Watching the ‘Caps for the first time this week? Or just need a little refresher heading into the new season? Then you’re in the right place. On the eve of Thursday’s Champions League quarterfinal vs. New York, we introduce your 2017 Whitecaps FC opening day roster. Kickoff for Thursday’s match is set for 7 p.m. PT at BC Place – tickets are still available.
#1: David Ousted (goalkeeper)
Passionate Danish goalkeeper who has become one of the best in MLS; stopped three straight PKs against New York; family man who penned a heartfelt letter about his late mother last year
#2: Jordan Harvey (left back)
Steady defender from SoCal with an adorable family who have truly embraced the city of Vancouver; 2016 Whitecaps FC Most Valuable Player
#3: Sam Adekugbe (left back)
Young, attacking-minded Canadian left back currently on loan with Brighton & Hove Albion FC, who are in line for promotion to the English Premier League
#4: Kendall Waston (centre back)
Hard-nosed Costa Rican defender who loves a good laugh; 2015 Whitecaps FC Most Valuable Player and 2016 MLS All-Star; 10th strongest player in FIFA 17
#6: David Edgar (centre back)
Experienced Canadian national teamer currently sidelined with a knee injury
#7: Christian Bolaños (attacking midfielder/winger)
Creative Costa Rican midfielder with FIFA World Cup experience
#8: Andrew Jacobson (central midfielder)
Experienced and reliable box-to-box midfielder who calls California home; previously a legal studies major; voted by his teammates as most likely to be president/prime minister
#11: Nicolas Mezquida (attacking midfielder)
Hard-working Uruguayan midfielder with an infectious personality
#12: Fredy Montero (forward)
New ‘Caps striker from Colombia with an impressive resume in MLS, Colombia, Portugal, and China; three time MLS all-star and all-time leading Seattle Sounders FC goalscorer in MLS
#13: Cristian Techera (winger)
Tricky attacker from Uruguay who “gets bums off seats;” nicknamed The Bug, or El Bicho, for his short stature
#14: Cole Seiler (centre back)
Young defender selected 16th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft; stand-up guy with a dry sense of humour; native of Anderson, South Carolina
#15: Matias Laba (midfielder)
The best tackler in MLS; one of the biggest “clowns” on the team and a proud Argentinian
#17: Marcel de Jong (left back/winger)
Ontario-born, Netherlands-raised left back with experience playing in Europe and a lovely left foot
#18: Spencer Richey (goalkeeper)
Up-and-coming keeper from Seattle with a flair for the spectacular and a solid Twitter game
#19: Erik Hurtado (forward)
Pacey and powerful forward who holds the ball up well; recorded two goals and two assists in three Champions League appearances last year; native of Beaverton, Oregon
#20: Brek Shea (winger/forward)
Recently-acquired U.S. international who has spent time in the English Premier League at Stoke City FC; at 6-foot-3, Shea brings a "different dimension" to Vancouver's attack; native of Bryan, Texas
#22: Christian Dean (centre back)
Left-footed centre back who is coming off a challenging year of injuries, which he wrote about in a raw open letter last year; brother Josh Huestis is a member of the NBA’s OKC Thunder; raised in East Palo Alto, California
#23: Kekuta Manneh (midfielder/forward)
One of the fastest players in MLS with the ball at his feet; 94 pace makes him the fastest MLS player in FIFA 17; ranked the fifth best MLS player under the age of 24 in 2016; recently earned a call-up to the U.S. senior national team
#25: Sheanon Williams (right back)
New ‘Caps right back with seven years of MLS experience; Boston native who went to school with Bill Belichick’s sons
#26: Tim Parker (centre back)
Up-and-coming American centre back drafted 13th overall by Whitecaps FC in 2015; scored the first-ever Whitecaps FC goal in CONCACAF Champions League play; native of Hicksville, New York
#27: Deybi Flores (midfielder)
Athletic 20-year-old midfielder who grew up in San Pedro Sula, Honduras
#28: Jake Nerwinski (right back)
Rookie defender selected seventh overall in this year’s MLS SuperDraft; made his pro debut in his home state of New Jersey last week’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg
#29: Yordy Reyna (attacking midfielder/forward)
New Peruvian attacker with plenty of pace and creativity; currently sidelined with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot
#30: Ben McKendry (central midfielder)
23-year-old Vancouver-born midfielder who grew up cheering for the ‘Caps and first joined the club at the age of 14
#31: Russell Teibert (central midfielder)
Niagara Falls, Ontario native who is the longest serving member of the first team, having debuted at the age of 17 in the old USSF D-2 professional league
#32: Marco Bustos (midfielder)
A creative, 20-year-old midfielder who came through Whitecaps FC’s Residency program; born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba
#46: Brett Levis (left back/winger)
Midfielder-turned-left back who came through Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and WFC2 before earning an MLS contract; born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; first-ever player from the University of Saskatchewan to sign an MLS deal; currently sidelined with a knee injury
#47: Kyle Greig (forward)
Captained WFC2 to their first-ever playoff berth and a berth in the USL Western Conference Final before earning an MLS contract this past offseason; native of Olathe, Kansas
#67: Alphonso Davies (winger)
Exciting 16-year-old from Edmonton who last year became the youngest player to appear for Whitecaps FC and second-youngest starter in MLS history
#70: Paolo Tornaghi (goalkeeper)
Popular Italian ‘keeper who came through Inter Milan’s youth system
#77: Mauro Rosales (midfielder)
36-year-old Argentine who rejoined the club this week after spending a year with FC Dallas; a true leader who won a gold medal with Argentina at the 2004 Olympic Games
