Two weeks after the end of the postseason, the Vancouver Whitecaps are already making changes. The team announced Monday that it is parting ways with head coach Vanni Sartini and will search 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 expressed their gratitude to each other.
“I took my time with this decision and it was not taken lightly,” Schuster said in a statement. “We’ve made important strides every year and now is the right time for someone else to lead this group on the field with fresh, new energy.”
“I will always be grateful to Axel Schuster and the ownership for entrusting me with the technical leadership of this club at such an important time,” Sartini added in a statement. “I will also always fondly remember the accomplishments on the field, but most of all I will cherish 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 changed, but the Whitecaps were never able to advance past the first round. That tradition continued this year, with Vancouver falling in the first round to LAFC after forcing a win-or-go-home third game.
Sartini also led Vancouver to three straight Canadian championships, defeating a field of professional soccer teams across Canada. Three Canadian MLS teams — Vancouver, Toronto FC and CF Montréal — participated in the tournament.
The Whitecaps finished eighth this season after going 13W-8D-13L. Vancouver started the postseason well, demolishing the Portland Timbers 5-0 in the wild card round.
The win was especially impressive considering it was in Portland; despite being ranked higher, Vancouver was unable to host due to a stadium conflict, with the team’s BC Place team scheduled to host a motocross event that day. After Timbers head coach Phil Neville joked that happiness means “God is a Timbers fan,” Sartini responded after the game, “God may be a Timbers fan, but God doesn’t exist for me.”
(Sartini’s witty remarks have gotten him into trouble before: After a controversial call that changed the course of last year’s playoffs, Sartini was suspended for 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, despite the postseason still underway. Earlier this month, the Philadelphia Union fired longtime head coach Jim Curtain after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs, while Inter Miami coach Tata Martino decided to leave the team for personal reasons. Atlanta United also has a head coaching opening following the firing of Gonzalo Pineda in June.