Grazie Mille Vanni Sartini | Vancouver Whitecaps FC

VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Monday that the club has parted ways with head coach Vanni Sartini.

“We are incredibly grateful to Vanni,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director and CEO. “Since arriving in Vancouver six years ago, Vanni gave everything to this club and city. He embraced everything with passion and had tremendous success along the way. I am very grateful for our friendship and wish him all the best.

“I took my time with this decision and it was not taken lightly. We have taken important steps every year and now is the right time for someone else to lead this group on the field with fresh and new energy. We have started the process of finding 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 initially joined the club as a first-team assistant coach before the start of the 2019 MLS season, before moving to director of methodology in September 2020 and head coach of the second team. In August 2021, Sartini was named the acting head coach of the first team and led Vancouver to an improbable run to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs.

“For the past three years and three months, it has been an absolute honor to be the head coach of Vancouver Whitecaps FC,” Sartini added. “I will always be grateful to Axel Schuster and the ownership for entrusting me to be the technical manager of this club at such an important time. I will also always remember the successes on the pitch with pleasure, but what I will value most is Memories of my relationship with fans, players, staff and the local community will always hold a special place in my heart and my wife’s heart!

The Florence, Italy native was officially named head coach in late November 2021. During his three-plus years as first team head coach, Sartini helped the ‘Caps qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs in three of his four seasons, won three consecutive TELUS Canadian Championships, and advanced from the group stage in both the 2023 and 2024 Leagues Cup. Sartini posted an MLS regular season record of 44W-40L-32D and an overall record of 57W-51L-39D in all competitions.

In addition to his work on the field, Sartini was active in the community, participating in several mini-pitch openings in Indigenous communities, as well as charitable initiatives, including work with the BC SPCA.

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