Let the games begin.
After a massive offseason overhaul, Vancouver Whitecaps FC open the 2019 MLS regular season against Minnesota United FC on Saturday afternoon at BC Place (3 p.m. PT kickoff on TSN 1/4 - tickets still available).
Get to know the 25 players who make up Vancouver's opening day roster.
GOALKEEPERS
16.Maxime Crépeau (Age: 24, Nationality: Canadian)
A Canadian national team goalkeeper who developed through the Montreal Impact Academy, Maxime Crépeau was acquired in December 2018 in exchange for $50,000 of Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and Vancouver's natural third round pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. Last season, Crépeau recorded a USL single-season record with 15 clean sheets for Ottawa Fury FC, en route to winning the 2018 USL Goalkeeper of the Year award.
18.Zac MacMath (Age: 27, Nationality: American)
An experienced goalkeeper with more than 130 MLS appearances under his belt, Zac MacMath was acquired from Colorado Rapids in exchange for midfielder Nicolás Mezquida and $100,000 of Targeted Allocated Money. At the time of his arrival in Vancouver, MacMath ranked in the top 10 across MLS in clean sheets in league play since he entered the league in 2011.
39.Sean Melvin (Age: 24, Nationality: Canadian)
A graduate of the Whitecaps FC Academy, Sean Melvin signed an MLS Homegrown contract in April 2018. Prior to joining the first team, the Victoria, B.C. native played his first two professional seasons in USL with Whitecaps FC 2 before later joining USL affiliate Fresno FC.
DEFENDERS
2.Doneil Henry (Age: 25, Nationality: Canadian)
An athletic Canadian international centre back, Doneil Henry was acquired via the Major League Soccer Allocation Process in December 2017 following three seasons with English Premier League club West Ham United FC.
13.Derek Cornelius (Age: 21, Nationality: Canadian)
After making his Canadian men’s national team debut in September 2018 and being named the 2018 Canadian Youth International Player of the Year, centre back Derek Cornelius joined Whitecaps FC via transfer from Serbian side FK Javor
Ivanjica
in January 2019.
20.Jasser Khmiri (Age 21, Nationality: Tunisian)
A young Tunisian international with upside, centre back Jasser Khmiri joined Whitecaps FC via transfer from Stade Tunisien in February 2019. Khmiri is the first Tunisian player to sign in Major League Soccer.
22.É
rik Godoy (Age: 25, Nationality: Argentine)
An aggressive Argentine centre back, Érik Godoy brings eight years of top-tier Superliga Argentina experience to Vancouver after joining Whitecaps FC on a one-year loan from Club Atlético Colón in February 2019.
23.Scott Sutter (Age: 32, Nationality: English/Swiss)
An experienced right back with experience in the UEFA Champions League, Scott Sutter joined Whitecaps FC in January 2019 following two seasons with Orlando City SC and 14 seasons in the Swiss Super League.
28.Jake Nerwinski (Age: 24, Nationality: American)
An athletic right back entering his third season with the ‘Caps, Jake Nerwinski signed his first MLS contract with Whitecaps FC on February 9, 2017 after getting selected seventh overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. He was named the club's Most Promising Player in his first season.
46.Brett Levis (Age: 25, Nationality: Canadian)
A winger-turned-left back who previously excelled with Whitecaps FC U-23 and at the University of Saskatchewan, Brett Levis joined Whitecaps FC 2 for the team's inaugural USL season. Levis then signed an MLS contract with Whitecaps FC on August 23, 2016.
94.Victor “PC” Giro (Age: 24, Nationality: Brazilian)
A versatile, left-footed player who can line up as left back as well as left winger, Victor Giro, more widely known as “PC,” began his career in his native Brazil before making a name for himself in the NASL, then moving up to MLS with Orlando City SC in 2017. PC was acquired from Orlando in December 2018 in exchange for Vancouver's natural third round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.
MIDFIELDERS
4.Inbeom Hwang (Age: 22, Nationality: South Korean)
A rising South Korean international midfielder with a “gift technically,” according to Whitecaps FC head coach Marc Dos Santos, Inbeom Hwang was acquired via transfer in January 2019 and signed as a Young Designated Player.
6.Jon Erice
(Age: 32, Nationality: Spanish)
A left-footed Spanish midfielder with over 300 appearances of experience in European football, including a number of seasons as captain or co-captain, Jon Erice was acquired in January 2019 via transfer from La Liga 2 side Albacete Balompié.
8.Felipe Martins (Age: 28, Nationality: Brazilian)
A fiercely competitive, box-to-box midfielder, Felipe was acquired by in March 2018 after previously starring for Montreal Impact, and most recently, New York Red Bulls. He has recorded at least five assists in all seven of his seasons in MLS.
15.Andy Rose (Age: 28, Nationality: English)
A versatile and reliable midfielder, Andy Rose returns to the league after having spent the last three years with English Football League One club Coventry City and Scottish Premiership side Motherwell. He previously spent four seasons Seattle Sounders FC from 2012 to 2015.
24.David Norman Jr. (Age: 20, Nationality: Canadian)
A member of the club since the age of nine, David Norman Jr. signed his first professional contract with WFC2 in January 2017 and was then named the WFC2 Player of the Year. He signed his first MLS contract in December 2017 and was loaned in September 2018 to Scottish Championship side Queen of the South FC through the end of the year.
31.Russell Teibert
(Age: 26, Nationality: Canadian)
The longest serving member of the club, Russell Teibert first joined the Whitecaps FC Academy in 2008 before signing an MLS Homegrown contract ahead of Vancouver’s inaugural MLS season in 2011. The Canadian international midfielder was the recipient of the club’s 2018 Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero award.
54.Simon Colyn (Age: 16, Nationality: Canadian/Dutch)
A product of Langley, BC, Simon Colyn joined the first team in April 2018 before making his professional debut in the 2018 MLS season finale against Portland Timbers, coming on for the departing Alphonso Davies. At 16 years and 219 days old, Colyn became the second-youngest player to make an MLS appearance for Whitecaps FC, next only to Davies.
55.Michael Baldisimo (Age: 18, Nationality: Canadian)
Hailing from Burnaby, BC, Michael Baldisimo joined the Whitecaps FC Academy in September 2011 after representing Western Canada at the youth level. He signed his first professional contract with Whitecaps FC 2 in the USL in March 2017, then moved up to the first team in July 2018. Baldisimo was named the 2018 Whitecaps FC Most Promising Player after helping the U-19s to a semifinal finish in the 2018 Academy Championship.
FORWARDS/WINGERS
7.Lucas Venuto(Age: 24, Nationality: Brazilian)
A dynamic winger with pace and energy in his game, Brazilian winger Lucas Venuto was acquired via transfer from FK Austria Wien in January 2019. In his three years with Austria Wien, Venuto compiled 66 starts and 87 appearances, scoring 14 goals including UEFA Europa League and Austrian Cup competition.
9.Joaquín Ardaiz (Age: 20, Nationality: Uruguayan)
A big, physical striker that has been scouted by top clubs around the world, Joaquín Ardaiz joined Whitecaps FC in February 2019 as a Young Designated Player after featuring in top leagues in Uruguay, Belgium, and Italy.
12.Fredy Montero (Age: 31, Nationality: Colombian)
An experienced striker with proven goalscoring ability, Fredy Montero originally joined Whitecaps FC in February 2017 on a one-year loan, capturing the Whitecaps FC Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot award and helping lead the 'Caps to their first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs win. In February 2019, he would make his return to Vancouver after having spent a year-plus with Portuguese Primeira Liga giants Sporting CP.
19.Lass Bangoura (Age: 26, Nationality: Guinean/Spanish)
An explosive Guinean international winger who has spent majority of his career in Spain, Alhassane “Lass” Bangoura was acquired in January 2019 on a one-year loan with an option to purchase from Spanish La Liga club Rayo Vallecano de Madrid S.A.D.
29.Yordy Reyna
(Age: 25, Nationality: Peruvian)
An electric and entertaining attacker, Yordy Reyna was acquired from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2017. Since
joining the club
, Reyna has thrilled ‘Caps fans to the tune of 13 goals and 15 assists in 37 starts and 50 appearances across all competitions
.
50.Theo Bair (Age: 20, Nationality: Canadian)
Hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, Theo Bair originally joined the Whitecaps FC Academy in 2015. Bair enters his first season in MLS after totalling 60 goals in 98 appearances for the U-16, U-18 and U-19 Academy teams in his three seasons of DA league and cup tournament competition.
