The Vancouver Whitecaps have parted ways with head coach Vanni Sartini, after a little over three years in that position with the club.
It’s a decision, that at least on the surface, is a justifiable one.
The Whitecaps, as currently constructed, have a finite competitive window. Their star players are either prime-aged or on the tail-end of their best footballing years, while almost all of their key contributors are locked up through the end of 2025. Though next season represents Vancouver’s best opportunity to go “all in” during their MLS history to date, there is also only so much they can do from a player acquisition perspective.
In all reality, that leaves only one option as the most obvious way to shake things up, giving this team the belief that they can take a big step next season. Vanni Sartini suggested as much, citing the possible need for a coaching change in his post-season remarks, perhaps knowing that his days with the club were already limited.
Because of this, I can’t say I’m shocked the Whitecaps decided the best course of action was to switch things up with their coaching. Nor do I necessarily think that such a change is a bad idea. Perhaps a new voice can help the Whitecaps reach the potential they showed for brief spurts in 2024 more consistently over the course of a full season.
That being said, I do have some very serious concerns about the way the club is approaching this change, at least if we are to take their public statements at face value.
Because next year is so crucial, the Whitecaps cannot afford to waste time this off-season wandering in the abyss, not knowing who will lead the team from the touchline when Continental Cup play begins in the new year. The Whitecaps have been rather notorious through their MLS history for getting off to slow starts, these issues usually fuelled by the failure to make off-season moves in a timely fashion, leading to disorganized training camps, and from that, poor early season results.
Axel Schuster, at least based on what he said Monday afternoon, appears unprepared to handle the transition in a timely fashion, and if that is the truth of the matter, that’s simply unacceptable given the gravity of this off-season. To Schuster’s credit, he did cite the importance of 2025 as the reason for making the coaching change, but that will matter little if the Whitecaps are late to make a hire, or fail to show the ambition necessary to make a move that is a significant upgrade on what they had previously.
Finally, it is worth saying a word on Vanni Sartini as he departs the club. The Italian manager, to his core, is an idealist. This characteristic was both his gift and his curse as a first team manager. When everything was going right, the Whitecaps played better football than had ever been seen in Vancouver. Yet, when the wheels came off, Sartini did not always have the composure or the adaptability to grind through tough times.
For all that Vanni was as a manager for the Whitecaps, he was even more as a person. Whether it was his unwavering confidence in speaking his mind, standing up for what he thought was right, or the animated sideline moments and quotable humour that gave him a presence renowned around the league. He was a spokesperson for the Whitecaps that had a reach well beyond anything the club could do on the pitch, especially in the Vancouver market.
Sartini has always been true to his values, and although he won’t be around to raise an MLS Cup as a coach in Vancouver, I have little doubt he will be there for the parade, should that day happen to come.
Axel Schuster is the problem!…..New Ownership also long over due for sure…Put up $$$$$$ or sell!
Herdman is available or is he too toxic right now.
Nobody is touching Herdman for awhile
Agree with the general sentiments here, I like Vanni and am sad to see him go, and I can understand why they’re taking the chance now, but really hope that Axel wasn’t being truthful when he said he hasn’t prepared for this scenario and only said that for show, as a show of faith to Vanni that he wasn’t scheming the whole last few months planning on replacing him
You’re hired to be fired. Any GM will have a list of potential replacements in mind, just like scouting for players.
exactly- Axel is prepared to announce a new head coach before Xmas- will it be Jim Curtain, ex-Philadelphia head coach with really good credentials ?
Interesting times – hope we get it right.
Best of luck to Vanni going forward.
when Axel said, he has no timeline, he is keeping the ‘cat in the bag’ until his signing has happened, which i expect will be sometime before Xmas- i think there has been serious talks with a new head coach
Grazie Mille indeed Vanni Sartini for all he did for Vancouver, Whitecaps and MLS.
Steadily improved this team, making it relevant within the community, media and MLS.
While not without tactical and too hot headed faults, he overachieved and delivered results despite with what little he has been given by Schuster and the Ownership group.
Hope Sartini lands on his feet and remains involved in soccer (and MLS or possibly within Canada in some shape or form)
affanguglo Schuster and Whitecaps Ownership!
No candidate lined up – despite Schuster and Co. “thinking long and hard about it” = FAIL
Ironically the stingy ownership now will have to pay two coaches too…
Unless they get a quality head coaching hire and invest much more in the team, I doubt they’ll match Sartini’s Whitecaps.
From enthusiastic about 2025 and beyond to just above the all time low levels with only the various club scandals including the treatment of players and staff, especially protecting minors being worse.
If Axel has truly not prepared for this scenario, then he should go too.
Its the job of any Chief Exec to always have a shortlist prepared in case the club lose their Head Coach. If he really has not already done that groundwork, then he is basically not doing his job.
As for Vinnie, he has had a fair crack of the whip, with some pretty decent backing as regards signings compared to previous coaches. Definitely time for a change – but Axel, if you are not prepared for this, exactly what do you actually do??
Let’s just try real hard not to hire another participant of the 2009 “Miracle in Montreal” debacle this time, please.
I liked Vanni and I am sad to see him go. He got his team to play with heart and never quit. That made them fun to watch. The team played well for the most part and rarely got beat by inferior teams, and aquitted itself well for its time in the playoffs. I support the Whitecaps largely because they show a team culture I care about and I attribute that to the coach. If the team hires a douche it will affect my ability to support them.
Jim Curtin was just fired from Philadelphia, a move I don’t understand- Curtin’s Philadelphia Union has consistently been toward the bottom of the league in payroll, and until this year were perenially at the top of the table. This was the first year where they performed in close agreement with their position on the payscale and Curtin was fired for it. I think that was a mistake, and if Curtin is available I think he is worth a shot.
IMO, Vanni got fired for 5 reasons:
1. he made huge emotional outbursts at the referees during and after the games– MLS HQ didnt like that, and Owner, Greg Kerfoot, is on the Board of MLS
2. home-grown academy players werent given much of a chance to mature by given quality game time- they rode the bench and had to blow dodge to get a chance to develop further (hello Theo Bair and Derek Cornelius, to name 2)
3. Vanni had reached his ceiling as a head coach- stubborn with his line-ups, game formations and in-game adjustments- and his ANDIAMO rants wear thin with pro players
4. the past 2 seasons the Caps have had poor results for the first 6-8 weeks, thus costing them valuable points that would have made them a serious west conference contender
5. Axel and Vanni squabbled over which players to sign for 2025 and which to let go
IMO, the Club made the right decision- in order to push higher, it wouldnt be with Vanni as head coach
ex-Philadelphia head coach, Jim Curtain, would be an upgrade… or some other experienced head coach, something the Caps have never hired before
Thanks for the insight. Makes more sense to me now.
Where did you see/read that Schuster and Sartini squabbled over the roster?
its an soccer guess on my part– wait and see who comes back on their option contracts and that should tell us something- for example, if our goalie, Yohei Takaoka who is on a $700K contract, is not e-signed on his option, then its a possibility that Vanni wanted the veteran to stay and Axel wanted him gone and he wanted to play our Canadian rookie- who is ready for prime time IMO- Isaac Boehmer (making well under $200K)- i should have used the term “guesses’ rather than ‘reasons’ or ‘possible reasons’
and for anyone to think that Axel isnt ready for a coaching signing, i think people are wrong- he doesnt strike me as a CEO who isnt prepared- Jim Curtain ticks all the boxes IMO- knows MLS, has had success in MLS, makes astute signings, develops young talent-, but its up to him and Axel
Hey Salty. I agree with your 5 points and would add a 6th: poor performances at home. Sartini’s formation and style of play was geared more towards success on the road but didn’t work very well at home. Especially during the 1st halves playing the ball sideways and backwards just doesn’t cut it. And digging more into your formation concerns, all season long there were, for me, defensive concerns. The back 3 at times was getting exposed. There had to be a plan B in place as it seems most teams have. That plan B for Sartini never came to be until crunch time (playoffs) and did that plan B ever work well. If the plan B had been employed more often during the regular season then perhaps we would have finished 3-5 places higher in the standings. Sartini’s assessment of his players was also inaccurate IMO.
totally agree with you- i couldnt believe how many games we played where we were being assassinated on our flanks and Vanni did NOTHING to adjust- shocking stubbornness and naivity
Aw I’m sad. I think the late season slump was due to too many games in too few days and international players being absent. When they got all the pieces together in post season and finally got Armstrong up to speed they looked great. I think Sartini should have been given 2025. I have no confidence that they will find a better replacement.
100% agree, the blame for the poor showing at the end of the season was with key international call-up absenses, too many games, and a lack of depth. That last one is on Axel, he should have added to the roster depth at striker in particular…
They desperately need to sign a striker with a different profile, to supplement Brian White – one who can actually find the back of the net. Other than White, every striker they have signed since joining MLS has been a bust. Finding that guy should have been a priority, not a coaching change.
Instead, they have resigned Kreilach. Same old Caps…
Vanni got the ax because of his politics and because he’s an athiest. He shouldn’t have made those views public, billionaire owners don’t tolerate that sort of thing.
I should have mentioned my reasoning for thinking it was politically motivated is supported by Axel’s comment:
“I have no timeline because I haven’t prepared for this scenario,”
Clearly, he didn’t make the call on Vanni’s firing, this was ownership interference.
Remember other Cap strikers who were highly successful- Camilo Sanvezzo and Kenny Miller- look them up as they had very good results as strikers
but i agree- we need a tricky, quick and skillful winger/attacker- that would be my #1 off-season find
Kreilach signed a 2 year contract- it ends December 31, 2025
vanni gave this team a pretty solid floor, but whether he could raise the ceiling was an open question and that’s the gamble being taken here with getting someone new. lots of pressure on whoever comes in
Not sure I like this. I don’t know how much a new coach will be able to get more out this squad than Vanni did. Especially with, as you write, the likelihood of a prolonged search for a replacement (look forward to being proven wrong).
Agreed
my guess is that Axel already has the hot iron head coach or is near to it – will happen soon
Hmm, that doesn’t jive with Axel’s comment:
“I have no timeline because I haven’t prepared for this scenario”