Two weeks after the end of the playoffs, the Vancouver Whitecaps are already making changes. The team announcement On Monday, he parted ways with head coach Vanni Sartini and will look for a new coach this offseason.
Sartini has been a member of the Whitecaps organization since 2019, starting as an assistant coach. He was promoted to head coach in November 2021.
In a statement, Sartini and Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster both expressed their gratitude to each other.
“I took my time in making this decision, and it was not taken lightly,” Schuster said in the statement. “We have reached significant milestones each year and now is the right time for someone else to lead this group on the field with new and fresh energy.”
“I will always be grateful to Axel Schuster and the management for entrusting me with technical responsibility for this club at such an important time,” Sartini added in the statement. “I will always fondly remember the successes on the field, but what I will cherish most are the memories of my relationship with the fans, players, staff and community. Vancouver will always have a special place in my heart. “
Sartini led the team to two playoff appearances in three years and change, but the Whitecaps never made it past the first round. That tradition continued this year, with Vancouver losing to LAFC in the first round after forcing a win-or-go-home Game 3.
Sartini also led Vancouver to three consecutive Canadian Championships, beating the field of professional soccer teams across Canada. The tournament included all three Canadian MLS teams: Vancouver, Toronto FC and CF Montreal.
The Whitecaps finished eighth this season after a 13-8-13 record. Vancouver started the playoffs well, demolishing the Portland Timbers 5-0 in the wild-card round.
The victory was particularly impressive given that it took place in Portland; despite being the higher seed, Vancouver was unable to host due to a stadium conflict, with the team’s BC Place scheduled to host a motocross event that day. After Timbers head coach Phil Neville joked that luck meant “God is a Timbers fan”, Sartini responded in kind after the game: “God may be a Timbers fan but God doesn’t exist for me.”
(Sartini’s witty remarks have gotten him in trouble before: After a controversial call changed the course of last year’s playoffs, Sartini was suspended five games for joking that he would be a suspect if the referee was found dead.)
Sartini’s firing is just the latest MLS coach to part ways with his team, even though the playoffs are still underway. Earlier this month, the Philadelphia Union fired longtime head coach Jim Curtin after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs, while Inter coach Miami’s Tata Martino has chosen to leave the team for personal reasons. Atlanta United also opened a head coaching position after firing Gonzalo Pineda in June.
