VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Monday that goalkeeper coach Marius Røvde will not be returning in order to pursue a new opportunity.
“Marius has been a key member of our technical staff and has played a great part in setting an elite standard for all goalkeepers at the club, which we will work diligently to continue building on,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. “We thank Marius for all of his hard work. I consider him a good friend and wish him the best in his next venture.”
The Norwegian joined the club in June of the inaugural 2011 MLS season and was on the bench for 220 first team matches. During his five and half seasons, Røvde oversaw the club’s goalkeepers, including a 2015 MLS All-Star selection and Goalkeeper of the Year runner-up for David Ousted, and first team debuts for young goalkeepers Marco Carducci and Spencer Richey.
"Whitecaps FC will always be very special to me," said Røvde. "This is the longest I have been at one club. I love the supporters here and my message to them is to keep supporting the club. I've felt like the goalkeepers at this club were my own kids. I'll miss everyone here, and it feels strange to leave, but I felt it was time for a new challenge."
During his tenure, a number of goalkeepers from the club represented Canada on the international level, including first senior national team call-ups for goalkeepers Simon Thomas and Sean Melvin, and Carducci captaining Canada at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
