Pieces to the puzzle: Meet the 2015 Vancouver Whitecaps FC roster

*Click photo to enlarge

Throughout the week, we’ve been looking at the 2015 Vancouver Whitecaps FC roster through these position-specific breakdowns:

Part 1: The goalkeepers: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
Part 2: The defenders: Shuffle in the middle
Part 3: The midfielders: More to come
Part 4: The forwards: Can the ‘Caps score 25 more goals?

And today, on the eve of First Kick against Toronto FC (3 p.m. PT kickoff at BC Place - TSN and TSN 1410 Vancouver), we conclude our season preview series with an in-depth look at how the team was built.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

You’ll notice that this year’s roster isn’t a whole lot different than the one we saw in 2014, which says a lot about the direction of the club. There are a total of 22 returning players, which is a new Whitecaps FC record in MLS. The ‘Caps kept their core intact – and for good reason.

Pedro Morales was the 2014 MLS Newcomer of the Year, goalkeeper David Ousted led the league in clean sheets, Matias Laba led the league in tackles, and Kendall Waston made a massive impact down the stretch – averaging the most clearances per game and eventually scoring the goal that sent Whitecaps FC to the playoffs. When you throw in the likes of Mauro Rosales, Gershon Koffie, Kekuta Manneh, Russell Teibert, and so on, there really wasn’t a need for a lot of changes.

Speaking of continuity, the club also re-signed Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson and his coaching staff to multi-year extensions.

“They are all highly respected not only within our club, but also around the league and the soccer world," Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi said at the time. "We are confident that their eye for talent, dedication and hard work will continue to yield positive results.”

There were a few changes, however.

The ‘Caps brought in six new players, including Uruguayan striker Octavio Rivero. Check out our Transaction Tracker to catch up on all of Vancouver’s offseason roster moves.

As is the case with most MLS teams, the majority of ‘Caps players were acquired through transfer, loan or signing, including four of their six offseason acquisitions. Robinson struck gold with signings last year, such as Morales and Waston. The hope is that the likes of Rivero and Diego Rodriguez will follow suit – Robinson discovered both players on his offseason scouting trip to South America.

Also of note, Whitecaps FC have acquired four players via trade: Steven Beitashour, Jordan Harvey, Matias Laba and Mauro Rosales. And all four of them were starters last season.

The number the club is most proud of, however, is the eight Homegrown players. That’s the most of any team in MLS. Vancouver native Ben McKendry was the team’s most recent Homegrown signing.

BIRTHS BY DECADE

Yes, you read that right. Twenty of Vancouver’s 28 MLS roster players were born in the 1990s. And no one was born before the 1980s. This is easily one of the youngest teams, if not the youngest, in MLS. The team’s average age heading into the season is 23.7 years old.

When he took the job over a year ago, Robinson said he likes young players. He wasn’t kidding.

Canada (5), USA (5), Uruguay (3), Argentina (2), The Gambia (2), Jamaica (2), Chile (1), Costa Rica (1), Cuba (1), England (1), Ghana (1), Honduras (1), Denmark (1), Italy (1), South Africa (1). 

As you can see, Whitecaps FC are very much an international team. Fifteen different birth countries are represented, with Canada and the U.S. leading the way with five players apiece. Scroll through the map, and zoom in/out, to see where each player comes from. Click on the pins to view the specific player. 

As you can see below, Whitecaps FC have seven Canadians on their roster, which is tied for the most in MLS. Each of them came through the club’s Residency program. Midfielder Russell Teibert, 22, is the most experienced of the bunch, having played 68 matches over the last four seasons. The Niagara Falls, Ontario native, who joined the club at the age of 15, is the longest serving member of the club. 

- Sam Adekugbe (Hometown: Calgary, Alberta)
- Marco Bustos (Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- Marco Carducci (Hometown: Calgary, Alberta)
- Caleb Clarke (Hometown: Richmond, British Columbia)
- Kianz Froese (Hometown: Brunkild, Manitoba)
- Ben McKendry (Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia)
- Russell Teibert (Hometown: Niagara Falls, Ontario)

Note: Whitecaps FC midfielder Gershon Koffie also holds a Canadian permanent Residency card.

Participate in the best sporting experience in Vancouver! The 2015 Whitecaps FC season kicks off on March 7 versus Toronto FC at BC Place. Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are now on sale. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, Student Half-Season Tickets, and a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket. For more information on 2015 Season Tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.