Vancouver Whitecaps Part Ways With Manager Vanni Sartini

Another Manager role within Major League Soccer is open after the Vancouver Whitecaps have parted ways with Vanni Sartini. The 48 year old Sartini has been managing Vancouver since the summer of 2021. During his time as Manager of the Whitecaps, Sartini led this club to a record of 62 wins, 33 draws, and 53 losses in 148 games. Sartini also led the Whitecaps to three consecutive CONCACAF Champions Cup appearances by winning three consecutive Canadian Championships. 

Outside of Tata Martino, this was the first managerial departure that really has me scratching my head. Before Vanni’s arrival in Vancouver, this Whitecaps organization was not good. This was a club that did not do much within MLS, it’s playoffs, and had only won one other Canadian Championship title in their history. Outside of the success in numbers, Sartini had the Whitecaps playing their most fun and attractive style within their MLS era. My only thought in rationalizing this firing (and I am not sure if I even agree with this) is that what we’ve seen in 2024 is the ceiling in which Sartini can lead this squad to. Heading into these playoffs Sartini had three DPs, a few U22 Initiative players, solid domestic talents, and they still couldn’t get over the LAFC boogeyman.

Where could the Whitecaps go from here in terms of Manager? You can always count on the MLS familiar names like Jim Curtin, Josh Wolff, Luchi Gonzalez, Robin Fraser, Gonzalo Pineda, Gary Smith, Gio Savarese, Bradley Carnell, and Adrian Heath. There are also some Interim Managers from last season that you feel like deserve a chance at a full time Manager role; Peter Luccin and Rob Valentino. However, my eyes are staying in Canada and are looking at current Forge FC Manager Bobby Smyrniotis. The 45 year old Canadian has created a dominant club within the Canadian Premier League, playing such a fun style of soccer over the last few years. Smyrniotis has led Forge FC to four Canadian Premier League titles along with two Canadian Premier League Regular Season titles.