Whitecaps Part Ways With Vanni Sartini

With one year still left on his contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps, few would have suspected that Vanni Sartini would part ways following a playoff-clinching season.

The Italian head coach – well-known for his quotable comments and infectious high energy – has now left the MLS side after first joining as an assistant coach 2019, eventually landing the head coach role in 2021.

“We are incredibly grateful to Vanni,” says Whitecaps Sporting Director and CEO Axel Schuster, who says he took his time with the decision and that 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. We have started the process to find our next head coach as we look to take the next step and build a championship contender in MLS, as well as continental tournaments.”

Sartini was first handed the lead role on an interim basis in 2021 following the sacking of Marc Dos Santos, who told us he left the team in a very good place. Sartini guided the team to playoffs and was made a permanent head coach hire in November, eventually finishing with a track record of three playoff runs in four seasons along with a club-first Canadian Championship three-peat.

“For the last three years and three months, it has been an absolute honour to be the head coach of Vancouver Whitecaps FC,” said Sartini himself.

“I will always be grateful to Axel Schuster and ownership for entrusting me to be the technical lead of this club in such an important time. 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. Vancouver will always have a special place in my heart and my wife’s heart.”

He ended his statement with a trademark ‘Andiamo!’, ultimately finishing one year ahead of his contract’s end with an overall 57W-51L-39D across all competitions. Axel Schuster will be speaking with media today to address the unexpected head coach change-up.

The Whitecaps have been the most stable of the Canadian MLS teams when it comes to its coaching staff: both CF Montreal and Toronto FC have been relative carousels in the last few years, which will put a lot of scrutiny on the ‘Caps new head coach when the hire is made.

Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques