VANCOUVER, BC – Here it is, everyone: Your 2014 Vancouver Whitecaps FC roster.
After a swarm of acquisitions throughout the preseason, there are now 26 players on Vancouver’s active Major League Soccer roster – not including the four players on loan.
Below, we breakdown the ‘Caps squad on the eve of MLS First Kick.
Goalkeepers (3): Marco Carducci, David Ousted, Paolo Tornaghi
Coach’s comment: “We have a great balance of experience with David, obviously MLS know-how in Paolo, and one of the rising stars in Canadian football in Marco Carducci. We’re very well structured there, not just for this year but the years ahead.”
Defenders (9): Sam Adekugbe (LB), Steven Beitashour (RB), Christian Dean (CB/LB), Jay DeMerit (CB), Jordan Harvey (LB), Johnny Leveron (CB), Carlyle Mitchell (CB), Andy O’Brien (CB), Ethen Sampson (RB/CB)
CB: Centre back
LB: Left back
RB: Right back
Coach’s comment: “Defending is obviously a key area for us. We’re very well stocked at the moment. We have five centre backs, so we’re very good in that area. They all complement each other and all bring different attributes. We have two left backs in Sam and Jordan. Jordan is an experienced MLS guy who knows how to play the game and Sam is another up and coming young player who is fantastic attacking-wise. At right back, we have Steven Beitashour – an MLS all-star who knows this league inside out and Ethen Sampson, a young and aggressive Homegrown product.”
Midfielders (10): Bryce Alderson (CM), Mehdi Ballouchy (CM/W), Sebastian Fernandez (W/F), Erik Hurtado (W/F), Gershon Koffie (CM), Matias Laba (CM), Nicolas Mezquida (AM), Pedro Morales (AM), Nigel Reo-Coker (CM), Russell Teibert (CM/W)
DM: Centre midfielder
AM: Attacking midfielder
W: Winger
F: Forward
Coach’s comment: “Midfield is a great strength for us this year, compared to last year. We totally shook it up in that area. We have holding players in Matias Laba and Bryce Alderson, forward-thinking players in Nigel Reo-Coker and Gershon Koffie, and obviously then a number of exciting attacking players.”
Forwards (4): Kekuta Manneh (W/F), Darren Mattocks (F), Kenny Miller (F), Omar Salgado (W/F)
Coach’s comment: “We have a good mix of experience and youth in Darren Mattocks and Kenny Miller. We also then have Omar and Kekuta who can play up there. We have competition for places and it’s important that we have different attributes in those areas. Everyone brings something different to the table, which was the important thing.”
How the team was built:
- Transfers/signings: 12
- Homegrown players: 5
- MLS SuperDraft picks: 5
- Trade or Re-Entry Draft: 4
Births by decade:
- 70s: 3
- 80s: 9
- 90s: 14
Birth countries: 16
- United States (6)
- Canada (3)
- England (3)
- Uruguay (2)
- Argentina (1)
- Chile (1)
- Denmark (1)
- Gambia (1)
- Ghana (1)
- Honduras (1)
- Italy (1)
- Jamaica (1)
- Morocco (1)
- Scotland (1)
- South Africa (1)
- Trinidad & Tobago (1)
Birth continents: 4
- North America: 10
- Africa: 6
- Europe: 6
- South America: 4
Includes Honduran Johnny Leveron.
Canadians: 5
- Sam Adekugbe (permanent resident)
- Bryce Alderson (born in Kitchener, Ontario)
- Marco Carducci (born in Calgary, Alberta)
- Gershon Koffie (permanent resident)
- Russell Teibert (born in Niagara Falls, Ontario)
MLS Experience:
- Games played: 875
- Goals: 67
- Assists: 77
Whitecaps FC begin their 2014 MLS season on March 8 versus New York Red Bulls at BC Place. Season tickets start at just $349 and single-match tickets start at $22, subject to applicable fees. The 'Caps also offer a flexible range of ticket products, including half-season tickets ($244), 5-packs ($149), student season tickets ($199), and a youth soccer half-season ticket ($100). For more information on all Whitecaps FC ticket options, call 604.669.9283 ext. 2 or visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
