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Earlier Today: CEO and Sporting Director Axel Schuster Discusses Head Coach Position
With the 2025 MLS preseason rapidly approaching, Vancouver Whitecaps CEO and Sporting Director Axel Schuster provided an update on the club’s ongoing search for a new head coach. Following the departure of Vanni Sartini, the Whitecaps have received what Schuster described as “an unbelievable number of applications” for the position. After an extensive evaluation process, the list has been narrowed down to three candidates, with a final decision expected by mid-January.
Speaking to AFTN’s Michael McColl, Schuster highlighted the impressive quality of applicants while also acknowledging the challenges of finding the perfect fit. “The amount of applications and the names that have applied for the job has been interesting and impressive,” he said. “We have really nailed down that one of the three will be our coach [by the] middle of January.”
Schuster explained that while many outstanding candidates expressed interest, some were not a good match for the club’s current needs or financial situation. “There have been a lot of amazing candidates, but some of them we can’t afford, and some of them are not the right style at this point,” he noted. “There was still a pretty long and good list of candidates, and we have worked through them. We’re down to three.”
The Whitecaps are seeking a coach who can build on the team’s recent progress without overhauling the entire operation. Schuster made it clear that the club is not looking for a complete transformation but rather a continuation of the foundation laid under Sartini, with targeted improvements to push the team further.
“We don’t want to have any revolution,” Schuster said. “We want somebody who takes it over from the point that we have seen at the playoffs and who puts in enough new energy, changes a few things, who also has maybe a little bit of a different approach to things and with that, creates a new environment that keeps us going from the level of the playoffs… Someone who respects what we have built.”
Schuster added that the new coach would be expected to work with most of the existing backroom staff, with only one assistant coach likely joining from outside. This continuity, he believes, will help maintain stability while injecting fresh ideas into the team.
When pressed for details on the final three candidates, Schuster revealed that they come from diverse soccer backgrounds. Only one of the trio has previous MLS coaching experience, while the others bring unique perspectives and approaches from different leagues and systems. “Everyone is good and everyone is different,” he said. “We are at a very interesting point to make our decision [based on] what we rate higher and what we think is more important and more helpful.”
The Whitecaps’ methodical approach to the hiring process has impressed many observers, though some fans are understandably anxious given how close preseason is. The team is set to begin training camp in Marbella, Spain, on January 15, leaving little time for the new coach to integrate. Despite the tight timeline, Schuster is confident the team will be prepared. “I remain optimistic that for our first training on the pitch, we will have our new coach there,” he stated.
Speculation continues to swirl about potential candidates, with some suggesting former Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin as a possibility. Curtin, who won the 2020 Supporters’ Shield and reached the MLS Cup Final in 2022, remains a free agent. However, Schuster declined to comment on specific names, reiterating that the decision would focus on aligning the club’s long-term vision with the strengths of the final candidates.
In addition to the coaching search, Schuster briefly addressed rumors surrounding the club’s ownership. The Whitecaps are reportedly in the midst of a sale, but Schuster cautioned that the process is still in its early stages. He suggested that a resolution may not come until after the 2025 season. “We have heard that some candidates have reached out to Goldman [Sachs],” he said. “But I don’t even know names; no one knows names yet.”
While the ownership situation remains uncertain, Schuster assured fans that the focus remains on building a competitive team for the upcoming season. As preseason draws nearer, the Whitecaps are eager to make their final decision and embark on what they hope will be a successful 2025 campaign.
