Montreal (AFP) – Vanni Sartini, who guided the Vancouver Whitecaps into the playoffs in three of his four seasons, was fired as head coach by the MLS club on Monday. The 48-year-old Italian, who took over the club in November 2021, went 57-51 with 39 games drawn with Vancouver and captured three consecutive Canadian Championship titles.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Vanni,” said Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster. “Vanni gave his all to this club and city. He embraced everything with passion and enjoyed tremendous success along the way. I took my time with this decision and it was not taken lightly. We have taken important steps each year and it is now the right time for someone else to lead this group on the pitch with fresh and new energy.”
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Schuster said the club has already started the search for a successor. The Whitecaps were eighth in the Western Conference this season at 13-13-8 and beat Portland in a wildcard match before falling to Los Angeles FC in the first round of the MLS playoffs.
“It has been an absolute honor to be the head coach of Vancouver Whitecaps,” Sartini said. “I will also always remember with fondness the successes on the field, but what I will cherish the most is the memories of my relationship with the fans, players, staff, and the community.”
© 2024 AFP
