Last but not least, congrats to our most Promising Players: @AlphonsoDavies & @GrossoJulia!
— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) October 18, 2016
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VANCOUVER, BC – Alphonso Davies and Julia Grosso were the co-recipients of the Most Promising Player Award at today’s 2016 Whitecaps FC Player Awards, presented by BMO.
ALPHONSO DAVIES
It’s been a whirlwind year for Davies.
In February, the 15-year-old Edmonton resident joined the first-team for preseason before signing a professional deal with WFC2, subsequently becoming the youngest player to score a goal in the United Soccer League. He then signed an MLS contract with the first-team in July, becoming the youngest active player in the league and second youngest player all-time.
Davies has made eight MLS regular-season appearances this year. He also appeared in four Amway Canadian Championship matches and three more in the CONCACAF Champions League, where he recorded a goal and an assist in Vancouver’s quarter-final clinching win over Sporting Kansas City.
“A player with huge potential – as a number of our young players are – and someone who has great talent,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. “He plays with a freedom, he plays with an enjoyment, and he has all the tools to be a top young player. Our job is to make sure that we nurture that and help him continue his development.”
JULIA GROSSO
Grosso, 16, is a member of the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX program in partnership with BC Soccer. The Vancouver, B.C. native has been a standout not only with the ‘Caps, but also with the Canadian women’s youth national teams.
Earlier this year, she was the youngest player called up to Canada’s U-20 women’s national team for a pair of matches versus Mexico’s U-20s. The young fullback then helped Canada qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, starting three of four matches and earning a best XI nod in the qualifying tournament, before impressing at the World Cup itself.
“Julia has grown a lot as a player and person over the past year and is fully deserving of this award,” said Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX director Emma Humphries. “I am really excited to see how she progresses.”
Grosso recently committed to the University of Texas as part of the Class of 2018.
PREVIOUS WINNERS: WHITECAPS FC MOST PROMISING PLAYERS
2015: Kianz Froese and Emma Regan
2014: Marco Carducci and Simmrin Dhaliwal
2013: Marco Bustos and Rachel Jones
2012: Darren Mattocks
2011: Gershon Koffie
YOUTH SOCCER PLAYER, BMO RESP
BMO also presented a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to Grosso and Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency defender/midfielder Joel Harrison. The Langley, B.C. native, who joined the club in August 2015, appeared in three matches with Whitecaps FC 2 this season in the United Soccer League in addition to his time with the Residency team.
