and failure. In the 2022 season, Sartini and the ‘Caps failed to qualify for the playoffs, however they took home the Canadian Championship that same year. In 2023, they made the playoffs, but only to the first round, and took home the Canadian Championship for the second year in a row. This season the Whitecaps sit second in the Western Conference with a 4-2-1 (W-L-D) record. However they have a game in hand on the first place LA Galaxy, who have a 4-1-3 record. The ‘Caps unfortunately lost to the Galaxy last weekend, but look to rally back to take on their long time rivals, the Seattle Sounders.
After a four-game homestand, #VWFC hit the road for their second Cascadia rivalry match of the season, vs Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday ⚔️
🆚 @SoundersFC
🗓️ Sat, April 20 @ 7:30pm
📻 @AM730trafficWatch on @AppleTV and @TSN_Sports 📺#VWFC | #SEAvVANhttps://t.co/3dkL0mRcyz
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) April 19, 2024
Midfielder Ryan Gauld and forward Brian White have been a huge part of any Whitecaps success in the past two seasons. Gauld posted MVP calibre stats last season that helped the ‘Caps secure a playoff spot. He scored 12 times and had a team high 17 assists in all competitions. He recently took the honour of becoming the clubs 25th captain, as well as signing a contract extension until 2027.
Brian White has transformed the attacking line for Sartini, always being a reliable marksman from up front. He joined the Whitecaps the same season as Gauld, each of them making each other a better player. In the 2021 season, White came in halfway through the year and took the team by storm, scoring 12 goals in 23 games to lead the ‘Caps in scoring that season. Last year White hit a different level, scoring 20 times and assisting 5 times in 43 appearances.
“It’s always hard to go to Seattle, because there are 40 000 people that are supporting them and pushing them…” Vinni Sartini, Head Coach, Vancouver Whitecaps
After a four-game homestand, #VWFC hit the road for their second Cascadia rivalry match of the season, vs Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday ⚔️
🆚 @SoundersFC
🗓️ Sat, April 20 @ 7:30pm
📻 @AM730trafficWatch on @AppleTV and @TSN_Sports 📺#VWFC | #SEAvVANhttps://t.co/3dkL0mRcyz
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) April 19, 2024
Gauld and Sartini both look forward to playing against Seattle this weekend, knowing that it won’t be an easy matchup for the Whitecaps.