2023 Vancouver Whitecaps FC season explained

Club:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Vanni Sartini
Chairman:Jeff Mallett
Cup1:MLS Cup Playoffs
Cup1 Result:Round One
Cup3 Result:Quarter-finals
League Topscorer:Brian White

15

Season Topscorer:Brian White

16

Highest Attendance:League/All: 30,204
November 5 vs. Los Angeles FC
Lowest Attendance:League/All: 11,652
April 5 vs. LAFC
Average Attendance:16,745[1]
Largest Loss:VAN 0–3 LAFC
CCL (4/05)
LAFC 3–0 VAN
CCL (4/11)
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Prevseason:2022
Nextseason:2024

The 2023 Vancouver Whitecaps FC season was the club's twelfth season in Major League Soccer, the top division of soccer in the United States and Canada. Including previous iterations of the franchise, this was the 46th season of professional soccer being played in Vancouver under a variation of the "Whitecaps" name.

Having won the 2022 Canadian Championship, the Whitecaps participated in the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time since the 2016–17 edition and third time overall.

Current roster

No.NameNationalityPositionDate of birth (age)Previous club
Goalkeepers
1Thomas HasalGK2 July 1999 Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23
18Yohei TakaokaGK16 March 1996 Yokohama F. Marinos
50Max AnchorGK21 July 2004 Whitecaps FC 2
60Isaac BoehmerGK20 November 2001 Vancouver Whitecaps Development Squad
Defenders
2Mathías LabordaDF15 September 1999
3Sam AdekugbeDF16 January 1995 Hatayspor
4Ranko VeselinovićDF24 March 1999 Vojvodina
6Tristan BlackmonDF12 August 1996
7Richie LaryeaDF7 January 1995 Nottingham Forest
12Karifa YaoDF28 September 2000
14Luís MartinsDF10 June 1992 Sporting Kansas City
23Javain BrownDF19 March 1999 South Florida Bulls
61Matteo CampagnaDF27 June 2004
Midfielders
8Alessandro SchöpfMF7 February 1994 Arminia Bielefeld
16Sebastian BerhalterMF10 May 2001 Columbus Crew
20Andrés CubasMF22 May 1996 Nîmes
22Ali AhmedMF10 October 2000 Whitecaps FC 2
25Ryan GauldMF16 December 1995
26J.C. NgandoMF20 November 1999 UNC Greensboro Spartans
27Ryan RaposoMF5 March 1999
30Kamron HabibullahMF3 October 2003 Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23
31Russell TeibertMF22 December 1992 Vancouver Whitecaps (USSF-D2)
45Pedro ViteMF9 March 2002 Independiente del Valle
Forwards
11Junior HoilettFW5 June 1990
24Brian WhiteFW3 February 1996
28Levonte JohnsonFW15 March 1999 Whitecaps FC 2
29Simon BecherFW20 July 1999 Whitecaps FC 2
Out on Loan
7Déiber CaicedoFW25 March 2000
8Caio AlexandreMF24 February 1999

See also: List of Vancouver Whitecaps FC players.

Transfers

In

Transferred in

PositionPlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource
22 Whitecaps FC 2Free[2]
12 CF MontréalRe-Entry Draft Stage One[3]
29 Whitecaps FC 2Free[4]
26 UNC Greensboro Spartans2023 MLS SuperDraft/Generation Adidas[5]
50 Whitecaps FC 2Homegrown player[6]
2 NacionalFree[7]
18 Yokohama F. MarinosUndisclosed[8]
9 FC AugsburgUndisclosed/Designated Player[9]
28 Whitecaps FC 2Free[10]
3 HataysporUndisclosed[11]
11 ReadingFree[12]

Loans in

Out

Transferred out

PositionPlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource
12RetiredOption declined[14]
15 FC Khimki
18
33 San Jose EarthquakesOut of contract
2 Korona KielceOption declined[15]
9 Club Tijuana
17 Odd
26RetiredOut of contract, retired
28 St. Louis City SCOption declined
55 Orange County SC
87Retired
13 Malmö FFUndisclosed[16]
3 Toronto FCClaimed off Waivers[17]
11 D.C. United$350,000 GAM + $200,000 conditional GAM[18]
19 Columbus Crew$550,000 GAM + $300,000 conditional GAM[19]
9 AlanyasporUndisclosed[20]

Loans out

PositionPlayerLoaned toDateLoan expiresSource
8 Fortaleza[21]
7 Junior FC[22]

MLS SuperDraft picks

See main article: 2023 MLS SuperDraft.

RoundNo.Pos.PlayerCollege/Club teamTransactionSource
1(5)MF J.C. NgandoSigned to a Generation Adidas deal [23]
1(29)FW Levonte Johnson Syracuse[24]
2(42)DF Daniel Nimick[25]
3(71)DF Buster Sjöberg[26]

Major League Soccer

Regular season

See main article: 2023 Major League Soccer season.

League tables

Overall

Matches

MLS Cup Playoffs

See main article: 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Whitecaps clinched a playoff berth on October 4, following a 3–0 win against St. Louis City SC. On October 7, Vancouver ensured that they would receive a bye into Round One of the playoffs following a 0–0 draw against Seattle Sounders FC guaranteeing them a home playoff game for the first time since 2017.[27]

Round One

Los Angeles FC won the series 2–0.

Canadian Championship

See main article: 2023 Canadian Championship. As champions of the 2022 tournament, the Whitecaps received a bye into the quarter-finals.

CONCACAF Champions League

See main article: 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.

Quarterfinals

Leagues Cup

See main article: 2023 Leagues Cup.

Group stage

See main article: 2023 Leagues Cup group stage. The Vancouver Whitecaps qualified to the Leagues Cup group stage as a wildcard team. They were drawn into West Group 3.

Knockout stage

See main article: 2023 Leagues Cup knockout stage.

Statistics

Appearances and goals

|-! colspan="16" style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers |-! colspan="16" style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders |-! colspan="16" style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders |-! colspan="16" style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards |-! colspan="16" style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred out during the season

Goalscorers

width=15width=15width=15width=15width=145Namewidth=80MLSwidth=80MLS Playoffswidth=80Canadian Championshipwidth=80Leagues Cupwidth=80Champions Leaguewidth=80Total
124FWBrian White15111220
225MFRyan Gauld11010012
329FWSimon Becher402017
445MFPedro Vite400116
519DFJulian Gressel302005
69FWSergio Córdova200204
76DFTristan Blackmon200013
22MFAli Ahmed201003
94DFRanko Veselinović200002
16MFSebastian Berhalter200002
112DFMathías Laborda100001
3DFSam Adekugbe010001
aligm=center7DFRichie Laryea100001
8MFAlessandro Schöpf100001
23DFJavain Brown100001
27MFRyan Raposo000011
28FWLevonte Johnson001001
Own goals401116
Totals55295778

Clean sheets

width=15width=15width=15width=15width=145Namewidth=80MLSwidth=80MLS Playoffswidth=80Canadian Championshipwidth=80Leagues Cupwidth=80Champions Leaguewidth=80Total
118GKYohei Takaoka8010110
Totals8010110

Disciplinary record

PlayerMLSMLS PlayoffsCanadian ChampionshipLeagues CupChampions League Total
1GKThomas Hasal000 000 000000000000
2DFMathías Laborda610 000 000 000000610
3DFSam Adekugbe200 100 000 000000300
3DFCristián Gutiérrez000 000 000 000000000
4DFRanko Veselinović200 100 000 000100400
6DFTristan Blackmon500 100 100000100700
7FWDéiber Caicedo000 000 000000000000
7DFRichie Laryea200 000 000 000000200
8MFAlessandro Schöpf500 100 000000000600
9FWSergio Córdova100 000 100000000200
11FWCristian Dájome000 000 000000 100100
12DFKarifa Yao000 000 000000000000
14DFLuís Martins200 000 000000000200
16MF 600 000 100000100800
18GK Yohei Takaoka000 000 100000000100
19DF Julian Gressel200 000 000000000200
20MFAndrés Cubas700 000 000200000900
22MFAli Ahmed200 000 000000100300
23DFJavain Brown400 100 000100 100600
24FWBrian White400 000 000 000000400
25MFRyan Gauld500 000 000100 000600
26MF J.C. Ngando000 000 000000100100
27MFRyan Raposo500 000 000000 100600
28FWLevonte Johnson000 100 000 000000000
29FWSimon Becher000 100 000000000100
30MFKamron Habibullah000 000 000 000000000
31MFRussell Teibert000 000 000000 000000
45MFPedro Vite400 100 000000 000400
50GKMax Anchor000 000 000000000000
60GKIsaac Boehmer000 000 000000000000
61MFMatteo Campagna000 000 000 000000000
Totals6210800400400 8008510

Notes and References

  1. News: Kennedy . Paul . October 22, 2023 . MLS breaks attendance record . . subscription . October 25, 2023.
  2. Web site: Whitecaps FC sign MLS NEXT Pro wingback Ali Ahmed to an MLS contract through 2025. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022.
  3. Web site: Whitecaps FC select former CF Montréal centre back Karifa Yao in Stage 1 of MLS Re-Entry Draft. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 17, 2022. November 17, 2022.
  4. Web site: Whitecaps FC sign MLS NEXT Pro forward Simon Becher to an MLS contract . Major League Soccer. November 17, 2022. November 17, 2022.
  5. Web site: Whitecaps FC select Generation adidas midfielder J.C. Ngando fifth overall in 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 21, 2022. December 21, 2022.
  6. Web site: Whitecaps FC sign BMO Academy goalkeeper Max Anchor to MLS pre-contract and MLS short term agreement. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. May 21, 2022. October 19, 2022.
  7. Web site: Whitecaps FC sign Uruguayan centre back Mathías Laborda. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. January 9, 2023. January 9, 2023.
  8. Web site: Whitecaps FC acquire J1 League Best XI goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. February 17, 2023. February 17, 2023.
  9. Web site: Whitecaps FC acquire Venezuelan international striker Sergio “La Pantera” Córdova. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. February 20, 2023. February 20, 2023.
  10. Web site: Whitecaps FC sign MLS NEXT Pro forward Levonte Johnson to an MLS contract. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. June 30, 2023. June 30, 2023.
  11. Web site: Whitecaps FC acquire Canadian international, BMO Academy graduate Sam Adekugbe. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 3, 2023. August 3, 2023.
  12. Web site: Whitecaps FC acquire Canadian international Junior Hoilett. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. September 14, 2023. September 14, 2023.
  13. Web site: Whitecaps FC acquire Canadian international wingback Richie Laryea. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 2, 2023. August 2, 2023.
  14. Web site: Whitecaps FC announce roster updates and post-season training. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. October 18, 2022. October 18, 2022.
  15. Web site: Whitecaps FC announce additional 2023 roster updates. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 14, 2022. November 14, 2022.
  16. Web site: Whitecaps FC transfer defender Derek Cornelius to Swedish side Malmö FF. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 15, 2022. December 15, 2022.
  17. Web site: Toronto FC Acquire Defender Cristián Gutiérrez. March 14, 2023. Toronto FC.
  18. Web site: Whitecaps FC acquire up to $550,000 in GAM from D.C. United in exchange for Cristian Dájome. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. April 25, 2023. April 25, 2023.
  19. Web site: Whitecaps FC receive up to $850,000 in General Allocation Money from Columbus Crew in exchange for Julian Gressel. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. July 21, 2023. July 21, 2023.
  20. Web site: Whitecaps FC transfer forward Sergio Córdova to Turkish side Alanyaspor. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. September 15, 2023. September 15, 2023.
  21. Web site: Whitecaps FC extends midfielder Caio Alexandre's loan to Fortaleza EC through 2023. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 28, 2022. December 28, 2022.
  22. Web site: Whitecaps FC loan forward Déiber Caicedo to Colombian side Junior FC. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 3, 2023. August 3, 2023.
  23. Web site: Whitecaps FC select Generation adidas midfielder J.C. Ngando fifth overall in 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 21, 2022. December 21, 2022.
  24. Web site: Whitecaps FC select Canadian forward Levonte Johnson 29th overall in 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 21, 2022. December 21, 2022.
  25. Web site: Whitecaps FC select Canadian centre back Daniel Nimick 42nd overall in 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 21, 2022. December 21, 2022.
  26. Web site: Whitecaps FC select centre back Buster Sjöberg 71st overall in 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 21, 2022. December 21, 2022.
  27. Web site: 'Caps claim another point in quest for playoff positioning. Felipe Vallejo. Whitecaps FC. 7 October 2023. 8 October 2023.

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